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University of Mississippi
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Inside this ecosystem · 2 linked sources
The University of Mississippi runs student venture activity through the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the School of Business Administration. The center's marquee student event is the Edwin C. Gillespie Business Plan Competition, with a $20,000 first prize and additional named awards.
Include. Ole Miss has an active center and a documented 2026 student business-plan competition with published prizes and winners.
How we know this: the figures on this page come from the linked sources (last verified 2026-10-08); what those sources do not state is left unknown.
At a glance
Indexed programs
2
All currently active
Top direct funding
$20,000
Edwin C. Gillespie Business Plan Competition
Equity
Equity terms unknown
Program mix
2
Entrepreneurship Center · Pitch Competition
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
2 programs indexed
Pitch Competition
Edwin C. Gillespie Business Plan Competition
Pitch CompetitionAlso: Gillespie Business Plan Competition
$20,000
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-04-10
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Partially Verified
Entrepreneurship Center
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-04-10
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Partially Verified
From students
Be the first student from University of Mississippi to post a startup.
Post a startupFunding and Equity
Gillespie first place is $20,000 plus office space at Insight Park. Second place is $10,000 and third is $5,000. Runners-up receive $1,250 each. Additional named awards on the page are $5,000 or $2,500. The rules page says winning teams split over $50,000. Equity terms are not stated. The first 10 teams to enter can receive an additional $250 if they also pitch on competition day and enter LandShark Tank.
Recent Activity
The page says the 2026 competition was held April 10, 2026 at the Jackson Avenue Center, with a priority deadline of March 6 and a final deadline of March 27. It lists 2026 winners.
Known Startups and Winners
2026 first place on the page is Munchies Chicken and Waffles, McClain Schieltz and Brett Doherty. Other 2026 named award recipients include Automatic AI, Interbeat Industries, Marelle, ParthenonPro, and Garrett Wayne.
Research gaps & things to verify
Missing Information
LandShark Tank prize terms, Rebel Student Venture Fund terms, and discovery-grant amounts were named in the menu but not captured. Equity for Gillespie prizes is not stated.
More about this ecosystem
University of Mississippi
News & articles
2 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at University of Mississippi.
2 sources
Official sources(2)
University of Mississippi
Gillespie competition rules
Rules page requiring a full-time Ole Miss student on each team and stating that winners split over $50,000.
Read on University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
Gillespie Business Plan Competition
Official 2026 Gillespie page with prize amounts, deadlines, and winner names.
Read on University of Mississippi
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