By Nicki Donnelson
Thanks to nearly $3 million in federal State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) funding administered through the Missouri Department of Economic Development Missouri Technical Assistance (MOTA) Grant, Missouri State University’s efactory and long-time partner codefi are scaling up their innovative approach to economic development. The result? A new statewide initiative called the Show-Me Network, and it’s ready to reshape the future for small businesses, tech companies, innovators, and the communities they serve.
This new network builds on the remarkable momentum of Innovate SOMO, a collaboration between efactory and codefi that has spent the last three years making entrepreneurship and workforce development more accessible across 47 counties in Southern Missouri.
“Many entrepreneurs are passionate about growing their businesses while staying rooted in their communities,” said Rachel Munday, Executive Director of efactory. “By expanding resources to all corners of the state, we can provide more assistance and connections that help small businesses thrive no matter their location.”From Regional to Statewide Powerhouse Missouri State’s efactory, based in Springfield, was launched to support entrepreneurs, innovators, and job creators and serve as the front door to the university for employers. With business consulting, coworking spaces, training programs, and a growing list of partnerships, efactory has become a regional anchor for economic development.
Meanwhile, headquartered in Cape Girardeau and with an expansion in Springfield, codefi has been tackling the rural tech gap head-on. As an innovation hub, codefi empowers digital entrepreneurs by providing tools, training, and early-stage capital that are typically scarce in non-urban areas.Together, these two organizations created the Southern Missouri Innovation Network, aka Innovate SOMO. Their mission was simple but ambitious: make career-building resources, tech training, and entrepreneurial support more accessible across the region.
The results have been transformative. From bootstrapped startups to growing businesses, Innovate SOMO has supported thousands of individuals and businesses through customized training, business consultations and mentorship, capital connections, and community partnerships. Its growing network of Community Connectors and Regional Connectors has provided on-the-ground expertise and local advocacy that ensures each region’s unique needs are met.
By offering enhanced business consulting, training programs, and capital-readiness support, the network will prepare startups and small businesses to apply for critical funding through programs like the IDEA Funds (administered by the Missouri Technology Corporation) and IgniteMO (run by Justine PETERSEN). These capital access pathways are essential for entrepreneurs, especially those in early stages or operating outside major metro areas where resources are more limited.
“At codefi, we know that access to capital is one of the biggest challenges for tech entrepreneurs,” said Dr. James Stapleton, Founder and CEO of codefi. “This collaboration allows us to provide our proprietary tools and services to founders across Missouri to help validate their ideas and business models, acquire angel and venture capital, and achieve the traction to build successful tech ventures. We’re excited to be part of a project that will create meaningful change and unlock new pathways for people across Missouri.”
The secret behind the Show-Me Network’s success will be the power of partnerships. Through collaboration with regional chambers, economic development groups, key industry associations such as the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry or MAM, plus local connectors, the network reduces silos while streamlining support.
It’s a model built on shared responsibility and shared vision: everyone, regardless of ZIP code, deserves access to the resources that make entrepreneurship possible.
“We’re committed to showing up in meaningful ways — offering guidance, opening doors, and helping business owners grow, wherever they are,” said Chrystal Irons, Director of the Missouri SBDC at MSU.
