Mission

Our mission is clear: to give Mississippi’s youth a head start in becoming our state’s future innovators and business leaders. We equip students with the skills they need through hands-on learning experiences. These skills help them recognize opportunities and create value in their communities.

Approach

SEP programming consists of an annual series of regional, virtual, and statewide student opportunities. Each opportunity is specifically designed to prepare students for the real-world challenges of entrepreneurship. We focus on:

• Local Opportunity Recognition: Identifying and seizing business opportunities within our communities and our state.
• Market Research & Validation: Understanding market needs and testing business ideas.
• Soft Skills: Mastering essential interpersonal skills like networking and presenting.
• Personal Asset Mapping: Leveraging individual strengths and resources for entrepreneurial success.
• Business Planning & Development: Crafting solid business plans and strategies for growth.
• Business Financing: Exploring funding options, including bootstrapping and other financial strategies.
• Business Ethics: Instilling a strong sense of ethical responsibility.
• Furthering Education: Encouraging continued learning and development.

History

Since our founding in 2007 as the Southern Mississippi Youth Entrepreneurship Program (SMYEP), we’ve been dedicated to addressing the critical gap in experiential entrepreneurship education within Mississippi’s K-12 system. The SEP was born from a collaborative effort between The University of Southern Mississippi, Jones County Junior College, the Area Development Partnership, the Harrison County Economic Development Authority, the Economic Development Authority of Jones County, and a pioneering group of public high schools in Forrest, Harrison, and Jones Counties.

Today, the SEP operates as a key outreach initiative of the Center for Entrepreneurship at The University of Southern Mississippi’s College of Business and Economic Development.