VIDEO: Bulldog Angel Network Invests in Its First Companies

MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. (WCBI) – Starting a business from scratch takes more than effort and an idea.

It takes connections and of course money.

The Bulldog Angel Network at Mississippi State makes company launches more of a reality thanks to the board’s support and investments.

If you’ve seen the show “Shark Tank,” you get a pretty good idea of how this process works.

The Angel Network’s goal is to keep young entrepreneurs and their ideas within the state’s borders, and for one company that might be what happens.

Ryan Gilbrech graduated Mississippi State in 2012 with a degree in bio-engineering, but after a few years in the business he wanted to pursue something he was passionate about, video games.

“I was kind of looking to do something different, so I had this idea for a game and my parents really surprised me. They were like ‘You should do this; you should chase this,'” said Gilbrech.

That idea is soon to become a reality.

His game is one of the first investment recipients from the Bulldog Angel Network, with the help of MSU’s Entrepreneurship Center.

“We’ve had two pitches so far: one pitch with two companies and that was Glow Drinks and Ryan’s company. Both received six-figure funding; both are now million dollar companies,” said E-Center Director of Outreach, Jeffrey Rupp.

While the money is a huge factor in the game’s launch, Gilbrech also sees value in the network’s mentorship.

“They saw my growth from nothing, no skills no anything, to a game that is playable. These are seven people that all have business acumen, who I can go to at any point and say hey I’ve got this problem, and I’m not sure how to deal with it,” said Gilbrech.

“It’s not enough to teach them how to be entrepreneurs. We have to provide the support system,” continued Rupp.

With money in the bank and the hands to shake, entrepreneurs like Gilbrech might do what the E-Center is trying to achieve, keep ideas in the state.

“There’s a big question about how do we keep the best and brightest in Mississippi. It’s difficult because it’s exciting when you’re younger and move to a big city, but we think that we can create some economic churn in downtown areas in Mississippi and create some jobs and try to keep some of our younger, brighter folks here,” said Rupp.

“Is that really possible? Well I don’t know yet, but signs point to yes,” said Gilbrech.

What makes the Angel Network unique is it’s not just for students.

If the idea has been approved by the E-Center, the Network is open to ideas from faculty, staff, and alumni from Mississippi State.