Ingram's August 2022

INNOVATION

eFactory Nearly a decade ago, Missouri State University in Springfield became home to eFactory, which serves entrepreneurs and business owners throughout the south west corner of the state. It operates pro grams designed to support businesses of all sizes, from pre-production entrepre neurs to large employers seeking to solve the work-force challenge riddle. It’s part of the IDEA Commons dis trict, MSU’s vision for an urban innova tion park. Its Code Labs is an immersion training program formed to meet the needs of employers and startups seeking qualified software developers. And its Youth Coding League is the only extra curricular coding program designed for middle school and junior high students, introducing students to computer science by combining project-based learning with a competitive youth sports model. Digital Sandbox KC Expert feedback is always vital to startups, but Digital Sandbox KC takes the next crucial step by providing funding of up to $20,000 for companies to help innovate and commercialize their research and production. That

It encompasses more than 240 enti ties that make up the regional ecosystem in an 18-county area serving both Mis souri and Kansas, and it curates an on line directory of support organizations and information on how to connecting with them to promote collaboration and system-wide efficiency. KCSourceLink also compiles a comprehensive business calendar. IT Entrepreneur Network In 2008, the St. Louis IT Coalition and Innovate St. Louis joined forces to create the ITEN, shorthand for the IT Entrepreneur Network. As the found ers like to say, it’s “designed by entre preneurs for entrepreneurs.” ITEN is a nonprofit focused on the needs of the IT ecosystem in Missouri, offering instruc tional programs, events, and access to resources that help tech startups get up and running. More than 220 start-up ventures are operating under the ITEN umbrella, which includes more than 120 volunteer mentors who can coach participants through each step of the process, from concept through design, launch, capital formation and funding and, importantly, rapid scaling. That thought leadership helps entrepreneurs laser in on comple tion of the most essential, efficient tasks and processes. A goal is to eliminate barriers to rapid growth by providing access to in vestors, service providers and qualified talent. The best part? It requires neither payment nor demands an equity stake in exchange for its services. Codefi Rural Foundation Another effort to expand business de velopment into every corner of the state, the Codefi Foundation on Rural Innovat- ion seeks to accelerate economic develop ment outside the major population cen ters. It offers access to education, mentor ing, technology and capital, and provides a higher level of Internet and tech connec tivity to promote business growth. Recent initiatives include a grant funded effort across southern Missouri involving a new pre-accelerator and ven ture investor network, plus an expansion of the Redhawks Startup Fellowship to steer more highly qualified interns and prospective hires to startups.

ming focuses on Kansas City, but with a reach that is often national, even global. It’s the business and civic legacy of the late Ewing Kauffman, who made his for tune in the pharmaceutical realm before becoming an enduring figure to this region by leaving the major-league Kansas City Royals to the community after his death in 1993. Today, the foundation funds its pro gramming through the $2.6 billion in assets grown from the bequest Kauffman made to spur business growth in the region. While the foundation’s work in public policy research and advocacy carries na tional implications, much of its program ming is focused at the grassroots level. Just one example: 1 Million Cups. It grew out of the idea that entrepreneurs discover solutions and engage with their commu nities over a million cups of coffee, and launched the effort a decade ago. It helps entrepreneurs around the country build networks and collaborations with edu cational and inspirational programming. And, true to the benevolent spirit of Ew ing Kauffman himself, it’s entirely free.

includes access to technol ogy, experts who can assist with market validation, and prototyping and

beta testing services. It also provides proof -of -concept support for proj ects that will gen erate additional in vestment and jobs for Missouri. The Ewing Marion Kauff man Foundation Last, though cer

tainly not least of the business-development as sets in Missouri is the Kauff man Foundation, which admin isters a wide range of research and entrepreneurial development program

Still Giving | Ewing Kauffman, memorialized in this sculpture with his wife, Muriel, left his considerable wealth to the foundation that bears his name and works to promote entre preneurship and innovation in Missouri, across the nation and around the world.

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