RSL Go

RSL Go Launch Your Retail, Service and Lifestyle (RSL) Business the Right Way RSL Go is a structured stupport program for MSU's students and faculty who are interested in starting a successful retail, service, or lifestyle company. The program includes a proven checklist, up to $2,500 in funding, and mentorship through the E-Center. It is open to all majors, self-paced, and can be completed in as little as 30-days. Successful exit from the program is met when the team has built a company that has been successfully prepared to either launch or work with a bank on lending needs. Participants who complete the program receive a $1,000 stipend. Open to all majors ● Self-paced ● Co-curricular ● Complete as fast as 30-days Apply to RSL Program Checklist Follow a proven path with tools to advance your business. Funding Up to $2,500 capital. We take no equity, and it’s not a loan. Mentors Meet with executives one-on-one and learn from successful alumni. Retail, Service, and Lifestyle Checklist The RSL Go program is for businesses who serve local or regional markets. (e.g. local restaurants, boutiques, service providers) Stage 1 - Start   1 - Meet one-on-one with the E-Center to discuss idea. Book [...]

New Business Quick Start

Business Quick Start Guide This quick start guide is designed to help you through the first steps of forming a new company in the State of Mississippi. Please ask for assistance with any stage as needed. Please note — the content below is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. 1. Choosing a Company Name Factors to Consider When Naming Your Business Many businesses start out as freelancers, solo operations, or partnerships. In these cases, it’s easy to fall back on your own name as your business name. While there’s nothing wrong with this, it does make it tougher to present a professional image and build brand awareness. How will your name look? – On the web, as part of a logo, on social media. What connotations does it evoke? – Is your name too corporate or not corporate enough? Does it reflect your business culture? Does it appeal to your market? Is it unique? – Pick a name that hasn’t been claimed by others, online or offline. A quick web search and domain name search (more below) [...]

iCREATE Summer Camp

iCREATE Summer Camp Launched in 2016, iCREATE is a 7-day overnight camp for kids ages 14-17 where students come together from all over the country to create and start a real business venture in one week. Participants arrive on Sunday afternoon, meet each other, and are given a broad theme. Through the course of the week, they learn from entrepreneurs as they create products for sale the following Saturday at an actual retail store, pocketing their portion of net earnings. Coordinated by the School of Human Sciences and the Center for Entrepreneurship & Outreach, college students at MSU serve as coordinators and counselors for the week and guide campers along the way. What Do Participants Do? Brainstorm product ideas around a given theme Conduct 30-50 face-to-face consumer interviews to iterate product ideas Design, source, and build product ideas Navigate financials and make decisions on loans vs. equity investments Plan, layout, and promote a retail storefront Manage and sell products for a 4-hour pop-up shop Review performance, and if successful, pocket their percentage of net earnings Dates & Locations: iCREATE North MS (Starkville, MS) — Sunday, June 5, 2022  –  Saturday, June 11, 2022 Application Deadline May 1st, 2022 iCREATE Gulf Coast [...]

Professional Service Partners

Professional Service Partners MSU's Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach maintains this list of professional service providers who are qualified to give legal, accounting, insurance, and banking services. These individuals are crowdsourced from client entrepreneurs of the E-Center. Note: Inclusion in this list does not constitute an endorsement by MSU, but is provided as an informational reference of individuals who have successfully supported bulldog entrepreneurs out of our program. Accounting T.E. Lott & Company Katherine Little, CPA GranthamPoole Michael Denny, CPA Banking Renasant Bank Brad Jones, VP and Commercial Relationship Officer BankFirst Financial Systems Matthew Seawright, VP Business Banking Insurance Galloway-Chandler-McKinney William Hilbun Renasant Insurance Chuck Schimpf Legal Counsel McLaughlin, P.C. Matthew McLaughlin and Connor Reeves Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP Nick C. Giallourakis, Mitch McGuffey, Joel Fike Anne Turner, PC Anne Turner Jones Walker W. Whitaker Rayner Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP (IP Law) Michael Williams Dennen IP Law, LLC (IP Law) Ann I. Dennen