Epicenter Memphis received an $812,000 grant from the Delta Regional Authority to launch EpicenterU: Students to Startups, a four-year program designed to turn undergraduate students into venture-ready founders before they ever leave campus. It is a direct investment in keeping Memphis-grown talent right where it belongs.
Arkansas State University is partnering with Epicenter to implement the program, bringing on-campus space, faculty engagement, and access to the alumni network to the table. The long-term goal is to spread the initiative across the Delta region, building a pipeline of homegrown founders who create jobs and attract capital without leaving home to do it . In years three and four, selected fellows will receive $40,000 annual stipends, up to $7,500 in company development funds, dedicated mentorship, and regional pitch and showcase opportunities.
Epicenter president and CEO Anthony Young framed it simply: the Delta is full of extraordinary talent, and the work now is making sure that talent has every reason to build right here. For a city actively making the case to businesses and entrepreneurs that Memphis is worth betting on, programs like this are part of what makes that case credible.
