Mid-Missouri Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Getting Started
Funding
Business Support Services
Incubators & Facilities
Governmental & Community Resources
Institutions & Research Centers
Colleges & University Resources
Corporate & Contract Services

MU Faculty and Staff

Learn about creating a startup based on MU research and development.

Student or Community Startup

Learn about starting a company that isn't affiliated with MU.

Accelerator Fund

The MIC Accelerator Fund provides initial funding up to $50K for qualifying technology-based startups via the Mid-MO Tech Incubator program.

Adventur.es

Adventur.es is a private equity firm with holdings throughout North America. The firm primarily invests in existing family-owned companies, and occasionally invests in early stage ventures addressing challenges in marketing, media and technology.

Allen Angel Capital Education Program

The Allen Angel Capital Education Program is a student group of mid-Missouri investors who invest in high-growth start-up companies.

Centennial Investors

Centennial Investors is a mid-Missouri-based angel investment organization that works with high growth start-up companies with plans to grow businesses.

City of Boonville Entrepreneurial Loan Fund

The Revolving Loan Fund is an additional source of capital for small Boonville area businesses with loan amounts in the $1,000 - $25,000 range. Funds may be used for acquiring equipment, purchasing inventory, building improvements & working capital.

CoMO W.I.N.E. (Women’s Investment Network for Entrepreneurs)

Women-led organization championing women entrepreneurs through growth capital and support for companies with women as founders, executives, and leaders. CoMO W.I.N.E. members include angel investors, mentors, and entrepreneurs (including men).

Enterprise Development Corporation

Enterprise Development works with the SBA and local banks to provide loans to new or existing businesses through the SBA 504 Loan program. 504 loans provide low, 20 year fixed-rate financing to purchase real estate for owner occupied properties.

Mid-Missouri Top SBA Lenders

Central Bank of Boone County
U.S. Bank
Simmons Bank
The Bank of Missouri
Hawthorn Bank
Commerce Bank

Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC)

MTC is a public-private partnership created by the Missouri General Assembly to promote entrepreneurship and foster the growth of new and emerging bioscience companies that build on Missouri's rich history in agriculture and technology.

MU Coulter Translational Partnership

The mission of the Coulter Translational Partnership (TP) Program at the University of Missouri is to increase the capacity and the pace of biomedical innovation that ultimately benefits patients and society by addressing unmet clinical needs.

Reynolds Jounalism Institute (RJI) Fellowships

The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute invites proposals from people and institutions to collaborate with RJI on ideas and projects that will help us understand and meet the information needs of individuals in their roles as citizens.

Missouri Innovation Center (MIC)

Missouri Innovation Center provides assessment and coaching services for high-growth companies in Mid Missouri.

Mid-MO Tech Incubator

The Mid-MO Tech Incubator provides funding, coaching, and infrastructure for early stage tech startups.

Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic (ELC)

The MU School of Law’s Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic assists members of the university & Mid-Missouri communities seeking to start businesses by providing supervised legal services.

CLIMB (Collaboration Leadership Innovation Missouri Business)

CLIMB is an MU student organization whose mission is to promote and facilitate the exchange of entrepreneurial ideas and create a meeting place for people with ideas and people with experience and resources to realize those ideas.

Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Centers

The MO SBTDC assist businesses in every stage, providing professional business analysis, business consultations, access to technology resources and educational training seminars on a variety of business topics.

Mizzou Venture Mentoring Service

Mizzou VMS strengthens MU’s role as a leader in innovation and economic development by pairing skilled and experienced business mentoring teams with entrepreneurs seeking expert advice and guidance.

Office of Technology Management and Industry Relations (OTMIR)

OTMIR works to identify, assess, protect & market commercially viable intellectual property developed at UM. It promotes economic development by facilitating the commercialization of intellectual property through a variety of innovative mechanisms.

REDI - Regional Economic Development Inc.

REDI is a nonprofit collaboration to enhance the vitality of business and promote quality job creation in our community. REDI supports creativity and innovation through events and programming that foster a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem.

SCORE

SCORE is a nonprofit association of volunteers who are trained to serve as counselors, advisors, & mentors to aspiring entrepreneurs & business owners. These services are offered at no fee, as a community service.

Missouri Women's Business Center

The Missouri Women’s Business Center helps women start and grow businesses through one-on-one business planning and consultation, networks for mentoring and support relationships, classes, workshops, and financing assistance including microloans.

Small Business Administration (SBA)

SBA provides assistance to small businesses primarily through its four programmatic functions: access to capital (business financing), entrepreneurial development, government contracting, and advocacy (voice for small business).

Life Science Business Incubator at Monsanto Place (MIC)

The MU Life Science Business Incubator provides offices, wet lab facilities, and shared meeting facilities for technology startup companies.

Mid-MO Tech Incubator

The Mid-MO Tech Incubator provides funding, coaching, and infrastructure for early stage tech startups

REDI Innovation Hub

The Innovation Hub allows entrepreneurs to develop their ideas 24/7 with a structured series of business development and support programs. We foster Columbia's entrepreneurial ecosystem for people who share a passion for technology and innovation.

Missouri Plant Science Center

MOPSC is a shared-use facility for researchers & business/industry experts with office space, shared lab & pilot processing facilities & equipment, a small-scale milling plant, & the infrastructure & support services necessary for start-up ventures.

City of Boonville/Cooper County Economic Development

The office of economic development performs the traditional roles of attraction, expansion and retention for the county. Entrepreneurial support is also provided.

City of Mexico Economic Development

Provides entrepreneurs with information on the city’s community development corporation about obtaining low-interest loans through local banks.

Columbia Area Career Center

Part of Columbia Public Schools, the Columbia Area Career Center offers workforce training and certification as well as personal enrichment classes for high schoolers and adults in mid-Missouri.

Columbia Chamber of Commerce

The mission of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce is to lead our community, drive commerce in our region and advance community and regional collaborations, thereby enhancing the quality of where we live, learn, work and play.

Missouri Secretary of State Business Services

The Business Services Division is committed to making it easier to do business in Missouri. The Corporations Unit handles the creation and maintenance of all business entities doing business in Missouri.

Columbia Finance Department

The Business License Division is responsible for accepting, investigating, processing and determining approval or denial of all business applications.

Columbia Public Library

Find both print and electronic resources for entrepreneurs at the Daniel Boone Regional Library. Online resources such as ReferenceUSA, Universal Class, Lynda.com and Legal Forms are accessible to library-card holders for free.

Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber of Commerce provides entrepreneurs with resource fairs, consultations, and information regarding business registration to start a business in Jefferson City.

Missouri Biotechnology Association (MOBIO / Member Association)

The Missouri Biotechnology Association (MOBIO) is the state's premier professional business association dedicated to growing and protecting Missouri's bioscience and high tech companies.

Missouri Department of Economic Development

The Department of Economic Development provides a wide range of resources to support businesses, individuals, and communities in Missouri.

Show Me Innovation Center (Fulton)

Operating under the Callaway Chamber of Commerce in Fulton, the Show Me Innovation Center provides startup capital, mentorship, business services, and training resources to entrepreneurs engaged in new or existing businesses.

Missouri Department of Revenue

The Department of Revenue provides information on its website to assist small businesses in complying with Missouri tax requirements.

Missouri Secretary of State Securities Division

The Secretary of State, through the Securities Division, is responsible for protecting Missouri investors from fraud and for ensuring firms and individuals selling securities comply with the securities laws in the state.

Southern Boone Economic Development Council

The Council provides new businesses with resources to expand in the Ashland area and connections to regional partner organizations. The Council also provides proactive business assistance to attract new industrial, office, and retail developments.

Bond Life Sciences Center

The Bond Life Sciences Center at MU allow researchers to form collaborations to solve problems in human and animal health, the environment and agriculture.

Dalton Center

Works toward understanding causes of cardiovascular disease and offers opportunities for partnerships in research and the use of intellectual resources.

Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICATS)

Helps transform laboratory discoveries at MU into products for the community, state and nation.

International Institute of Nano and Molecular Medicine

The I²NM² is engaged in multifaceted research projects involving the creation of novel materials, devices and agents enhanced by nanotechnology with applications in medicine, related materials science and beyond.

Kauffman Foundation

The Kauffman Foundation supports entrepreneurial education programs, such as Founders School, FastTrac, and 1 Million Cups to help develop and support entrepreneurs.

Missouri University Research Reactor (MURR)

Provides custom-made quality nuclear services, offering a full line of off-shelf products, analyses and research to customers.

Missouri Orthopaedic Institute

The Mizzou BioJoint Center provides cutting-edge treatments for joint problems to restore patients’ joint function and quality of life. Our physicians and scientists work together daily to find better solutions for common orthopaedic problems.

Reynolds Journalism Institute

The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute engages media professionals, scholars and other citizens in programs aimed at strengthening journalism in the service of democracy.

Tiger Institute for Health Innovation

The Tiger Institute leverages the collective capabilities and resources of Cerner and MU to create a national model for excellent patient care, reduced health care costs, and leadership in next-generation health sciences.

College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR)

Offers the Community Development Extension that works with communities to foster economic development through leadership development, community decision making and more.

College of Education

MU Education’s leaders and researchers work closely with government agencies, education organizations and private-sector partners to find solutions to the most pressing education issues.

College of Engineering

The MU College of Engineering offers expert help, new ideas, perspectives and networks, and a wide variety of research capabilities and facilities to those interested in a joint initiative.

College of Veterinary Medicine

The College of Veterinary Medicine supports clinical trials through its veterinary health clinics and hospitals and Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.

Bio Design and Innovation Program

Provides fellowship opportunities to deliver safe patient care through interdisciplinary research, development and commercialization of new medical technologies.

Entrepreneurship Alliance

The Entrepreneurial Alliance is an initiative designed to foster a culture of innovation at MU. Alliance members explore personal opportunities in various areas of business startups, franchises, and family run businesses.

Missouri Student Unions Entrepreneurial Program

MU students are eligible to submit proposals for a campus wide entrepreneurship program hosted within the MU Student Center.

Missouri School of Journalism

The MU Journalism School works to form partnerships with professional media organizations and other industry representatives to give students an opportunity to solve real-world challenges while benefiting organizations with knowledge and innovation.

MU Economic Development

The MU Office of Economic Development is focused on building strategic collaborations with business for the purpose of growing research and service contracts and helping connect companies to available research and partnerships with the university.

MU Libraries

MUL offer a variety of resources & expertise to the entrepreneur researching industries & markets. While off-campus access to electronic resources is often restricted to MU affiliates, most resources can be accessed by visiting a campus library.

Office of Technology Management and Industry Relations (OTMIR)

Steven and Barbara Fishman Center For Entrepreneurship (Columbia College)

The Steven and Barbara Fishman Center for Entrepreneurship assists Columbia College students and faculty by identifying and securing resources to create new businesses or improve existing ones.

Trulaske College of Business

The MU School of Business connects entrepreneurs and students through programs such as CLIMB (Collaboration, Leadership, Innovation, and Missouri Business), the Entrepreneurial Alliance and classroom settings.

University of Missouri School of Law - Center for Intellectual Property & Entrepreneurship (CIPE)

Housed within the Law School, the Center aims to provide opportunities for students to work with small business clients, and collaborates with campus and community members to generate resources that will promote innovation and entrepreneurship.

School of Medicine

The University of Missouri Clinical Research Center brings scientific discovery to the realm of patient care by supporting patients, volunteers and researchers who participate in clinical trials and other forms of clinical research.

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities

The EBV is designed to leverage the skills, resources, infrastructure of higher education to offer experiential training in entrepreneurship to post 9/11 veterans with service-connected disabilities and a passion for entrepreneurship.

ABC Labs

ABC delivers a broad array of GLP and CGMP-compliant product development and analytical testing services to the pharmaceutical, biotech, animal health, crop protection, consumer products and chemical industries.

BioPharm Guy

Biopharma Guy provides a directory including a wide variety of Biotech companies in the Midwest.

IDEXX BioResearch

IDEXX BioResearch (formerly RADIL) serves professionals in the biomedical and life science fields with a comprehensive suite of innovative biological materials testing and laboratory animal diagnostic instruments and services.

University of Missouri Core Research Facilities

Companies can contract with the University of Missouri to utilize advanced research capabilities, such as Electron Microscopy and MRI Imaging.

Check out the Mid-Missouri Entrepreneurial Calendar to see a complete list of upcoming events.

If you think a resource is missing from the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Map, please suggest an ecosystem link.