Speaking Startup: Recent Episodes
Missouri Business Alert
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast covers news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast takes a look at how the FIFA World Cup increased interest in soccer clubs across the state.Then, it digs into the latest cannabis sales data, which dipped in June despite a boost from World Cup events.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast takes a look at a new U.S. Senate bill that would make alterations to name, image and likeness rules for college athletes.Then, as state lawmakers mull a nuclear power expansion, experts weigh in on Missouri’s ability to fund and build new power plants.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines how the installation of wildlife crossings in key areas of the state could increase highway safety and reduce economic losses. Then, it takes a look at how the New World Screwworm is impacting Missouri’s cattle industry.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast takes a look at how the use of artificial intelligence in political campaign advertisements could shape the future of Missouri’s elections. Then, it examines the economic impact seen in St. Louis from hosting the U.S. Figure Skating Championships earlier this year.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines how economic pressures impacted firework vendors as they prepare for a special Fourth of July celebrating 250 years of American independence.Then, it features a financial planning expert explaining how the new Trump accounts aim to jumpstart retirement savings for children.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines how state transportation officials plan to improve highway safety along Interstate 70 by adding more parking spots for large trucks. Then, it features what industry leaders had to say about the economic development potential of data center deals amid opposition from community members.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines how Juneteenth celebrations are helping connect employers and job seekers in Columbia. Then, it takes a look at how independent pharmacies are finding ways to keep their businesses afloat amid price pressures from pharmacy benefit managers.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast examines how small businesses are reacting to a plan to eliminate the state income tax — and raise sales taxes.Then, it features a conversation with a financial planner about the risks associated with alternative 401(k) investments.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast features an apprenticeship program focused on helping inmates find employment after incarceration. Then, the show examines how St. Louis Lambert International Airport landed a new overseas route — and what it could mean.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines how Kansas City’s Argentinian businesses are hoping to attract customers during the World Cup. Then, it features a conversation with an agricultural finance expert about this year’s farm income projections in Missouri.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at an upcoming business expo showcasing entrepreneurship in Kansas City. Then, it examines how consumers are leveraging Health Savings Accounts as investment tools.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at Route 66 centennial celebrations in Missouri. Plus, the show checks on the state of regional startup funding.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the pushback against sports organizations working with prediction markets.Then, the show looks at how rising utility prices are prompting concern over electric monopolies.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast takes a look at statewide transit options to get to Kansas City for this summer’s FIFA World Cup matches. Then, it features a conversation about how a state tax credit is drawing film productions to Missouri.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines how the economy of a rural Missouri town is feeling the effects of an immigration raid. Then, the show looks at dark pool trading and the transparency concerns around securities it raises.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines what a new bill could mean for Missouri historical societies.Then, the show looks at the role of crop insurance amid agricultural headwinds.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines how fluctuations in tariff policies are impacting Missouri’s manufacturing industry. Then, the show takes a look at the factors causing electricity bills to increase nationwide and how that’s affecting consumers.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast examines how banking deserts affect entrepreneurs in Missouri. Then, the show takes a deeper look at why more Missourians are commuting further for work.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast takes a look at how the Winter Olympics are boosting curling in Missouri. Then, the show features a conversation about how rural movie theaters are staying afloat.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast takes a look at changes to Small Business Administration loans that create restrictions for green card holders.Then, the show examines how fluctuations in international trade policies are affecting Missouri’s soybean industry.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast examines how cocoa prices could make Valentine’s Day sweets a little bitter. Plus, the show features a Missouri entrepreneur whose new software aims to help rural agriculture businesses.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at what's ahead for data centers in Missouri.Then, the show examines how agricultural drones are helping farmers with flexibility and problem solving.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the tension surrounding return-to-office mandates. Then, the show looks at how restaurants are developing menus for a growing number of people with a tickborne red meat allergy.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at how prediction markets are creating competition for traditional gambling companies. Then, it examines new research on the relationship between corporate pollution and the profitability of companies.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast takes a look at the economic factors impacting turkey prices. Then, it examines how farming is becoming an increasingly high-tech career.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the impact of a dearth of economic data caused by the government shutdown. Then, it looks at how gaps in federal crop insurance leave some farmers vulnerable.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the economic impact of an artificial intelligence data center coming to Kansas City. Then, it features a conversation with a researcher about the factors driving a projected increase in Missouri’s net farm income.
is showcasing the marketing of entertainment.Then, it looks at how the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut is affecting the agriculture industry.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at how new state laws and the end of some federal programs will affect energy prices in Missouri. Then, the show features a conversation about new legislation that would regulate how college athletes are compensated.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines what new fees on H-1B visas could mean for research in Missouri.Then, the show looks at the strain faced by the state's soybean industry amid a Chinese boycott.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the characteristics of Generation Z as entrepreneurs and the challenges they’re navigating.Then, it features a researcher hoping to use blockchain technology to build trust in restaurants.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at how some farmers are using solar panels to help provide better growing conditions for their crops. Then, it features a former startup founder who just took on a new role helping Missouri entrepreneurs.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines how stars like Taylor Swift have highlighted the role of women in the economy. Then, an expert discusses how the trucking industry is navigating economic challenges.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at a ride-sharing service one rural Missouri town launched to solve transportation challenges. Plus, the show features a conversation about how new limits on student loans could affect professional students
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the political challenges faced by organized labor.Then, it features a conversation with a personal financial planning expert about strategies to address rising credit card debt.
This week's episode of Business Brief features a program in St. Louis putting a new spin on baby bonds.Then, it examines why an agriculture expert believes many farmers should stop making their own hay.
This week the Business Brief podcast gets the pulse of the state’s health care workforce. Then, it looks at a Missouri grocery chain’s effort to reach more Hispanic consumers.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the vision state officials and energy industry leaders have for a nuclear-powered future in Missouri.Plus, cattle are getting beefier. The show explores why cattle weights are increasing and what that means at different points along the beef supply chain.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines a policy providing tax deductions for tipped workers. Then, it dives into the latest developments in the launch of legal sports gambling in Missouri.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at how President Donald Trump's bill to cut taxes and spending will affect the solar energy industry in Missouri. Then, University of Missouri Extension officials share insights about how Missouri farmland value is changing.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast takes a look at auto repair in Missouri ahead of a busy travel weekend.Then, how regions in the state’s Old Lead Belt are seeing a surge in critical mineral mining.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at legislation aimed at easing the financial burden of career and technical training.Plus, the show examines looming changes to regulation around an endangered root.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at how a Missouri nonprofit arts organization is adjusting amid cuts to federal arts funding.Then, the show features a retail incubator providing exposure for minority-owned startups.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at how banks are using artificial intelligence in lending. Then, the show features a conversation with a St. Louis entrepreneur whose company is doubling down on its commitment to domestic pharmaceutical production.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the implications of tariffs on Missouri’s critical mineral industry. Plus, the show features the story of a student-run food truck supported by college entrepreneurial programs.
This week's episode of the Business Brief, looks into dresses that could be getting more expensive.Then, the podcast looks into a major overhaul of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines clouds hanging over the solar energy industry.Plus, the show features a conversation about the current economic climate with the chief economist of one of Missouri's largest banks.
This week's episode of Tariff Talks features two furniture store owners who have different outlooks for what the recent trade policy shifts could mean for their businesses.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast features a fashion designer telling his family’s immigration story on the runway.Then, the show looks at a breakthrough in walnut cultivation that researchers hope can create opportunities for Missouri growers.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at a Missouri town where sausage serves as a link between culture and commerce. Plus, the show checks on data challenges facing the state’s public health agencies.
This week the Business Brief podcast looks at the challenges underrepresented entrepreneurs face to access capital. Then it checks how the United States' reliance on a powerful fertilizer has kept it off the White House’s tariff list — for now.
This episode of Tariff Talks looks at the impacts of federal trade policy shifts on businesses that rely heavily on imported products.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast checks on an import-reliant Columbia market that just opened its doors to tariff turmoil. Plus, the show looks at the state of self-checkout lanes in Missouri supermarkets amid a broader shift.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast checks on how Missouri beer producers are faring in the face of aluminum tariffs. Plus, the show examines what the loss of a federal reproductive health care grant means for rural Missouri.
This is Tariff Talks, a pop-up podcast from Missouri Business Alert about how changes in trade policy are affecting the state. This episode examines the shifting landscape of tariffs and how the effects of trade policy changes could trickle down to Missouri farmers.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast catches up on trade wars and examines how Missouri is affected by tariffs targeting its biggest trading partners. Then, the show features a conversation with the founder of a Missouri-based company working to connect international students with jobs in the state.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast covers a Kansas City ice cream shop’s ambitions of regional expansion. Then, the show returns to southeast Missouri for another in a series of stories about the region’s earthquake preparedness.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines changes Missouri lawmakers are suggesting to the state’s tax policy. Plus, the show looks at the booming business of bird-watching.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at tariffs. The show examines how businesses from farmers to grocers to wine sellers are preparing for the possibility of more expensive imports.
On a big day for flower sales, the latest episode of the Business Brief podcast covers proposed tariffs and their potential effects on the floral industry. Then, the show looks at a new effort to study the effects of energy infrastructure on rural communities.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks into how false immigration rumors have affected businesses and customers alike in Missouri. Plus, with the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl again, the show examines the idea of "Chiefs fatigue" — and whether that affects business around the big game.
The Business Brief podcast returns this week with a trip to New Madrid. The southeast Missouri town may be best known for its seismic significance, but its residents are more concerned about a rocky economy. Plus, the show examines the potential consequences of Ameren’s proposed electricity rate hike.
This week on the Business Brief podcast, we're cooking with caffeine and cocoa. First, the show looks at caffeine consumption by Generation Z. Then, it covers the rising price of cocoa — and what that means for sweets producers and consumers holiday season.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast explores a Missouri business trying to make more environmentally friendly houses with straw. Plus, the podcast looks at a state tax aimed at helping conservation efforts.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the rise of Chappell Roan, the pop music star with southwest Missouri roots. Plus, the show covers retail trends expected to shape this holiday shopping season.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at how local farmers and researchers are working to boost a niche but growing crop – chestnuts. Plus, the show examines an uptick in demand for emergency contraception since the election.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast covers a spooky trend in the job market: ghost jobs.Then, the show looks at the rising rate of small college closures in Missouri and what it means for prospective students.
This week, the Business Brief podcast discusses cannabis microbusiness licenses that may not be what they seem. The show also covers and a new statewide loan program working to provide access to capital to struggling small business owners.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the implications of a measure that would legalize sports betting in Missouri. Then, the show examines how the election could affect the future of federal funding for reproductive health care.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines potential consequences of a measure that would raise Missouri’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.Then, the show features a conversation with the state official tasked with making things more equitable in the booming cannabis industry.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines what a proposal to legalize sports betting in Missouri really means for education funding. Then, the show covers competing craft beer brewers coming together for the good of the industry.
This week's episode of Business Brief explores Kansas City’s stake in the Latin music industry with The Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra and a Feast Week that highlights dozens of Black-owned restaurants and a brewery.
It's pumpkin season. This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at what that means for some Missouri farms.Then, the show highlights an education program preparing Missouri inmates for life after incarceration.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at plans to address financial challenges facing Catholic schools in the St. Louis area.Then, the show heads to the farm for a story about programs preparing the state’s next generation of farmers.
This week, the Business Brief podcast looks at the role community and support networks play in helping Black women entrepreneurs in Missouri overcome business challenges. Then, the show covers challenges to this year's tomato crop — and how that's being felt in Missouri.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines what a new Missouri law means to funding for reproductive health care in the state.Then, the show spotlights a new microloan program for women entrepreneurs of color and rural entrepreneurs.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast checks in on the United Auto Workers on the eve of Labor Day and the one-year anniversary of the union's strike against major automakers. The show also features a conversation with a founder of a St. Louis startup using artificial intelligence for lawn mowing.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast takes a look at the growth of blue collar jobs in renewable energy.Then, the show examines a measure on next week's ballot that could open up legislative opportunities for addressing child care deserts.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the growing use of goats in renewable agriculture. Then, the show features a primer on the art of the business pitch from Missouri entrepreneurs.
This week on the Business Brief podcast, we’ll be looking into the funding models of private universities.Then, we’ll learn how the minority business enterprise grant is helping underserved communities.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks into how the confluence of cicadas and other challenges could pose problems for apple growers in the state.Plus, the show explores the emergence of cannabis lounges across Missouri.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at how extreme heat affects businesses when plants are their product.Then, the show highlights a recent event aimed at advancing Black-owned businesses in Columbia.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast takes a tour of Kansas City’s early-stage business landscape at the Startland News Startup Crawl.Then, the show looks at the challenges and opportunities for Missouri’s cottage food sector.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the financial realties of roadwork. First, the podcast digs into the costs of potholes. Then it takes a look at the business consequences of Interstate 70 expansion.
The Business Brief podcast is back with new hosts Alex Cox and Yasha Mikolajczak. This week's episode looks at how festivals help local artists stay afloat. Then, it features a conversation with Saint Louis University law professor Jamille Fields Allsbrook about the potential legal future of Planned Parenthood’s Medicaid funding.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at what the ability to utilize generative artificial intelligence tools can mean to job seekers' marketability. Then, the podcast features a conversation with an expert on hiring trends for small businesses.
This week on Business Brief, hear from a Missouri content creator about some consequences of a potential federal TikTok ban.Then, listen to how new federal rules for noncompete agreements could affect employers in the state.
In this week's episode of the Business Brief podcast, hear from Gen Z Missourians who are choosing careers in the skilled trades.Then, learn about how a new federal emissions rule will impact the auto industry.
In this week's episode of the Business Brief podcast, learn about how Missouri businesses are providing products for Passover.Following that, find out about some of the basics for small businesses looking to implement artificial intelligence.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at a new incentive program aiming to combat worker shortages in the St. Louis suburb of Hazelwood.Then, the podcast features the story of small businesses in a rapidly growing mid-Missouri town.
In this week's episode on Business Brief, find out about how one Missouri town is gearing up for tourism ahead of next week’s eclipse.Then, hear a follow up from our previous talks about the Missouri fur trade.
On this week's episode of Business Brief, learn about the current state of a Missouri industry that’s been around for centuries — the fur trade.Then, hear a conversation about the challenges and resources for women entrepreneurs in Missouri.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines lab-grown diamonds' growing popularity — and how it's being felt in Missouri.The show also features a conversation with the chief equity officer of Missouri’s cannabis program about efforts to ensure equity in the young industry.
This week on Business Brief, learn about how funding has led to more sustainable agriculture efforts.Following, hear about how an Alabama Supreme Court ruling could impact in vitro fertilization clinics in Missouri.
In this week's episode of Business Brief, hear about how demand for non-alcoholic beverages is creating new business opportunities.Then, learn how gig workers and employers may be affected by a new federal rule.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the reasons for — and costs of — Missouri’s new caucus system.Then, the podcast digs into a new report on the state of the restaurant industry.
This week's episode of Business Brief features a conversation with a worker affected by recent layoffs at an aluminum plant in southeast Missouri.Then, the podcast discusses a grant-funded program that aims to connect Missouri researchers to business resources.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast feature a conversation about the complicated ethics of artificial intelligence in business. Then, Black artists from across Missouri share stories of their creative ventures.
Business Brief returns to talk about Kansas City becoming a hub for women's professional sports. This week's podcast also features the story of a new nonprofit center for youth in mid-Missouri.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at how long Kansas City businesses' love story with Taylor Swift might continue.Then, the show examines efforts to help companies reduce waste in southern Missouri.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast features the entrepreneur behind a new Kansas City store tapping into the growing demand for romance novels. Plus, the show looks at how upcycling and regifting are reshaping holiday shopping.
This week on Business Brief, hear from a Kansas City entrepreneur who is building the first Latinx-owned beer company in the metro area.Then, learn about a new farming practice gaining popularity across the state.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast checks on what Missouri’s ongoing drought meant to one of the state’s most important cash crops — corn. Then, the show features a conversation about the challenges and opportunities for military veterans interested in entrepreneurship.
This week's Business Brief podcast features a conversation with Zapier founder Wade Foster, a Missouri entrepreneur who has built a multibillion-dollar software company and is now integrating artificial intelligence into the business.Then, the show examines some challenges cannabis microbusinesses are facing after being selected for state licenses.
On this week's Business Brief, a small business adviser discusses how shops are navigating the the holiday retail rush.Then, hear from different Missourians about their experiences with student debt after student loan repayments resumed.
In this week's Business Brief, the podcast looks at how small businesses can adopt more sustainable practices. Then, hear from some of the youngest exhibitors in one of the country’s oldest livestock shows.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at using 3D printing technology to help fight homelessness. Then, the show deciphers the details of new utility billing Missouri consumers are starting to see.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast checks in on how Missouri restaurant owners are feeling about worker gaps as employment numbers return to pre-pandemic levels.Then, the show looks at how recent drought conditions have caused some pumpkin farmers to adjust their planting methods.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the protests Missouri pharmacists have been staging.Then, the show looks at what it takes to start and grow a business for rural entrepreneurs.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast features the story of a veteran who just became one of the first recipients of a license to operate a marijuana microbusiness in Missouri.Then, the show looks at federal funding opportunities some local entrepreneurs have tapped into when other growth capital wasn’t available.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the economic impact a potential government shutdown could have on Missouri.The show also looks at one of the biggest challenges facing the state's manufacturing sector — workforce development.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at efforts underway in Missouri to legalize cannabis lounges, or businesses where customers can consume marijuana.Then, the show features a discussion about historically Black colleges and universities' initiatives to provide resources for entrepreneurs.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast features a conversation with Southwest Airlines' chief communications officer about the airline's approach to communicating in a corporate crisis. Then, the show introduces Missouri Made, a special new project focused on the state’s manufacturing sector.
This week's Business Brief episode looks at the process of putting on a music festival and the challenges that come with it. Then, it takes a look at what it’s like to find employment after being incarcerated.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the rise of cryptocurrency ATMs in Missouri, and some of the issues they present.
The show also features a story of how refugee communities navigate the challenges of transportation in a new home — and what that can mean for economic opportunity.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast features a conversation with Kansas City entrepreneur Chuck Doyle about how people can start their own business after incarceration.
The show also looks at pet overcrowding happening in animal shelters across the state.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast hears from three farmers about how mental health affects the agriculture industry.
Then, the show looks at marijuana microbusiness licenses and the barriers applicants face.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the prehistoric event industry with Show-Me Dinosaurs and its larger-than-life costumes. Then, the show features a conversation with Lainie Strange, a web accessibility expert, about what companies should consider when building an online presence.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast features a conversation with Paula Nickelson, new director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Then, the show unpacks several of the bills Gov. Mike Parson signed into laws last week.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast examines Missouri's certified nursing assistant shortage and potential solutions for retention rates.
Then, the show features a conversation with a cannabis dispensary manager about the new advertising regulations for Missouri’s marijuana industry.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast features a conversation with Denise McCracken, a cannabis lawyer, about microbusiness license applications.
Then, the show checks in on Missouri farmers contending with drought conditions.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast features a conversation about how companies can promote allyship in the workplace.
Then, the show looks at a federal ruling on the Clean Water Act and its potential effects on Missouri wetlands.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast features Dylan Frazier, a college student now ranked as one of the top pickleball players in the world. Then, the show looks at a Kansas City startup crawl where entrepreneurs gathered to connect and discuss their experiences in business.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast features a discussion about the fast-growing field of artificial intelligence and how Missouri companies are weighing the ethics of AI.
Then, the show looks into the return of a program that provides summer meals to school kids – and why fewer children are receiving meals this year
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at a new effort to strengthen the food supply chain in the Midwest.Then, the show examines difficulties some international students in the U.S. are facing as they try to find jobs after graduation.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast features a conversation with Evergreen Climate Innovation's Ian Adams and Solios Agrosciences' Mary Fernandes about funding climate innovation.The show also looks at the rise of robotic surgery and how its rapid expansion is changing health care in Missouri.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast covers the growth of cannabis-focused festivals and events in Missouri since the state legalized recreational marijuana. Then, the show features a conversation with a bookstore owner in St. Louis who has built a community through Black literature.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast features a conversation about a new tech event in St. Louis that seeks to reenergize the local tech scene. Then, it shifts to a conversation with the founders of Kansas City startup CodeAlgo Academy discussing how they have developed a minimum viable product.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at efforts to encourage owners and tenants of leased farmland to embrace conservation practices. Then, the show features the story of a Columbia thrift store with a referral program to provide free clothes for people in need.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast looks into the recent increase in youth employment across Missouri and some unintended consequences that is producing. Then, the podcast examines how recent oil production cuts could affect gas prices in the state.
Want to help us improve Business Brief and enter your name to win prizes? Follow this link to take a short survey about our podcast: https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3dTW2e57rMR3tCm***This week's Business Brief episode delves into the standing of Missouri banks in the aftermath of two of the largest bank failures in U.S. history. The podcast also looks into equitable decision-making with the help of Cristina Garmendia, policy director for the president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.
Want to help us improve Business Brief and enter your name to win prizes? Follow this link to take a short survey about our podcast: https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3dTW2e57rMR3tCm+++The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast digs into the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, and what those collapses might mean in Missouri.Then, the podcast features a conversation with Columbia entrepreneur Kelsey Raymond about the keys to success pitching a business.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks into some of the intricacies of taxation in Missouri’s new recreational marijuana industry. The podcast also features a conversation with Lakesha Mathis founding director of the Diverse Business Accelerator at Greater St. Louis Inc.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at what an annual film festival that draws thousands of visitors to Columbia means for the city's restaurant scene. Plus, the show features a conversation with a southeast Missouri business owner about carrying on the legacy of a family business.
This week's episode of Business Brief features an interview with Sarah Hill, the CEO of Columbia-based mental health technology company Healium. Then, the episode examines the current affordable housing situation in Missouri.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast checks in on efforts to empower women in the state’s growing marijuana industry. Then, it looks at some expert forecasts on Missouri's near-term economic future.
Apparel brands are cashing in on the Kansas City Chiefs' signature moments and viral quips ahead of the Super Bowl. This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the impact of the big game for Kansas City clothing vendor Charlie Hustle.Plus, the show examines hiring for jobs in the state’s marijuana industry with dispensaries now selling cannabis for recreational use.
With some of Silicon Valley's biggest technology companies laying off employees by the thousands, the latest episode of the Business Brief podcast takes stock of what the sector's cutbacks mean in Missouri.Plus, as some economists continue to forecast a recession in 2023, the podcast features a conversation with a small business expert about how business owners can navigate economic uncertainty.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast features a conversation with St. Louis technology entrepreneur David Karandish, whose artificial intelligence company just acquired another St. Louis startup. Then, the show examines the effects marijuana legalization and expungements could have on the labor force in Missouri.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast features a pair of stories about efforts to support entrepreneurs from communities typically underrepresented among business founders. First, Daniel Smith, a co-founder of The Porter House KC, joins the podcast to discuss his organization's efforts to support businesses built from scratch.Then, Amina Abdul-Malik, the investment director for the St. Louis nonprofit WePower, talks about challenges that underrepresented entrepreneurs face in times of high inflation.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast features the story of St. Louis entrepreneur Steve Ewing and his journey from fronting a rock band to running a restaurant. Then, the podcast looks at how the closure of rural hospitals is jeopardizing health care access for mid-Missouri residents.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast checks on how small local retailers are faring with the holiday shopping season in full swing.Plus, the podcast looks at challenges to home health care in a conversation with Brandy Archie, a Kansas City entrepreneur building businesses in the home health sector.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast looks into how small businesses are reacting to big changes on Twitter.
Then, it examines the ramifications of Missouri legalizing recreational marijuana for employers and their human resources departments.
Missouri voters approved legal recreational marijuana in the midterm election Tuesday. This week's Business Brief podcast examines Missourians’ next steps now that Amendment 3 has passed.
The podcast also features a discussion with Denise Bentele, founder of a St. Louis public relations company, about how businesses can get media coverage.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast digs into how regulation of banks and credit unions poses challenges to obtaining capital for cannabis businesses — and how that might affect the marijuana industry in Missouri.
Then, the podcast features a conversation with Brandon Anderson from the Associated General Contractors of Missouri about efforts to promote mental health and reduce suicide in the construction industry.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast digs into the scary business of ghost hunting in Missouri. Plus, the podcast features a conversation with Giesel Marcus, a Washington University professor and networking expert, on how to build and expand professional relationships.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the potential impact on Missouri’s cannabis industry of an amendment that would legalize recreational marijuana in the state.
Then, the show features a conversation with entrepreneur Ciara Imani May. She founded Rebundle, a St. Louis startup that specializes in plant-based hair extensions.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the current condition of the nursing labor market and recent efforts to address shortages across the profession.
Then, the podcast features another story from Outstate, a series on entrepreneurship in small-town Missouri. The latest installment takes us to a music recording studio in the mid-Missouri town of Higbee.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast digs into the establishment and eventual end of a commission that worked to represent Hispanic Missourians in state decisions.
Then, the show features a conversation with Emily Brown, the founder of Kansas City health care startup Free From Market, which recently received funding from a Google program for Black entrepreneurs.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at how rising interest rates are affecting Missouri's residential real estate market.
Then, the podcast digs into what a new wave of funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture means for the future of climate-smart agriculture in Missouri.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at how rising prices are being felt at one family-owned brewery in a small Missouri town.
Plus, the podcast digs into the $875 million acquisition of Rx Savings Solutions, a record deal for a startup from the Kansas City area.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast features the story of a traveling business providing first-aid products to locations across Missouri and Illinois. Then, the focus shifts to a CEO of a St. Louis-based company on the challenges facing the family care provider industry.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast takes a look at Midwest Black Restaurant Week, featuring a conversation with the event's founder and a St. Louis restaurateur.
Then, the show looks at how a Napa Valley winery traces its award-winning cabernet sauvignon to a small town in rural Missouri.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the workforce in Missouri schools, digging into what a recent survey of teachers and administrators indicates about job conditions for educators.
Then, in the aftermath of voters in in Kansas deciding to uphold abortion rights, the podcast examines the potential ramifications of that vote in Missouri.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast checks in on the airline industry, examining how worker shortages have changed the dynamics for pilots.
Then, the focus shifts to the seasonal ebbs and flows of the workforce in a college town, looking at how some Columbia businesses navigate the surge of customers and workers that comes with the start of a new school year.
On the eve of political primaries, this week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the ambitions and obstacles of Missouri’s youngest political candidates — members of Generation Z.
Plus, the podcast explores how investment in mountain biking facilities has become a path to economic development for some Missouri communities.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast features the story of a Missouri husband and wife's emotional decision to sell the small business they founded after two decades at the helm.
Then, the show looks at inflation and rising interest rates, offering perspectives from an economist and a small business lender about how those dynamics are affecting Missouri entrepreneurs.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the gender wealth gap and efforts by one Missouri organization to address the roots of that inequality.
Then, the podcast features an interview with the new CEO of the International Association of Administrative Professionals, a Kansas City-based organization that educates and advocates for administrative professionals.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the bicycle industry, which has experienced a stretched supply chain since the beginning of the pandemic. Even as the surging demand seen two years ago decreases, Missouri bike shops still struggle to keep their racks stocked with high-end bikes.
Then, David Slusky, an economist at the University of Kansas, joins the podcast to discuss what Missouri’s recent ban on abortion means for the business environment in the state.
This episode of Business Brief features a St. Louis entrepreneur who shares her experience of the climate for LGBTQ business owners in Missouri.
Plus, it looks at a company in Springfield working to make esports more accessible amid rapid growth in the industry.
The Business Brief podcast is back with new hosts Sigi Ris and Teddy Maiorca. This episode dives into the four-day workweek, a schedule gaining more popularity among employers, including one Missouri nonprofit making the switch in August.
Plus, this episode features an interview with Love Holt, director of the St. Louis Juneteenth Celebration and Resource Fair, who joined Missouri Business Alert to discuss how Juneteenth can rally support around Black small business owners and entrepreneurs.
As the pandemic wanes, wedding businesses are gearing up for what is expected to be a huge year. The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast features insights from event-based companies, which are being inundated with clients planning their nuptials.
Plus, this episode features an interview with Ram Basnet of the Small Business Administration’s Kansas City office, who joined Missouri Business Alert to mark Small Business Week and recommend resources for entrepreneurs.
Since 2018, more than 30 states have legalized some form of sports gambling. There has been a concerted effort to do the same in Missouri, but legislation legalizing sports betting faces long odds of passing this year.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the legislative roadblocks preventing that from happening.
Then, the podcast dives into the evolution of Missouri’s rural economies and their biggest challenges.
This episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the state of renewable energy adoption in Missouri and the choices consumers face when considering a switch against the backdrop of rising prices and a volatile economy.
Then, the podcast looks into the recently announced Taylor Geospatial Institute and the broader push to advance the geospatial industry in St. Louis.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at maker spaces and the effect these facilities hope to have on spurring small businesses growth in Missouri.
Then, we hear from the owner of an event company about the return of live events and what kind of staying power virtual events may have.
In this week's episode, we talk to Jennifer Garrett-Hart, a small business award winner who’s built a successful construction company in Kansas City.
Then, we dive into the economic and cultural impact of the new stadium for the Kansas City Current, the city’s first professional women’s soccer team.
This week's episode examines the approach James Bullard, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, is taking to tackle inflation.
Then we look at a type of business that’s been both hurt and helped by the pandemic: coworking office spaces.
This episode of the Business Brief podcast examines regulations from the Biden administration targeting consolidation in the meatpacking industry and how these policies affect Missouri.
It also looks at unsuccessful efforts establish a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Columbia and how the issues such a group would have attempted to address continue to affect businesses today.
This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at how Missouri coffee shops have adjusted to rising prices of coffee beans and long wait times for materials.
Also, we look at the history of a tax credit program designed to attract filmmakers to shoot movies in Missouri — and the latest effort to revive it.
On this week's episode of Business Brief, we examine the pay-to-play nature of club volleyball and how it can determine athletes’ access to college scholarships. After that, we look at Ice Cream Factory, a family-owned mid-Missouri ice cream producer that is starting to develop a national footprint.
Major League Baseball announced this week that the start of its regular season will be canceled because of an ongoing labor dispute between owners and the players' union. This week’s episode of the Business Brief podcast goes beyond the owners and players to look at the effects of the lockout on stadium workers and local businesses in Kansas City and St. Louis.
Plus, the podcast checks in on Columbia Startup Weekend. The startup pitch event, which over the last decade has given rise to multiple now-thriving companies, returned last week after a pandemic hiatus.
In the latest episode of the Business Brief podcast, we hear from Black entrepreneurs about the challenges they have faced finding funding in Missouri, and how they managed to overcome some of the hurdles in their path.
Then we look at the state's medical marijuana industry and what's been done to address a lack of diversity in the nascent sector.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast begins with a business that’s no stranger to staffing challenges: child care. The pandemic has added stress to a child care system that was already under strain, and this week we hear from one Missouri facility about the challenges it has faced.
Then, the podcast looks at the obstacles Missouri faces in its efforts to boost entrepreneurship, digging into a new report that proposes strategies for increasing innovation in the state.
The latest episode of the Business Brief podcast examines an issue that has been literally hidden underground across the state for years — orphaned oil wells. We learn what risks these wells pose, and what is been done to address them.
Plus, with Valentine's Day coming up, this week's episode looks at small businesses in Missouri that are showing love by embracing the social enterprise model.
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast looks at the state of live entertainment venues and a proposed grant program to help keep them open amid continued pandemic challenges.
Then, it examines the positives and risks of monoculture, a technique that has allowed farmers to increase efficiency and boost food production — but has recently faced questions from some consumers.
Missouri doesn't have the same reputation for wine as regions like Napa Valley. But one company wants to change that. The Hoffman Family of Companies is working to turn Augusta, a town of about 300 people in east-central Missouri, into a national destination for wine tourism. Not everyone in Augusta is happy about that.
In this week's episode of the Business Brief podcast, we dive into a plan to invest more than $100 million into winemaking and tourism in Augusta and its effect on local business and residents.
Also, the labor market has been chaotic since the pandemic began, and small businesses feel that especially acutely. As workers quit jobs and demand more of employers, we check in on how small businesses are navigating the challenge of hiring and retaining workers.
The Market Dives podcast continues its look at the business and economic indicators that will help tell the story of 2022.
The second episode of this two-part forecast focuses on indicators measuring business confidence, auto inventory, home foreclosures and workspace shifts.
While 2021 brought significant recovery from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the year also saw labor shortages, supply chain disruptions and rising prices.
What can we expect in the new year? The Market Dives podcast wraps up 2021 and looks ahead to 2022 with a focus on some of the key economic indicators that will help tell the story of the next year — and beyond.
The first episode of this two-part look-ahead focuses on key indicators for labor markets, agricultural commodities, fuel prices and electric vehicles.
Missouri ranked second in the country in 2020 in coal-generated electricity. But the state is undergoing a shift away from coal.
In the latest episode of the Market Dives podcast, we look at how this transition is going and what the path toward a different energy profile looks like.
Businesses are trying to cope with the holiday season crunch in an economic climate the likes of which they have never experienced. With some projections forecasting the biggest holiday season ever for retailers, business owners are facing high demand while contending with supply chain issues, labor challenges and other lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This week's episode of the Market Dives podcast looks at challenges facing Missouri businesses as the Christmas season approaches.
First, we hear how some local retailers are getting creative to survive this vital part of the year that contributes nearly half of all revenue for some businesses.
Then, we get a glimpse at the idiosyncrasies of the seasonal labor market and what holiday hiring looks like in 2021. At a time of the year when many companies are looking to staff up, how's that going with job openings still near record highs?
Demand for housing has skyrocketed during the pandemic, but homebuilders and remodelers haven’t caught up because of labor shortages and long wait times for raw materials, tripling the timeline of some housing projects.
On Oct. 1, Missouri is experiencing something that hasn't happened in a quarter century: an increase to the state's gas tax. The driving force behind that tax hike? Transportation infrastructure. This episode of Market Dives examines how the tax increase addresses a growing need for funding in Missouri’s roads, bridges and more.
From the team that brings you the Speaking Startup podcast comes a new podcast: Market Dives.
The show dives into big developments across business, politics, sports and more, explains the economic forces driving them and helps you understand why they matter in Missouri.
On the first episode of Market Dives, we tackle the topic of compensation for college athletes. Landmark decisions this summer mean that NCAA athletes can now earn money from endorsements for the first time. We examine what that means to the big business of college sports, to the athletes themselves and even to sports at lower levels.
Market Dives is collaboration between Missouri Business Alert and KBIA.
The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast is a tale of two types of retail.
First, we visit with St. Louis entrepreneur Doug Spencer. He's co-CEO of Bold Xchange, an ecommerce startup looking to boost Black-owned businesses by providing them the exposure and connections they need to grow.
Then, we hear another story from our Outstate series on entrepreneurship in small-town Missouri. This installment takes us to an Amish community in eastern Missouri to learn about the entrepreneurs there — and how the pandemic has driven a surge in demand for their products.
In the midst of Midwest Black Restaurant Week, we set out to find Missouri entrepreneurs getting involved in the second-year event.
We wound up talking with a trio of entrepreneurs participating in the event for the first time — because it's their first year in business. On the latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast, we dig into three Black restaurateurs' reasons for starting food-service businesses during a time that's been particularly tough on the industry.
Plus, we hear from Elango Thevar, the founder of St. Louis-based startup Neer. His company is trying to help small and midsize communities solve issues with their water infrastructure using artificial intelligence.
In the fall of 1839, a young boy named Samuel Clemens moved with his family to Hannibal, Missouri. Almost two centuries later, Clemens — more commonly known by his pen name, Mark Twain — has given the town an international reputation.
Hannibal is perhaps best known as the childhood home of Twain and the setting of some of his most famous books, including "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Tourists now flock to the town to learn more about the author, and many businesses in the downtown district have sought to honor his legacy.
For the latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast, we traveled to Hannibal to learn more about businesses with ties to Twain’s legacy in the northeast Missouri town.
Plus, we spoke with the organizers of HERImpact Kansas City, a new pitch competition for female social entrepreneurs, to learn about the event and the need for funding of women-led startups.
In the eastern Missouri town of Bowling Green, the demolition of a pair of prominent buildings a few years ago left a void in the downtown district, and ultimately it inspired a revitalization effort.
City leaders are pursuing a host of ideas for reinvigorating the business district. But those big plans start with small, wooden structures. The city has three chalets that provide short-term homes for young businesses looking to test their concepts without the burden of long-term leases.
The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast looks at how the chalet strategy is playing out in Bowling Green.
Plus, as the threat of cyberattacks has proliferated, so have businesses focused on cybersecurity. From technology companies trying to neutralize cyber threats to insurance firms looking to mitigate financial damage from hacks, Kansas City is home to a growing number of businesses addressing the needs arising from cyber threats.
Many businesses have been hit hard by the cancellation of large, indoor events as a result of COVID-19. According to the Live Events Coalition, an industry group, 90% of events businesses have seen cancellations since the beginning of the pandemic.
But in the face of diminished demand for some events, other options have … popped up.
Pop-up picnics have been one area of the event industry that has thrived. The plush affairs are often complete high-end dinnerware, custom table settings, themed decor and gourmet catering. And they've caught fire recently on social media.
In the latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast, we speak with entrepreneurs who started pop-up picnic businesses in Missouri over the last year about why they think the trend has been so popular and what the future holds.
Plus, in the latest story from our Outstate series on entrepreneurship in small-town Missouri, we speak with 19-year-old Olivia Niemeyer, owner of Two Scoops Ice Cream in Bowling Green, about her family’s passion for entrepreneurship.
This week's episode of the Speaking Startup podcast is a holiday-themed entrepreneurship extravaganza.
First, from bubble buses to beer trucks, entrepreneurs across Missouri who cater to crowds at large public events are bracing for brisk business this weekend with the return of large July Fourth events. It’s a different scene from last summer, when as many as 80% of Independence Day celebrations were shut down due to COVID-19.
Plus, after record consumer spending on fireworks last year, Missouri retailers are seeing strong demand again this year. Strain to the global supply chain has led to diminished supply, but it hasn't dampened the outlook of sellers across the state.
The U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, or USICA, is a $250 billion bill aimed at boosting the U.S. semiconductor industry, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics and more.
The legislation, viewed as an effort to encourage American competition with the growing high-tech sector in China, passed the U.S. Senate earlier this month and is working its way through the House.
To learn more about what the bill might mean in Missouri, the latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast features a conversation with Ben Johnson, vice president of programs at BioSTL, a nonprofit that works to support startups and entrepreneurship in St. Louis.
Plus, we hear from Black entrepreneurs in Kansas City who participated in a recent Startland News event focused on systemic inequalities affecting Black-owned businesses in their community.
Neobanks are a type of financial technology, or fintech, aimed at making banking faster, cheaper and easier. They have grown significantly, especially alongside racial protests over the last year highlighting financial inequities, which have been exacerbated partly by lack of access to banking.
Tim Prier started one of these neobanks, called Wicket, in the Kansas City area. He saw it a way to reach communities that couldn't access traditional banking services.
The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast looks at upstart neobanks, the problems they are trying to address and the challenges they face.
Plus, the latest installment of the Outstate project on entrepreneurs in small-town Missouri takes us to Kirksville. There, we heard from immigrant entrepreneurs who have started businesses in the food sector, bringing a taste of their home to Missouri.
It's no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought extreme difficulties for bars and restaurants. More than 110,000 of those businesses across the U.S. shuttered either permanently or temporarily last year, according to the National Restaurant Association.
Still, amid widespread closures resulting from the pandemic, some business owners have gotten bars and restaurants off the ground over the last year-plus. The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast looks at two such businesses.
First, in a new installment from our Outstate project on entrepreneurs in small-town Missouri, we hear from Kirksville business owner Laci Cook. She made an usual business pivot during the pandemic, selling her pet grooming business and opening a wine bar.
Then, we visit with Sid Panchal, owner of vegan Indian restaurant Bombay Food Junkies in St. Louis. Panchal followed a similar trajectory to many food service businesses, starting as a food truck before establishing a brick-and-mortar location in early 2020.
Jonaie Johnson grew up in a single-parent household with a mom she describes as "the epitome of a businesswoman," and Johnson knew from a young age that she wanted to run her own business.
In high school, she hatched the idea for a connected device to enable busy dog owners to monitor and interact with their pets remotely. Now a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Johnson is the founder of Interplay, a startup developing that device. And when Johnson's not studying or working on her startup, she's starting at guard for the UMKC women's basketball team, which she led in assists last season.
It's a schedule that sometimes means sacrificing sleep, but Johnson finds a way. "I'm a firm believer of, you make time for what's important to you," she said.
The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast features a conversation with Johnson about her startup's progress and her experiences balancing books, business and basketball.
Plus, the latest installment of our series on Black farmers looks the impact education and representation have on Black students who aspire to make careers in the agriculture industry.
The special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, has seen a surge in popularity recently.
A SPAC is company without any operations that goes public for the purpose of acquiring another company, effectively enabling the acquired company to go public without the same scrutiny and processes it would have to navigate in an initial public offering.
Te number of SPACs to go public jumped to 248 last year from 59 in 2019, an increase of 320%, according to data from the website SPACInsider. This year's total has already eclipsed last year's mark, with more than 300 SPACs going public to date.
The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast explores the explosion of SPACs and the affect they are having on startups in Missouri.
Plus, a rise in anti-Asian hate incidents since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic has been felt acutely at businesses run by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The most common site for these instances of discrimination has been places of business, according to the nonprofit organization Stop AAPI hate. We visited with Asian American entrepreneurs from across Missouri to hear about their experiences over the last year.
From pitches in the "Shark Tank," to bars being rescued, to diners, drive-ins and dives getting Fieri'd, TV today is littered with examples of entrepreneurs sharing their stories and seeking expert advice. It's a tried-and-true formula for compelling television.
And for the businesses involved? Missouri entrepreneurs who have been featured on shows like "Shark Tank," "Bar Rescue" and "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" will tell you their reality doesn't always match what ends up on the airwaves. But all seem to agree with the old adage that there's no such thing as bad publicity.
The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast looks at what being featured on television shows has meant for Missouri entrepreneurs.
Plus, with esports continuing to grow globally and draw increasing sponsorship dollars for local university teams, we look at how local businesses are looking to ride the wave of growing interest in collegiate esports.
The subject of social entrepreneurship may call to mind big brands like footwear company Toms Shoes and eyewear retailer Warby Parker, but social enterprises come in all different shapes and sizes.
The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast looks at Missouri entrepreneurs running businesses that aim to address social, cultural and environmental problems.
Plus, the latest installment from our series on Black farmers in Missouri looks at different agricultural operations in Kansas City's urban core, where people are taking an entrepreneurial approach to revitalizing communities and combating food insecurity.
Though economic recessions historically lead to increased unemployment, they also can lead to increased entrepreneurial activity. Dane Stangler, director of strategic initiatives at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception.
Census numbers show a surge in business applications in the second half of 2020. Stangler said one cause of this is that when people lose their jobs and can’t find another, their next best option is to become self-employed.
The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast digs into recession entrepreneurship data to get a sense of what the entrepreneurial landscape may look like after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Plus, we hear from Sarah Hill, the founder of Healium, a Columbia-based augmented and virtual reality startup focused on relieving stress. In a recent presentation, Hill shared lessons she’s learned while getting her startup off the ground.
Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have been drawing lots of attention — and investment — in recent weeks. Earlier this month, the digital artist Beeple set a record for the sale price of an NFT when a piece of digital art he created sold at auction for more than $69 million.
But it's not just artists that are tapping into the capabilities of NFTs, which are unique digital assets whose ownership is authenticated using blockchain technology. Early adopters of NFTs say the technology has potential for use across a variety of industries.
In this week's episode of the Speaking Startup podcast, some of those early adopters project what the adoption of NFTs could mean for the broader business world.
Plus, the owners of live music venues and the performers whose careers rely on those venues have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Though some have shuttered, others in Missouri have found ways to keep going — and a new wave of federal aid is expected to provide more relief.
Entrepreneurs are often known for working around the clock to keep their business afloat. But is sacrificing sleep for work actually what’s best for business?
According to Jeff Gish, an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Central Florida, the answer is no. Gish’s research shows that a lack of sleep can have a negative impact on decision making.
“We found that when you're sleep deprived, you still come up with the same amount of ideas, but they're just not as good. So they aren't as commercially viable when you're sleep deprived. And you're more likely to fall for or pursue an ill fated business opportunity,” Gish said.
On the latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast, we dig into the subject of sleep in entrepreneurship.
Plus, we hear from Maxine Clark, the founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop. The entrepreneur made her name building a retail empire but has focused her recent efforts on enabling other entrepreneurs and bridging racial and economic divides in St. Louis.
The coronavirus pandemic has posed an existential threat to businesses in the health and fitness sector, with various industry estimates suggesting more than one in seven gyms has closed for good since the onset of COVID-19.
The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association estimated that 15% of gyms and fitness studios had shuttered through the third quarter of 2020. A December report from ClubIntel put that figure at 18%.
Still, some businesses in the sector have grown as others have shuttered. In Columbia, Jennifer Mullen expanded her Adaptable Pilates and Physical Therapy studio and is looking to make her first hire. Her approach to business has been, like the name of her studio, adaptable.
“Normal is always kind of adapting, you know," she said. "It has definitely evolved."
Plus, there's a new startup accelerator looking to put itself on the map in Missouri. Mission Control formed last year with a focus on early-stage startups working on the future of mobility, space and food technology, among other industries. Central to the accelerator's approach is pairing startups with students from universities in Missouri.
As Black History Month draws to a close, this week's episode of the Speaking Startup podcast digs into two stories of Black entrepreneurship in Missouri.
First, from Columbia's Sharp End business district to a St. Louis entrepreneur with ties to the famed Madam C.J. Walker, Missouri his a history rich with thriving Black businesses. We look at the evolution of some of those businesses and their legacies today.
Then, we hear from Black entrepreneurs looking to change the landscape of Missouri farming through their work in urban agriculture.
St. Louis entrepreneur Akeem Shannon has enjoyed a busy few months, pitching his smartphone accessory, the Flipstik, on the television show “Shark Tank” and earning a spot in the inaugural Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Accelerator at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
He credits opportunities like the accelerator with helping him gain important introductions and access. Shannon joined this week’s Speaking Startup podcast to discuss the new accelerator program, which he hopes can catalyze change in the startup landscape.
“Being a part of these programs is definitely a great first step in kind of changing that narrative in St. Louis, and really around the country,” Shannon said. “It’s not just a St. Louis-based issue.”
Also in this week's episode, we look into entrepreneurs who are trying to make waves in the business of beers and bars — without the booze.
Beverage companies and bars are trying to attract customers with the idea of alcohol-free versions of experiences and products that would typically involve alcohol.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Shelley Cooper saw an increasing demand for health care and a shortage of doctors.
Cooper found a solution through virtual doctors appointments. She founded telehealth consultancy Diversity Telehealth in 2014. In 2019, she launched SureShow, a startup that works to help doctors replace no-show appointments with virtual visits.
Once the pandemic hit, Cooper saw her industry really take off.
Telehealth has grown into a $3.5 billion industry, according to market research company IbisWorld, up from around $500 million in 2014.
Cooper and others in the sector say virtual doctor visits will have longevity after the pandemic. In this week's Speaking Startup podcast, we look into telehealth's rise and staying power.
Plus, as distance medicine thrives, the same cannot be said for other industries, like food service. We spoke with one Missouri entrepreneur using an app to encourage people to support restaurants, while also fighting food insecurity.
When the COVID-19 pandemic created more uncertainty than startup investors could handle, they took a break. But it didn’t last long.
Brian Matthews, a founder and general partner of St. Louis-based venture capital firm Cultivation Capital, said after a few months of watching the market, the group decided to jump right back in to investing.
Data suggest Cultivation Capital wasn't the only firm to react this way. Despite the pandemic, 2020 brought more venture capital investment than 2019, according to a Crunchbase report.
Also, as the pandemic has brought new attention to the food supply chain, some local farms have seen a boom in interest. This week, we spoke with Brooke Salvaggio of Kansas City's URBAVORE urban farm, who said sales for small, organic farms like hers are "through the roof."
Speaking Startup: A pandemic, a Netflix hit and a chess boom by Missouri Business Alert
Hunting in the U.S. has grown over the past few decades to be a billion-dollar industry. That has implications for entrepreneurs in Missouri, where hunting-related businesses draw outsiders to spend time — and money — in rural communities.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. has seen "unprecedented spikes" in hunting and fishing, according to Matt Dunfee of the Wildlife Management Institute. However, that hasn't necessarily translated into improved profits for local businesses.
The latest installment of our Outstate series on entrepreneurship in small-town Missouri took us to Macon, in the northeast corner of the state, where a wide array of businesses depend on hunting.
Plus, the mid-Missouri town of Eldon has been hit by hardship in back-to-back years. In the spring of 2019, a tornado ripped through the town of about 4,600. This year, Eldon finds itself grappling with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. We checked in with the publisher of the local newspaper to get a sense of how businesses in Eldon are faring.
With the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's $1.7 billion new western headquarters under construction in St. Louis, a flurry of activity around geospatial technology has followed. The federal intelligence agency isn't scheduled to move into its new facility until 2025, but numerous efforts — especially at the intersection of geospatial technology and early-stage business — have been announced in recent months, with St. Louis looking to strengthen its position as a hub for the industry.
The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast features a leader of those efforts, Mark Tatgenhorst. He is the founding director of Geosaurus, a geospatial resource and innovation center affiliated with the T-Rex startup space in downtown St. Louis. He joins this week's show to discuss recent developments in the area's geospatial technology sector.
Plus, the latest installment of our Outstate project on entrepreneurship in small-town Missouri takes us to the southwest part of the state. There, fifth-generation farmer Kevin Johansen is trying to bring the gig economy to farming with his startup, AgButler.
From honey to paw paws, the final pre-Thanksgiving episode of Speaking Startup features a veritable cornucopia of Missouri produce.
First, we look at the business of bees. Honey bee colonies add $15 billion of value to U.S. agriculture annually, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report, but the U.S. honey bee population has declined by almost half since the 1940s. Today, entrepreneurs across Missouri are working with bees to help the pollinator ecosystem — and build businesses.
Then, we look at the paw paw. Not familiar? You're not alone. The fruit is native to Missouri but is unique in both its taste and appearance. But Missouri entrepreneurs see potential in paw paw-derived products, from brandy and gelato.
In Kimmswick, located about 25 miles downriver from St. Louis, flooding and the coronavirus pandemic have dealt back-to-back blows to local businesses and the municipal budget.
Two major festivals in Kimmswick — the Apple Butter Festival and the Strawberry Festival — have been canceled the last two years. The events can draw 100,000 visitors to the small town and account for about 80% of municipal revenue.
Business owners are struggling, too. In the latest installment of Outstate, our series on entrepreneurship in small-town Missouri, we look at how Kimmswick entrepreneurs are finding creative ways to attract customers to help both their businesses and the town.
Plus, Global Entrepreneurship Week kicks off Monday. Because of the pandemic, the annual celebration of entrepreneurs has been forced to pivot this year. Jenny Miller of KCSourceLink, one of the event's lead organizers in Kansas City, joined the podcast to discuss how Global Entrepreneurship Week is going virtual.
Nearly two in three small business owners said they were more interested in this year's election than in the 2016 election, and 40% of entrepreneurs said they were "much more" interested this year, according to a September survey from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Election interest was especially high in the Midwest, where 71% of small business owners expressed interest in this year's proceedings.
On the eve of the election, the latest Speaking Startup episode features perspectives from a handful of Missouri entrepreneurs on this year's vote, which comes amid unprecedented and difficult circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Plus, driven in part by pandemic shifts and election-related demand, businesses in the notary industry are modernizing and flourishing. We look at what that has meant for some Missouri entrepreneurs.
Kansas City's BCP Tech Accelerator concluded its first cohort earlier this month. The debut was not without challenges.
The coronavirus pandemic delayed the start of the accelerator and forced it to go from an in-person format to a virtual one. But the program, which is focused on startups developing technology for the insurance brokerage industry, eventually went on.
Nathan Kurtz of Brush Creek Partners, the insurance brokerage behind the accelerator, joined the Speaking Startup podcast to discuss challenges and lessons learned from launching an accelerator in a pandemic.
Plus, in another story of a pandemic-driven pivot, we look at the rise of so-called ghost kitchens — restaurants without dine-in options that make food exclusively for delivery. St. Louis chef Adam Pritchett talked with us about KC Bones, a ghost kitchen he helped launch after the coronavirus hit.. St. Louis chef Adam Pritchett talked with us about KC Bones, a ghost kitchen he helped launch after the coronavirus hit.
Thrift shopping and resale have grown significantly over the last few years, and Missouri entrepreneurs are riding the wave of that popularity.
Take Caylin Willis and Jared Armstrong, the co-founders of vintage and upcycled clothing store Yvonne and Mitchel. The couple turned a love of fashion and thrifting into a social media-driven clothing resale business.
"We tried to tell (people) that you can just go to the thrift store and find really cool stuff for really cheap," Willis said. "But a lot of people we found just didn't really have the patience to search. We saw an opportunity there.”
On the latest episode of Speaking Startup, we look at the business of thrifted and upcycled clothing, which is expected to be a $64 billion industry in the next five years, according to a report from the resale brand thredUP.
Plus, following the announcement of the inaugural Kindness in Business awards, we hear the stories of several mid-Missouri entrepreneurs who have been recognized for their exemplary kindness in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fast-growing plant science startup Benson Hill cut the ribbon on a new headquarters in Creve Coeur last month, officially opening a facility the company dubbed "a new home for the future of food."
Jason Bull, who became Benson Hill's CTO earlier this year, joined the Speaking Startup podcast to discuss his company's trajectory and the significance of its new headquarters, which he called "a symbol of our growth and how our innovations are panning out."
Plus, as local governments across Missouri have grappled with how to regulate businesses during the pandemic, entrepreneurs in the bar and restaurant industry have been forced to navigate an evolving set of challenges. Lydia Melton, the owner of Columbia bar and cafe Gunter Hans and former president of the Mid-Missouri restaurant association, shared the story of how she has worked to keep her business going amid changing regulations.
Kyle Richards, Derick Thornton and Dade Sprague form RTS Trio, a Maryville business that manages vending machines, rental property and an expansive Ebay store — with plans to open a brick-and-mortar store.
The three would be juniors at Northwest Missouri State University this fall. But, after launching their company in February and weathering the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, they opted to step away from school for the fall to focus on building their business.
In the latest episode of Speaking Startup, we hear the story of the entrepreneurial trio and how they have fared since taking the plunge into entrepreneurship during a pandemic.
Plus, Columbia's Regional Economic Development Inc. has a new entrepreneurship coordinator. Jay Sparks joins the podcast to discuss his own experiences as an entrepreneur and what he hopes to offer the mid-Missouri entrepreneurial community in his new role.
Women make up half of the total college-educated workforce. However, in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or STEM — fields, women only make up 28% of the workforce. The disparity is even more pronounced when it comes to women of color.
Cheryl Cooper is looking to help close that gap. She's the founder of Women in Security Mentors, an organization based in the Kansas City area that helps women interested in the cyber security field by providing education, workshops and professional connections. On this week's episode of Speaking Startup, we speak with Cooper about why these gaps in STEM exist and how she assists those looking to enter the field.
Plus, St. Louis entrepreneur Sarah Schlafly's search for an affordable, sustainable source of protein led her to insects. We chat with Schlafly about her company, Mighty Cricket, which makes high-protein food products out of crickets.
Male and female startup founders whose companies raise capital are equally likely to lead those companies to sales or initial public offerings, according to a study from researchers at the Columbia Business School and London Business School. The trouble is, female-led ventures are 63% less likely than male-led ventures to obtain such funding.
Those funding disparities were one topic addressed at the virtual Startup Missouri Expo, which ran from Tuesday to Thursday and addressed a range of startup subjects. On this week's episode of Speaking Startup, we dig into a discussion from the expo on funding gaps that exist between male- and female-founded companies.
Plus, we chat with St. Louis entrepreneur Janna Westbrook, who is trying to build a health care startup in the midst of a pandemic. Westbrook's company, Provider Pool, just completed the Techstars Kansas City accelerator and wants to bring its health care staffing software to the masses.
Maria Kunstadter remembers hearing a speaker discuss the jaw-dropping statistics. Toothaches perennially rank among the leading reasons for emergency room visits, she said, driving $1.7 billion in annual emergency room spending.
Kunstadter's answer to that conundrum, The TeleDentists, is a startup that connects people with dentists for virtual oral health consultations in an effort to save them time and money. The Kansas City-based company has really taken root since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, fielding hundreds of calls some days, according to Kunstadter.
On this week's episode of the Speaking Startup, we chat with The TeleDentists co-founder about her company's origins, its pandemic-fueled growth and the future of telehealth.
Plus, as more municipalities across the state embrace mask mandates as a means of slowing the spread of the coronavirus, business owners in places without mask orders face decisions. We spoke with Hannibal restaurateur Tara Hausman about how she has approached that decision.
Across Missouri, startups have shifted their products and services in response to the the COVID-19 pandemic.
Multiple businesses that have undergone pandemic pivots participated in the Black & Veatch COVID-19 Response Accelerator. The program, run by Kansas City-area engineering firm Black & Veatch, was created to help accelerate the growth of businesses trying to address problems presented by COVID-19. On this week's podcast, we caught up with a couple of Missouri-based companies that participated in the program.
Plus, we visited with the co-founder of a vegan food truck and restaurant in Kansas City who is building a business while trying to shift costumers' attitudes about the food she serves.
Entrepreneurs start businesses for all sorts of reasons. For some, the motivation stems from discrimination or an unwelcoming environment at a previous job.
Research points to the value of diversity within a workplace. Companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 15% more likely to outperform their peers, and companies in the top quartile for ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to do the same, according to a study by McKinsey & Company.
On this week's episode of speaking startup, we look at entrepreneurs who are driven to start companies because of a desire for more diversity and representation — and how inclusive cultures can help companies thrive.
Plus, the 10th rendition of Kansas City's Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair was forced online by the coronavirus pandemic. We talk with the fair's founder about what that means for the event and the makers it traditionally brings together.
With businesses disrupted, employees working remotely and lots of people seeking the latest information about the coronavirus, the pandemic has been something of a perfect storm for cybersecurity.
Since the start of the pandemic, cyberattacks have gone up by 300%, according to the FBI’s Cyber Division.
On this week’s podcast we explore the roots of that increase in cyberattacks and how people can protect themselves and their information.
Plus, we speak with Ann Duplessis, senior vice president at Liberty Bank, the only Black-owned bank in the state. Duplessis discusses how the bank is faring and how it supports the Black community.
Millennials are the target of plenty of criticism. Other generations say they're narcissistic, need constant validation and overspend on avocado toast.
A critique less frequently leveled against the generation is its lack of entrepreneurial inclination. But some research published by the Small Business Administration suggests millennials are the least entrepreneurial generation in a century.
On this week's podcast, we dig into that idea, looking at some of the numbers on entrepreneurship by generation and exploring the gap between millennials' desire and ability to start a business.
Plus, with economic fallout from the coronavirus forcing late cuts to Missouri's 2021 budget, the Missouri Technology Corp. stands to lose $1 million in state funding. We discuss the latest in series of funding cuts over the last few years could mean for the private-public partnership and its efforts to support technology entrepreneurs in the state.
As calls to support Black-owned businesses grow, Christal Rogers is taking a grassroots approach to that effort. A Black entrepreneur herself, Rogers founded an organization called Brownpreneurs, which seeks to teach principles of entrepreneurship to African American youth.
"As we pursue this endeavor to shop Black and look at racial equality, we need to look within the industries and actually make (entrepreneurship) a possibility," Rogers said, "if not for our generation for the generation that’s coming behind us."
Plus, with local news organizations devoting much of their limited time and resources to chronicling the coronavirus pandemic this year, some journalists in the Kansas City area became concerned that coverage of other subjects was being overlooked — especially local government.
Now, in tandem with the nonprofit group KC Digital Drive, some local media organizations are trying to address that weakness.
Discussion of coworking among those who support it most are often peppered with descriptions like communal, collaborative and close-knit.
In the age of COVID-19 and social distancing, many of those once-complimentary descriptions are akin to four-letter words.
Amid that shift, shared workspace operators and tenants have been forced to adjust. This week's episode of Speaking Startup features a conversation with Ben Rao, founder of Bridge Space, a coworking facility in the Kansas City area. He discusses how his facility has navigated coronavirus adjustments.
Plus, downtown Columbia's biannual restaurant week is designed to drum up customers for local establishments during what's typically a slow season. But this year, with business already brought to a halt by the coronavirus, restaurant week has taken on a different feel for many local restaurant entrepreneurs.
Early numbers on job losses resulting from the coronavirus suggest women in the labor force have been hit especially hard by the pandemic. But what about women business owners?
In this week’s episode of the Speaking Startup podcast, we look at how women entrepreneurs in Missouri are faring in the face of COVID-19.
Plus, as protests across the country have brought attention to police brutality and systemic racism, some people have sought ways to support black-owned businesses. We checked in with African American entrepreneurs in Kansas City to see how their businesses are holding up and get a sense of the challenges black entrepreneurs face.
With the COVID-19 pandemic leading to historical levels of job losses, entrepreneurship by necessity is likely to spike in the coming weeks and months, according to research of past recessions. The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast focuses on that type of entrepreneurship.
First, we look at entrepreneurship among formerly incarcerated people, who tend to experience high rates of unemployment even in healthy job markets. Kyle Smith co-founded Determination, Incorporated, a Kansas City-based nonprofit that encourages entrepreneurship among formerly incarcerated people, and he joined us to talk about his organization and entrepreneurship as an avenue for formerly incarcerated people.
Then, we explore entrepreneurship among fresh college graduates in a conversation with Becky Bocklage, program director of the Fishman Center for Entrepreneurship at Columbia College.
As lawmakers have worked this week to finalize the state's budget, entrepreneurial support organizations across Missouri have been watching with interest.
They are concerned about the downward trend in state funding for the Missouri Technology Corporation, a private-public partnership established to promote entrepreneurship and boost the growth of technology startups in the state.
Over the last few years, state funding for the MTC has decreased from more than $17 million per year to less than $3 million, and representatives from innovation centers across Missouri say that diminishes their ability to support entrepreneurs in the state.
On this week's podcast, we check in with a some of those innovation centers to get a sense of how they have handled decreased funding — and what additional cuts could mean.
Plus, in the latest installment from our Outstate series on entrepreneurship in small-town Missouri, we look at Weston, a popular getaway destination outside Kansas City. With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing tourism to a halt across the state, business owners in Weston have been forced to make significant adjustments.
In the small Missouri River town of Hermann, winemaking is big business. So is the tourism surrounding that wine industry.
The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated tourist traffic, presenting a new — and potentially existential — threat for small wineries looking to carve out their niche.
“This is probably our 2020 version of prohibition, when Hermann obviously made some huge changes," said Tammy Bruckerhoff director of tourism and economic development for the town.
On this week's podcast, we check in with Hermann's winemakers to get a sense of how they are faring as tourist traffic has dried up.
Plus, in the mist of a statewide stay-at-home order that has led to many businesses temporarily closing their doors, the owners of gyms and fitnesses businesses have tried to find ways to make up for lost revenue. For many, that has meant a move online.
For 20 years, the InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum has provided an annual opportunity for Midwestern startup founders to pitch in front of a room full of investors.
This year, that room full of investors is moving online.
Due to COVID-19, InvestMidwest will take place remotely this year. The conference is teaming up with the Midwest Growth Capital Symposium, an annual event held in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to host a series of startup pitches and investor meetings over the internet.
Phyllis Ellison, executive director of InvestMidwest, joined this week's podcast to discuss the process of moving the event online, and what ramifications the pandemic might have for early-stage investment.
Plus, in the face of the coronavirus, resilience is a must for entrepreneurs who hope to help their businesses survive. Missouri Business Alert's Isabelle Robles has been reporting on entrepreneurial resilience and joined the podcast to discuss a panel discussion she hosted on that very subject.
As the coronavirus pandemic started to spread across the world, Nick Ward-Bopp began to get requests to use the Kansas City-area makerspace where he works to produce personal protective equipment.
Ward-Bopp is makerSpace facilitator for the Black & Veatch MakerSpace at the Johnson County Library and co-founder of Maker Village KC.
Lately, the makerspace has been producing face shields and protective masks to help meet demand for the personal protective equipment during the pandemic.
Ward-Bopp joined the latest episode of Speaking Startup to discuss how makers are working to help meet the need for PPE.
Plus, University of Missouri student entrepreneur Drew Patel won $25,000 in a student pitch contest that pitted Patel against top student entrepreneurs from across the state. We visited with Patel about what the funding will mean to Pollinate, his startup that's building software for the ecommerce industry.
TripleBlind, a Kansas City startup that makes security software, has joined an international effort to develop an app using GPS data from mobile phones to track the spread of COVID-19 — without compromising users’ data security.
Greg Storm, a TripleBlind co-founder, joined Speaking Startup to discuss how TripleBlind is contributing to that effort while navigating the other challenges of running a business that’s less than a year old.
Plus, at a time when the coronavirus has cast uncertainty over all business planning, we looked at how that uncertainty is affecting investment in early-stage companies. Jim Gann, director of entrepreneurial support in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development at the University of Missouri, shared what he has seen in recent weeks from venture-backed startups and investors.
In the midst of a pandemic, as ever, cash is king.
That's one of the key early findings from a KCSourceLink survey assessing how Kansas City entrepreneurs are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak and the accompanying economic slowdown.
Miller joined this week's podcast to discuss that and other key findings from the survey, and to talk about how her organization is advising entrepreneurs in the midst of a crisis.
Plus, at a time when wedding season would normally be about to kick into high gear, we caught up Missouri entrepreneurs whose wedding-centric businesses are being forced to pivot by the cancellation of public events across the state.
This week's Speaking Startup podcast features two entrepreneurs who have hatched solutions to challenges being brought to the fore by the spread of the coronavirus.
First up: navigating remote work. Bryan Helmig is co-founder and chief technology of Zapier, a company that has been built using a remote team. Zapier employs some 300 people across more than 25 countries, and Helmig and his colleagues have gleaned insights about remote teams that they are now sharing with companies being forced to work from home by the pandemic.
After that: avoiding high-touch surfaces. Springfield entrepreneur Mike Sewell is one of the co-creators of the StepNpull, a tool for opening doors without touching handles. The product was designed to reduce the spread of germs and has seen a surge in demand due to the coronavirus.
Lindsay Zeiter wants to help make sure women have a prominent voice in the future of the growing gaming industry.
That's part of the motivation behind Girls Who Game, a Columbia-based organization that hosts camps to help girls build gaming skills and learn the basics of game programming.
Zeiter was one of the presenters this week at an event on the business of gaming hosted by Columbia's Regional Economic Development, Inc. She joined us afterward to discuss Girls Who Game.
Plus, as coronavirus-related cancellations pile up, Kansas City Fashion Week has canceled its spring events, which were set to take place this month. We caught up with Annette Sunshine, a designer and entrepreneur based in the Kansas City area, to discuss her business and the significance of the city's Fashion Week.
Today's Speaking Startup podcast takes us to a pair of rural Missouri towns for stories of how early-stage businesses affect smaller communities.
The first stop, Hamilton, in northwest Missouri, once was best known as the childhood home of James Cash "J.C." Penney, founder of the retail chain that still bears his name. Today, it's the birthplace of another business empire — the Missouri Star Quilt company, which has boosted the town's tourism business with its rapid growth over the last decade.
Then we turn our attention to Jonesburg, a town of about 800 that will house one of the state's 60 licensed medical marijuana cultivation facilities. We visited Jonesburg — and talked to residents of a similarly sized city in Colorado — to get a sense of what the new industry might mean to a town of its size.
In January, Melissa Vincent took over as executive director of the Kansas City-based organization, which runs a yearlong entrepreneurial fellowship for Midwestern startup founders and a maintains a nationwide network of alumni and supporters.
Two months into her tenure, Vincent visited with us about her vision for the organization and — as a recent transplant to Kansas City — her assessment of the city's startup landscape.
After that, we caught up with Kristen Brown, founder of Columbia-based ad agency Hoot Design Co.
Brown talked with us about her belief in the power of brand advocates and her plans as Hoot Design Co. enters its second decade in business.
What might a merger involving one of Kansas City's largest corporations mean for the city's startups? We explore that in this week's episode of Speaking Startup.
Sprint is based in suburban Kansas City and has been active in the area's startup community in recent years. Plus, the wireless carrier is a magnet for tech talent, bringing developers and engineers to the city.
Following a federal judge's approval of Sprint and T-Mobile's merger, we visited with Ryan Weber, president and CEO of the Kansas City Tech Council, about the deal.
Plus, we caught up with James DeWitt, co-founder and CEO of United American Hemp, about how his Kansas City-area company is trying to carve out a niche in the newly legal hemp market.
On this week's episode of the Speaking Startup podcast, we take a closer look at the hyperloop.
One company developing the futuristic transportation system says it could carry passengers between Kansas City and St. Louis in about half an hour, and that's led to lots of hyperloop buzz in Missouri. Already, state lawmakers have advanced a bill aimed at helping Missouri become the home of one of the world's first hyperloop tracks.
Despite that momentum, many questions remain. This week's episode digs into those.
On this episode of Speaking Startup, we hear about aspiring entrepreneurs in the medical marijuana business in Eldon, Missouri. Then we speak with Austin Barnes of Startland News about the Kansas City holiday gift guide. That, and the latest numbers and headlines in entrepreneurial news.
Here's the rundown:
• 2:30 - Latest headlines in entrepreneurship news • 5:01 - Medical Marijuana business in Eldon • 11:49 - Holiday Gift guide review with Austin Barnes of Startland News • 18:00 - Numbers in entrepreneurial news and a closing thought
On this episode of Speaking Startup, we speak to Linda Landon and Hope Snyder of RLadies-MidMO, a data science community in Columbia. Then we speak with Nickie Davis, the executive director of The District in downtown Columbia to talk about small business in the holiday season.
That, and the latest headlines and numbers in entrepreneurial news.
Here's the rundown:
• 2:25 - The week's startup headlines • 4:12 - Linda Landon and Hope Snyder of RLadies-MidMO, discuss their data science community for women • 9:57 - Nickie Davis, executive director of The District in downtown Columbia, looks ahead to the holiday season for local retailers • 17:00 - The latest numbers in entrepreneurial news and a closing thought
This week on Speaking Startup, it's almost Global Entrepreneurship Week.
The worldwide series of entrepreneurship-focused events takes place Nov. 18-22, and Kansas City is slated to host more than 200 of those events.
To mark the occasion and explore one of the week's key themes — inclusion — we visit with Mary Shannon, who's the founder of Connectus Worldwide and serves on the organizing team for Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kansas City.
Then, we chat with Nia Richardson of InnovateKC. The 16-week "startup in residence program" connects technology startups to city departments in an effort to develop solutions to challenges facing city government.
The full rundown: • 1:59 - Latest startup headlines • 4:20 - Mary Shannon of Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kansas City • 11:33 - Nia Richardson of InnovateKC • 20:37 - Important numbers in entrepreneurship
On this episode of Speaking Startup, we hear from Kelsey Ryan, the creator of the Beacon, a non-profit news organization launching in Kansas City.
Then, we spoke with Carrie Gartner, executive director of the Loop CID.
That, and the latest headlines in entrepreneurship news.
Here's the rundown:
1:44 latest headlines in entrepreneurial news 4:10 interview with Kelsey Ryan, of the Beacon 12:12 Interview with Carrie Gartner of The Loop 22:11 Digits and closing thought
In this episode of Speaking Startup, we hear from with Lauren Conaway, the founder of InnovateHER KC, a group that promotes the professional advancement of women in the Kansas City area.
After that, we sit down with Brandon Erbschoe and Jacob Muchow of QuarkWorks to talk about the Columbia app developer’s plans for expansion.
Plus, we have the week's news and numbers in Missouri startups.
Here's the full rundown:
• 2:12 – The week’s entrepreneurship headlines • 3:52 – Lauren Conaway, founder of InnovateHER KC • 14:28 – Brandon Erbschoe and Jacob Muchow of QuarkWorks • 21:27 – Numbers to know in Missouri startups and a closing thought
In this episode of Speaking Startup, we get tips for an effective elevator pitch from Columbia Startup Weekend organizers and participants.
Then, we travel to Glasgow to tell the story of Fred Foley, who pulls double duty as the owner and chef of a local restaurant and the mayor of the mid-Missouri town.
We also sit down with Conner Ruhl, whose idea of an app for paragliders was one of the big winners at Columbia Startup Weekend.
Here’s the full show rundown:
• 2:48 - The week's startup and entrepreneurship headlines • 3:52 - The art of the elevator pitch • 8:38 - Fred Foley, entrepreneur and mayor of Glasgow, Missouri • 13:11 - Conner Ruhl, Columbia Startup Weekend winner • 20:15 - Important numbers and a closing thought
In this episode of Speaking Startup, we speak with Cliff Holekamp, co-founder and managing director of Cultivation Capital.
Holekamp co-founded the St. Louis venture capital firm in 2012, and he recently retired from his position as an entrepreneurship professor at Washington University in St. Louis to focus more on his work at Cultivation Capital. His move comes at a big time for the firm: Cultivation Capital has recently announced the establishment of offices in Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
Here’s the full show rundown:
• 2:07 - Latest headlines in startup and entrepreneurship news • 3:42 - Interview with Cliff Holekamp, co-founder of Cultivation Capital out of St. Louis • 13:28 - Numbers and a quote for the road
On this episode of Speaking Startup, we hear an interview with Sandy Allison, the executive director of the Marshall-Saline Development Corporation in mid-Missouri. As part of Missouri Business Alert’s Outstate project, we spoke with Allison about her ideas on how to revitalize small towns like Marshall.
Then, we turn to a conversation with Dr. Michael Holtzman, a physician and professor at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Holztman has done pioneering research about respiratory disease, and he formed a startup to commercialize some of that research.
Here's the full rundown:
• 1:37 - The latest headlines in startup news • 3:44 - Interview with Sandy Allison, executive director at the Marshall-Saline Development Corporation • 7:32 - Interview with Dr. Michael Holtzman • 14:07 - Numbers in startup news, and a quote for the road
On this episode of Speaking Statrtup, we will hear an interview with Jessica Powell of the Kansas City Startup Foundation. She's helping organize #Back2KC, an event that aims to bring top professionals with Kansas City roots back to the area.
Then, we hear from we will hear a conversation reporter Rashi Shrivastava had with Naga Rayapati. Rayapati, who created GoGetter, a job matching marketplace for software contractors, says the gig economy is on the rise.
Here's the rundown: • 3:00 - The latest headlines in startup news • 4:55 - Jessica Powell, Back2KC organizer • 10:48 - Naga Rayapati, GoGetter founder • 18:15 - Numbers in startup news and closing thought
This week’s episode features a blend of entrepreneurial endeavors old and new.
First, we hear from RJ Pahura, co-founder of FUND Conferences. FUND hosts events to connect entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, and it's hosting its first Kansas City conference Oct. 9-10.
Then, we catch up with Gary White. He's the CEO of Kansas City-based Water.org, which uses microfinancing to bring water and sanitization to people around the world.
Here's the full rundown:
• 2:15 - Headlines • 3:30 - RJ Pahura of FUND Conferences • 11:05 - Gary White of Water.org • 15:27 - Notable numbers in startup news • 17:06 - Closing thought
On this episode of Speaking Startup, we speak with Rachel Anderson, the director of the Efactory in Springfield. The Efactory is a resource center for entrepreneurs that recently received a federal grant to allow its expansion.
Then, we hear from Jason Harrington, the founder of SpraySeeMO, a festival in Kansas City that highlighted spray-paint muralists.
Here's the full rundown:
- 2:45 - The latest headlines in startup and entrepreneurship news
- 4:52 - Jason Harrington, founder of the SpraySeeMO festival
- 10:51 - Rachel Anderson, director of the Efactory in Springfield
- 17:29 - Important numbers from the week gone by
- 19:00 - Closing thought
On this episode of speaking startup, Isabelle looks into a maker fair that was hosted by The Loop in Columbia and focused on small-scale entrepreneurship.
Then Seth shares his interview with Adam Arredondo, executive director of the Kansas City Startup Foundation, about a recent report that came out that has details about Kansas City businesses that gained venture funding.
The rundown: - 2:03 The latest headlines in startup and entrepreneurship news - 4:32 Audio postcard from the maker faire in Columbia - 9:31 Interview with Adam Arredondo, executive director of the Kansas City Startup Foundation - 16:07 The numbers that matter in entrepreneurial news and a quote for the road
After a brief hiatus, hosts Seth Bodine and Isabelle Robles are back with more of Missouri Business Alert's Speaking Startup podcast.
This week's show offers a glimpse of the entrepreneurial scene in Marshall. The mid-Missouri town was the destination for the latest installment of the Outstate project, which looks at entrepreneurship in small-town Missouri. In a sneak peek of our work from Marshall, we take a look at a staple of the town's business landscape — the square. (Stay tuned for much more from Marshall when the full project goes live later this month.)
Then, we hear Isabelle's interview with Meghan Winegrad, the founder and CEO of Generopolis, a St. Louis-based social venture and online marketplace. She reflects on running a mission-based startup.
Here's the full rundown:
- 0:53 - Startup news and headlines
- 2:26 - An audio postcard from the town square in Marshall
- 7:36 - A conversation with Meghan Winegrad of Generpolis
- 15:40 - Noteworthy entrepreneurship numbers and a quote for the road
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
This week, we traveled to a Missouri farm to speak to local entrepreneur Jessica Baker about her new business: goat yoga.
Then, we visited with Mindy McCubbin, one of the founders of a new angel investing group in Columbia, the Women’s Investment Network for Entrepreneurs.
Here's the breakdown:
• 1:52 - News and headlines • 4:06 - A look into the goat yoga industry • 8:58 - Conversation with Mindy McCubbin a founder of Women’s Investment Network for Entrepreneurs. • 17:44 - Noteworthy entrepreneurship numbers and a quote for the road
Produced by Seth Bodine and Isabelle Robles.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
This week, we stopped by the InfoAg conference in St. Louis to chat with Vijay Chauhan of GlobalSTL, an organization that works to recruit international startups to the St. Louis area.
Then, we visit with Anurag Patel, co-founder of Helix Health, a Kansas City startup that uses data analytics to help health care providers create preventive care for patients with chronic diseases.
Here's the breakdown:
• 1:40 - News and headlines • 3:45 - Conversation with GlobalSTL's Vijay Chauhan • 11:41 - Conversation with Helix Heatlh's Anurag Patel • 19:12 - Noteworthy entrepreneurship numbers and a quote for the road
Pitchin' is a short-run podcast from Missouri Business Alert, the same team that brings you Speaking Startup.
It goes behind the scenes with three student entrepreneurs who are juggling school and startups as they prepare for a pitch competition that could change their fortunes.
This week, find out who walked away from that pitch competition with the $15,000 grand prize, and who went home empty-handed.
The final episode of the podcast reveals how the three student entrepreneurs fared on Pitch Day. Plus, they reflect on what they took from the process and forecast where their startups will go from here.
(If you subscribe to Speaking Startup, you'll still get that podcast from this feed. But, through the end of July, you'll get this bonus podcast every Tuesday.)
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
This week, we hear from hear from Blake Miller, founder of Homebase, a Kansas City startup that makes software to help landlords manage "smart" residences.
We also have a conversation with Tara Gregor, owner of BreakWell. The St. Louis-based company brings wellness education to businesses, which Gregor says is important for employee productivity and retention.
Here's the rundown:
- 1:35 - Headlines from the week in startup news
- 2:42 - A discussion with Blake Miller of HomeBase
- 11:43 - A visit with Tara Gregor of BreakWell
- 18:05 - Noteworthy entrepreneurship numbers and a quote for the road
Pitchin' is a short-run podcast from Missouri Business Alert, the same team that brings you Speaking Startup.
Pitchin' goes behind the scenes with three student entrepreneurs who are juggling school and startups as they prepare for a pitch competition that could change their fortunes.
In Episode 4, Pitch Day arrives. The student entrepreneurs navigate last-minute changes, perfect their pitch decks, fine-tune their presentations and take the stage with up to $30,000 on the line.
Who walks away the winner? Well, for that you'll have to stay tuned for next week's episode.
(If you subscribe to Speaking Startup, you'll still get that podcast from this feed. But, through the end of July, you'll get this bonus podcast every Tuesday.)
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
This week, we check in with Kevin McGinnis. A former Sprint executive, McGinnis is now working to build the Keystone Innovation District, a district he envisions as a central hub for entrepreneurship in Kansas City.
We also chat with Kristen Williams, the CEO and creative director of a Columbia startup called Hempsley. Williams is part of a wave of entrepreneurs trying to build businesses in Missouri's burgeoning CBD industry.
Here's the full rundown of the show:
• 1:12 – Headlines from the week in Missouri startups • 2:23 – Kevin McGinnis of the Keystone Innovation District • 9:50 – Kristen Williams of Hempsley • 15:44 – Noteworthy numbers in entrepreneurship news and a quote for the road
Pitchin' is a short-run podcast from Missouri Business Alert, the same team that brings you Speaking Startup.
Pitchin' goes behind the scenes with three student entrepreneurs who are juggling school and startups as they prepare for a pitch competition that could change their fortunes.
In Episode 3, we explore the struggle, looking at what these entrepreneurs give up because of their startups — and why they believe those sacrifices are worth it.
(If you subscribe to Speaking Startup, you'll still get that podcast from this feed. But, through the end of July, you'll get this bonus podcast every Tuesday.)
Pitchin' is a short-run podcast from Missouri Business Alert, the same people that bring you Speaking Startup.
Pitchin' goes behind the scenes with three student entrepreneurs who are juggling school and startups as they prepare for a pitch competition that could change their fortunes.
In Episode 2, we talk about teams. All three of our entrepreneurs have different approaches to selecting the people with whom they will build their businesses. And those choices create unique dynamics — and challenges — for each of the startups.
(If you subscribe to Speaking Startup, you'll still get that podcast from this feed. But, through the end of July, you'll get this bonus podcast every Tuesday.)
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
In this week's show:
- 1:28 – Headlines from the past week in Missouri startup news
- 2:52 – An excerpt from Pitchin', a new podcast about student startups
- 6:47 – Talking capital with Kelly Sievers of the Women's Capital Connection in Kansas City
- 13:20 – Noteworthy numbers from the week gone by and a quote to close
Produced by Seth Bodine and Ralph Chapoco.
Pitchin' is a short-run podcast from Missouri Business Alert, the same team that brings you Speaking Startup.
Pitchin' goes behind the scenes with three student entrepreneurs who are juggling school and startups as they prepare for a pitch competition that could change their fortunes.
In Episode 1, we meet those three entrepreneurs and hear about their lightbulb moments, getting the stories behind the ideas that led them to become entrepreneurs.
(Note: If you subscribe to Speaking Startup, you'll still get that great podcast from this feed. But, for the next several weeks, you'll get a bonus podcast every Tuesday: Pitchin'.)
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
In this week's episode, we travel to a prison in Vandalia, where the state piloted a new program designed to teach prisoners the skills necessary to start their own businesses once they're released.
Then, we turn our attention to the future of transportation in an interview with Jy Maze, founder of Maze Freight Solutions, a 2-year-old freight and logistics company based in Kansas City.
Here's the full rundown:
- 0:54 – Headlines from the past week in Missouri startup news
- 2:15 – A look at Missouri's new prison entrepreneurship program
- 6:05 – Talking transportation with Jy Maze
- 13:25 – Noteworthy numbers from the week gone by and a quote to close
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
In our latest episode, we ask the question, "Your startup does what?" We talk with entrepreneurs behind some of the most unusual Missouri-based companies we've encountered to learn about where their ideas came from and how they turned them into viable businesses.
The rundown:
• 1:20 – We look at headlines from the past week in Missouri startup news. • 3:08 – Strange Donuts founder Jason Bockman discusses the process involved in making doughnuts that push people outside of their culinary comfort zone. • 10:52 – Gregg Miller shares the story behind Neuticles, his business that he says has sold more than 500,000 sets of prosthetic dog testicles since its founding. • 17:27 – Andre Glantz, the CEO of Gift-A-Meal, discusses the St. Louis startup's app that aims to help restaurants by appealing to diners' altruism. • 25:33 – We swap numbers that shed light on niche startups.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
On today’s show we’re taking a look at the business of music festivals in Missouri. At their core, they all share one thing: ambitious entrepreneurs looking to harness their growing popularity and make money. But in their race to become the Coachella of the Midwest, overspending or under-planning can lead to catastrophe.
The rundown:
1:47 – We take a look back at Missouri's Woodstock, the 1974 Ozark Music Festival at the state fairgrounds in Sedalia. 4:06 – LouFest founder Brian Cohen discusses the festival's heyday and what’s at stake when organizing a music festival. 15:00 – Charlie Greene from Borda Productions talks about the company’s history, their revenue and growth model, and what festival organizers need to prioritize to avoid catastrophe. 22:00 – We look back to last year's failed EDM festival Boonphoria, which left some fans and vendors claiming fraud. 24:08 – A look at some numbers from the music festival industry.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
Today’s show is all about the future of the medical cannabis industry in Missouri. Voters approved a constitutional amendment that legalized marijuana for medical use in November, opening the door for entrepreneurs and investors from across the state to participate in an industry that has proved lucrative in states like Colorado and California.
The rundown:
• 1:11 - A roundup of this week's startup news from across the state • 2:29 - We ask MoCannBizCon participants: What motivates you to join the medical marijuana industry in Missouri? • 4:00 - Jacob Treacy from California-based Bat Country Farms, discusses how he looks to bring his expertise to his native Missouri. • 10:35 - MoCannBizCon attendees tell us why now is the right time to enter the medical Marijuana industry in Missouri. • 11:33 - John Payne from Amendment 2 Consultants gives advice aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs need to know to get started. • 19:04 - MoCannBizCon attendees discuss the risks they anticipate they’ll face as they enter the industry. • 20:43 - A look at numbers in the news and important upcoming events
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
In this week’s episode, we look at the ad-tech industry. The web provides an unprecedented opportunity for advertisers to collect user data and more effectively advertise to them. But has this model grown old? The rundown:
• A roundup of this week’s startup news from across the state • We check in on Invisibly, the ad tech startup founded by St. Louis entrepreneur Jim McKelvey, following a speech from McKelvey at Missouri S&T. • We talk to Amos Angelovici, founder of Columbia-based startup AdSwapper, about rewarding users for consuming ads. • Columbia Missourian general manager and digital advertising consultant Bryan Chester discusses what ad tech means to publishers. • A look at numbers in the news and important upcoming events
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
In this week’s episode, we set out to answer a question: is the future of health care on your phone? We found that digital technology is not only the future, but a huge part of the present health care industry.
The rundown:
• 0:52 - A roundup of this week's startup news from across the state • 3:20 - Sickweather CEO Graham Dodge tells us how he leverages social media and public records data to help customers avoid illness. • 9:01 - Guy Friedman, co-founder and CEO of SteadyMD, discusses how he is using the internet to connect patients and doctors. • 15:05 - GlobalSTL founder Donn Rubin talks about the present and future of digital health technology in St. Louis and beyond. • 22:40 - A look at numbers in the news and important upcoming events
Check out more episodes of Speaking Startup: www.missouribusinessalert.com/tag/speaking-startup/
Credit to Elliot Bauman for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
In this week’s episode, we take a look at three organizations that are turning trash into treasure, making environmental sustainability a focus by recycling resources to generate revenue. The rundown:
• 0:45 - A roundup of this week's startup news from across the state • 3:12 - Avenue of Life CEO and Executive Director Desiree Monize explains the business of mattress recycling in Kansas City. • 8:15 - Meredith McAllister, co-owner of Compost Collective KC, discusses turning food scraps into a viable business. • 14:43 - Brian Pratt, vice president of real estate operations at Green Street St. Louis, talks about sustainable business development. • 21:40 - A look at numbers in the news and important upcoming events
Check out more episodes of Speaking Startup: http://www.missouribusinessalert.com/tag/speaking-startup/
Credit to Elliot Bauman for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs.
In this week’s episode, we check in with representatives from the state's four biggest startup ecosystems to to get a sense of what 2019 holds in store for early-stage companies in Missouri. The rundown:
• 0:42 - A roundup of this week's startup news from across the state • 2:58 - Startland News reporter Austin Barnes discusses Kansas City startups to watch in 2019 • 8:24 - Paige Oxendine, coordinator of Missouri State's eFactory, updates us on her organization's work and Springfield's startup scene • 13:44 - Jonathan Allen, editor-in-chief of EQ in St. Louis, discusses how the city's entrepreneurial ecosystem will continue its rise in 2019 • 19:38 - Columbia REDI entrepreneurship expert Collin Bunch looks at what makes his city startup scene unique
Check out more episodes of Speaking Startup: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Elliot Bauman for this episode's music.
For decades, the A.P. Green brick factory was the economic backbone of the city of Mexico, Missouri. Then, in 2002, it closed. Today, like many cities in America, this mid-Missouri city is reimagining itself as a haven for new business. It’s no longer a one-industry town.
This podcast is part of Outstate, a Missouri Business Alert project on entrepreneurship in small-town Missouri. For more from Outstate, visit http://www.missouribusinessalert.com/outstate
Episode credits: Production and editing - Annika Merrilees Reporting - Megan Liz Smith, Kristoffer Tigue Music - Elliot Bauman Editorial oversight - Michael Stacy
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode: • 0:57 - A rundown of startup news from across the state • 2:05 - Amanda Quick is the founder of the Hatchery, a coworking space in Columbia that offers childcare and maternity programs. Quick spoke about how she started the business, and what coworking means for female entrepreneurs. • 11:07 - A look at important numbers in coworking news Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/ Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode:
• 1:14 - A rundown of startup news from across the state • 2:37 - Robin Ann Morris, founder of an Ohio-based staffing agency for the medical marijuana industry, tells her story and offers advice to Missouri entrepreneurs interested in the cannabis business. • 8:23 - Kristen Williams is the founder of a Columbia-based startup called Hempsley, which provides educational materials on cannabis. Williams spoke about being a cannabis entrepreneur in a prohibition state. • 18:58 - A look at important numbers in cannabis entrepreneurship news
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode:
• 0:50 - A rundown of startup news from across the state • 1:47 - Arlan Hamilton founded Backstage Capital, a venture capital fund that invests in underrepresented founders. We interviewed Hamilton after her keynote address at the Vision conference in St. Louis. • 5:30 - Ethan Gooch started harvesting and re-selling prairie seed as a high school student. We talked with Gooch about conservation and balancing school with entrepreneurship. • 11:47 - A look at important numbers in recent entrepreneurship news
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode:
• 1:22 - Sheyvette Dinkens, a business teacher at Wyandotte High School in the Kansas City area, is turning her classroom into a coworking space. We interview Dinkens about the experiment. • 11:33 - Trisha Scudder, a University of Missouri alumna and longtime executive coach, recently returned to MU to accept an award and share insights from a career spent guiding top business leaders. We discuss the takeaways. • 15:50 - A look at important numbers in recent entrepreneurship news • 16:53 - A rundown of startup stories from across the state
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode:
• 1:13 - Last week was Techweek Kansas City. Startland News reporter Austin Barnes was there for it all, and he shared an update from the event. • 8:16 - Ross Scanlan and Jake Eovaldi, two of the founders of the app SL.APP, joined us to talk about their idea for revolutionizing the subleasing process, which won Startup Weekend Columbia. • 18:05 - A look at important numbers in recent entrepreneurship news • 19:22 - A rundown of startup stories from across the state
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode:
• 1:14 - Jack Schroeder, founder of the specialty sauce retailer Lost in the Sauce, talks with Elliot Bauman about running a business as a college senior.
• 7:50 - Amy Martin, creator "Threshold" podcast, talks to Megan Liz Smith about what it's like making a living as a podcaster, and what it takes to get started.
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode:
• 0:48 - A look at how technology is changing the grocery industry • 3:44 - We break down a new University of Missouri System accelerator to help student startups • 5:46 - Annika Merrilees sits down with AI entrepreneur Dave Copps • 20:32 - A look at important numbers from the week in entrepreneurship news • 21:46 - Top headlines in startup and entrepreneurship news from across Missouri
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode:
• 1:05 - LouFest, the St. Louis music festival, was unexpectedly cancelled three days before it was scheduled to begin. We talk about how it happened. • 4:07 - Missouri Gov. Mike Parson recently announced a special legislative session, and one of the priorities will be increasing access to computer science courses and building awareness of career opportunities through STEM. • 6:55 - Missouri Business Alert reporter Elliot Bauman talks to Scott Latham, a startup veteran and management professor, about the strategy — and risks — behind scooter startups’ aggressive go-to-market strategy. • 12:16 - A look at important numbers from the week in entrepreneurship news. • 13:53 - Top headlines in startup and entrepreneurship news from across Missouri.
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to Missouri entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode:
• 0:44 - On Tuesday, Missouri enacted a new regulating how plant-based meat alternatives and lab-grown meats are labeled. We discuss what that means to young businesses that make those products. • 2:45 - Over the last decade, the number of craft breweries operating in the St. Louis area has more than quadrupled. What's behind this craft brewing boom? • 4:54 - Reporter Ethan Stein interviews Parker Boron, a University of Missouri senior and the co-founder of marketing startup Apex Media • 16:57 - A look at important numbers from the week in entrepreneurship news • 17:56 - Top headlines in startup and entrepreneurship news from across Missouri
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to the state’s entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode: • 1:13 - The carsharing startup Getaround has been raising a lot of capital lately, and car makers are taking notice • 3:53 - Earlier this month the St. Louis Regional Chamber released their annual venture capital report for 2017, we talk about what that means for startups • 5:44 - Kansas City startups are vying for the chance to speak at SXSW • 7:17 - Annika Merrilees talks to Jason Wiens about startup week, he’s the director of policy from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation • 13:01 - A look at important numbers from the week in entrepreneurship news
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to the state’s entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode: • 0:57 - This week changes were announced to the way fintech is regulated. What does this mean for Missouri? • 3:05 - Kansas City’s Innovation Partnership Program. We’ll take a look at the six startups who were accepted to the program that connects startups to the city. • 5:06 - An update on a story from a previous episode — it’s Missouri and scooter startups. • 7:08 - Q&A with TripSushi founder Spencer Carlson. His startup is transitioning from a consumer targeted model to business-to-business. • 14:30 - Q&A with Adam Tilford, co-owner of the St. Louis-based chain Mission Taco Joint. Tilford spoke about sustainable business changes, including getting rid of plastic straws. • 18:36 - A look at important numbers from the week in entrepreneurship news
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to the state’s entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode: • 1:11 - Kansas City has a notorious payday lending culture. One Techstars startup is hoping to offer an alternative. • 3:20 - Gov. Mike Parson vetoed a bill this month that had support from Missouri tech companies. • 5:15 - Rightfully Sewn, a Kansas City startup that provides training and job placement for at-risk individuals, is expanding. • 6:55 - Q&A with Carolyn Chrisman, executive director of the Missouri Rural Enterprise and Innovation Center in Kirksville. Chrisman talks about budget cuts and supporting entrepreneurs in a rural area. • 12:45 - A look at important numbers from the week in entrepreneurship news
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to the state’s entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode: • 1:00 - Techstars Kansas City released the lineup of their newest cohort, what does it mean for the startups who were selected? • 2:12 - Scooter startups are sweeping the nation! We'll look at one companies impact on Kansas City and St. Louis • 4:55 - Annika Merrilees speaks with the executive director of Arch Grants, a nonprofit that’s looking to build up St. Louis’ startup community • 10:43- Missouri Business Alert reporter Kristoffer Tigue joins us in the studio to talk about an entrepreneurship project we'll be releasing soon • 14:40 - A look at important numbers from the week in entrepreneurship news
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to the state’s entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode: • 1:00 - Missouri Technology Corporation wrapped up it's first fiscal year after major cuts in state funding. MTC is known for it's partnerships with startups, but that may have to change • 3:00 - Talent for Tomorrow is an initiative aimed at improving Missouri's workforce, but it also provides a glimpse at the future of entrepreneurship in the state • 5:20 - Digital Sandbox KC announced two new grants this week that will support the program, and Kansas City startups, for years to come • 8:13- Missouri Business Alert reporter Kristofer Tigue talks about the how companies in the state are getting rid of plastic straws • 14:30 - Q&A Chris Mertens, the founder of Blossom, a St. Louis based company bringing blockchain technology to the energy industry •22:40 - A look at important numbers from the week in entrepreneurship news
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to the state’s entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode: • 0:59 - Gov. Mike Parson signed Missouri’s $28.6 billion state budget last week. What does it mean for entrepreneurship? • 1:51 - President Trump wants to end the International Entrepreneur Rule. What does it mean for Missouri if the program disappears? • 4:11 - Welltodo, a St. Louis startup, was acquired by SensorRX. What comes next for their migraine-management apps? • 6:04 - Q&A with Mow Magic co-founders Ryan Leffler and Mike Braun. Their startup is like Uber, but for lawn mowing. • 12:40 - Q&A with Kristoffer Tigue, the Missouri Business Alert reporter who covered the re-opening of St. Louis’ gateway arch and the business district it will impact. • 16:40 - A look at important numbers from the week in entrepreneurship news
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to the state’s entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode: • 1:00 - Amazon is now offering a program to help entrepreneurs create their own delivery services. • 2:43 - The U.S. Supreme Court voted to allow states to charge tax on online retail, now what? • 5:10 - KC Crew, a business that organizes adult sports leagues in Kansas City, is moving into new fields. • 8:32- Q&A with Mason Aid, a Columbia-based diversity and inclusion specialist • 14:15 - Q&A with Tynan Stewart, a Columbia Missourian reporter, about changes at the True/False Film Fest •1:39 - A look at important numbers from the week in entrepreneurship news
Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/
Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to the state’s entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode: • 0:53 - How Kansas City's AMC Theatres responded to the challenge posed by the upstart MoviePass • 4:30 - What a new World Health Organization classification could mean to the burgeoning esports industry • 8:25 - Two efforts announced this week to fund Kansas City startups • 11:40 - A Q&A with Zach Pettet, managing director of Kansas City's new Fountain City Fintech accelerator • 17:30 - A look at important numbers from the week in entrepreneurship news
Check out our website for more: http://www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/multimedia/podcasts/
Thank you to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episodes music!
Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to the state’s entrepreneurs. This week’s episode covers: • 0:39 - Gov. Mike Parson meeting Missouri businesses • 5:04 - Net neutrality's repeal and its effect on local startups • 8:24 - Answers founder David Karandish's new AI startup •10:45 - Reporter Kristoffer Tigue's trip to Kansas City to learn about Ripple Glass • 16:44 - A look at numbers from the week in entrepreneurship news
Check out our website for more: http://www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/multimedia/podcasts/
Thank you to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episodes music!