V-Quad Incubator Network
Mississippi Energy Program for Innovation Clusters: Virtual-Quad
V-quad’s mission is to build an innovative, virtual incubator network to support Mississippi entrepreneurs and innovators launching businesses focused on energy- and agriculture-related technologies.
The program helps new technology companies seeking to commercialize energy and agriculture related technologies find technical assistance and financial networks with specific focus in these areas. V-Quad’s goal is to form public-private partnerships that connect Mississippi’s research universities, industry, government and non-profits that strengthen the state’s technology development entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The precept of V-Quad is inclusive innovation, and rural areas and a historically Black university are part of the Mississippi V-Quad.
Our diverse V-Quad core team is highly experienced and prepared to bring emerging companies to the next level.
The Mississippi Development Authority currently is accepting applications for the V-Quad Entrepreneurs Technical Assistance Program (ETAP) grants.
Teams are eligible for a maximum award of $25,000 each in the form of a voucher that may be used to receive technical assistance from a research university in Mississippi. MDA will award a total of $100,000 in the ETAP, which is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy – State Energy Program. Teams receiving an ETAP grant will be paired with a relevant research university to solve specific technical challenges posed by the applicants. Teams will have up to nine months from the award date to complete their proposed tasks.
The competition is open to teams of high school and college students, university or community college faculty, for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations, public-sector employees or any combination of individuals from these entities.
Examples of eligible projects include the use of clean energy and energy-efficient products and services, agricultural products and services, as well as robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, unmanned aerial and terrestrial vehicles and genomics applied within the energy and agriculture sectors.
The deadline to apply for a grant is Sunday, July 31, 2022 at 5 p.m.
Application instructions and guides
View detailed application instructions (PDF)
Examples of resources available through V-Quad partners (PDF)
ETAP Application Template (PPT)
V-Quad ETAP grants application
Quick Links
Mississippi V-Quad
V-Quad is mobilizing the combined resources of several public and private entities into the future to support emerging technology companies and university spinouts through mentoring, market analysis, prototyping and funding.
- Operations
- V-Quad Timeline
- Risk Mitigation
A first-of-its-kind initiative
All team members and partners have significant experience with supporting technology-based entrepreneurial activities to continue creating a supportive ecosystem for emerging technology companies.
The Mississippi V-Quad monitors and tracks the following activities to measure its success. MDA’s Energy & Natural Resources Division and The Entrepreneurship Center are be the clearinghouse for collecting and disseminating data.
- Number of companies with emerging technologies
- Number of Mississippi Seed Fund Awards
- Connections to SBIR-STTR
- Ecosystem density
- Number of supporting partners
- Physical spaces for emerging companies to work
- Access to maker spaces, university research, mentor networks and funding networks
- Cumulative hours of services provided to startups
A look at our work
April 7, 2002
Release Solicitation for E-TAP Grants
Application Deadline for E-TAP Grants
Late July 2022
Award E-TAP Grants
maximum award per team: $25K
maximum award for student-only team; $10K
October 2022
First quarterly progress report due (one page in length)
January 2023
Second quarterly progress report due (one page in length)
April 2023
Final report due (three pages maximum)
April 2023
Oral presentation at the Mississippi Entrepreneurship Forum
Tools, resources and knowledge at play
- Market
- Technology
- Finance
- Management
- Execution
Existing tools and resources include:
- Centers of excellence and research parks at universities
- Market intelligence
- Robust venture development and commercialization models
- Mississippi Seed Fund – Proof of Concept Fund managed by Innovate Mississippi
- Entrepreneurial mentor networks at universities, as well as Innovate Mississippi
- Angel Investor Networks
- Over 250 years of collective mentoring experience through partners and organizations
Featured Media
Three counties to participate in Aspire Mississippi 2020
Jackson, Mississippi — June 17, 2020 — Representatives from three counties are participating in this year’s Aspire Mississippi program, which is […]
Mississippi Development Authority accepting applications for 2020 Aspire Mississippi program
Jackson, Mississippi — January 8, 2020 — The Mississippi Development Authority’s Asset Development Division is accepting applications for the 2020 Aspire […]
Six counties participating in 2019-20 Aspire Mississippi program
Jackson, Mississippi — May 29, 2019 — Representatives from six counties throughout the state are participating in Aspire Mississippi, a […]
Get the latest from Mississippi Want to stay in-the-know on the latest announcements and updates? Sign up to receive news from the Mississippi Development Authority.
Want to stay in-the-know on the latest announcements and updates? Sign up to receive news from the Mississippi Development Authority.