Events

Never Stare at a Blank Page Again: AI for Your Marketing

2026-09-08T17:00:00+00:00

Sep 8, 2026 12pm to 1pm

Marketing your business takes time you don't have. This session is built entirely around the tasks small business owners struggle with most — social media posts, email newsletters, event flyers, and seasonal promotions — and shows you how AI can take them off your plate. We'll walk through how to use AI to generate a full week's worth of social media content in 15 minutes, write an email blast for an upcoming sale, and come up with catchy slogans and campaign ideas on the spot. You'll see it done live, start to finish. But the real game-changer? Making AI sound like *you*. We'll cover how to give AI your voice — your tone, your personality, your way of talking to customers — so the content it generates doesn't come out feeling generic or copy-paste. When you do it right, your audience won't be able to tell the difference. You'll leave with prompts you can use immediately and a repeatable process for creating marketing content faster than ever before. We'll close with a live Q&A so you can get answers specific to your business, your industry, and your customers.

Business Law Considerations for Second Stage Businesses

2026-09-09T17:00:00+00:00

Sep 9, 2026 12pm to 1pm

“Second stage” businesses are those that have moved beyond the startup phase, have proof of concept, and are ready to grow. Legal support for second stage businesses involves more curated support. Join SEED Law for a business law workshop on second stage business considerations, such as scaling, working with partners and receiving investments. This program is offered in partnership with SEED Law, LLC.

Power of Influencers for Entreprenuers

2026-09-15T22:00:00+00:00

Sep 15, 2026 5pm to 6pm

Power of Influencers for Entreprenuers. How to find them, keep them, and leverage them to build your brand. This is a live event that include food and drinks! Come hang out and learn. Co-Presentations by Kamille Paden with The Paden Link and Greg Hatten with Hatten and Associates

Should You Even Raise? Capital Basics & the Missouri Funding Landscape

2026-09-15T22:30:00+00:00

Sep 15, 2026 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Raising equity isn't the default path — it's a specific choice with specific tradeoffs, and it's the wrong choice for many good businesses. This session starts one step earlier than most funding conversations: should you raise at all? From there, we map what capital is actually available to Missouri founders, including the MTC IDEA Fund programs, so you can see where your company realistically fits. **What We'll Cover** * How equity capital works and what investors are actually buying * Bootstrap, revenue-based, debt, and grants as alternatives to a round * Signals that a company is — and isn't — a fit for equity capital * The Missouri funding landscape: MTC TechLaunch, Seed, and VC programs * Regional and statewide sources beyond MTC * What readiness looks like before you approach any of them **Who Should Attend** Missouri founders considering a raise, unsure whether equity is the right fit, or trying to understand what funding exists in the state before committing to a path. **What You'll Leave With** * A bootstrap-vs-raise decision framework * A map of Missouri funding, including MTC TechLaunch/Seed/VC * Your likely-fit path Part of the Show-Me Founders Series. *This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21031-0104 awarded to the State of Missouri by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.*

How To Find & Apply For Small Business Grants

2026-09-22T17:00:00+00:00

Sep 22, 2026 12pm to 1:30pm

Grants can be a valuable funding source for small businesses—but finding them and knowing where to look can be challenging. In this practical workshop, entrepreneurs will learn proven strategies for locating and evaluating grant opportunities. Participants will learn how to search effectively using targeted keywords, identify local, regional, and national grant programs, and use curated grant websites and email lists to stay informed about new funding opportunities. The session will also cover how to review eligibility requirements, research funders, and determine which grants are worth pursuing. Whether you’re new to grants or looking to improve your funding strategy, this webinar will provide actionable tools and resources to help you confidently find and pursue grants for your small business. This program is offered in partnership with Mary Overbey of Borealis Consulting, LLC. *This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21031-0104 awarded to the State of Missouri by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.*

Startup Law Preparing To Open Your Business

2026-09-23T17:00:00+00:00

Sep 23, 2026 12pm to 1pm

Almost all business decisions have legal consequences. Understanding where the laws apply to your business operations can help you make confident decisions, protect your rights, minimize risk and save money. This program is offered in partnership with Missouri Rural Enterprise & Innovation Center and SEED Law, LLC. *This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21031-0104 awarded to the State of Missouri by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.*

Books That Don't Scare Investors: Bookkeeping, Statements & Software Setup

2026-09-23T17:00:00+00:00

Sep 23, 2026 12pm to 1pm

Messy books cost founders time, money, and credibility — often at the exact moment an investor or lender asks for numbers. This session covers bookkeeping setup, the three core financial statements, and choosing software that fits your stage, so your financials are clean, current, and able to hold up under outside scrutiny. **What We'll Cover** * Building a chart of accounts that fits your business * Bookkeeping fundamentals: cash vs. accrual, categorization, and monthly close * The three statements demystified — P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow * What each statement tells you and what investors look for first * Choosing accounting software for your stage and avoiding over-buying * Separating personal and business finances, and common cleanup issues **Who Should Attend** Missouri founders setting up their books for the first time, working from spreadsheets, or heading into a raise or loan application with financials that need tightening. **What You'll Leave With** * A chart of accounts and bookkeeping setup * The three statements demystified * The right software for your stage Part of the Show-Me Founders Series. *This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21031-0104 awarded to the State of Missouri by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.*

How to Prepare a Winning Loan Application

2026-09-23T20:00:00+00:00

Sep 23, 2026 3pm to 4pm

Step-by-step walkthrough of what lenders need - business plans, financial projections, credit, and collateral.

Credit as an Asset

2026-09-24T17:00:00+00:00

Sep 24, 2026 12pm to 1pm

Achieving your financial goals is dependent on having a strong credit profile and high credit score. This interactive credit as an asset workshop is designed to help you learn more about building and improving your credit profile so that you can achieve your financial goals. This workshop will provide you with the tools and information needed to: * Set credit building goals; * Understand how credit building works; * Learn how to read and understand your credit report and score; * Understand how to deal with debt and collections while building credit; * Explore tools and develop skills in order to build your credit; and * Learn about credit building products and resources which may help you on your credit building journey. This program is offered in partnership with New Growth Women's Business Center. *This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21031-0104 awarded to the State of Missouri by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.*

Intro to Vibe Coding

2026-09-28T17:00:00+00:00

Sep 28, 2026 12pm to 2pm

Intro to Vibe Coding is an introductory workshop designed for anyone curious about building with AI. This workshop provides a fast-paced, hands-on introduction to vibe coding and the practice of using AI as a development partner to build functional software without a traditional coding background.

What You'll Learn

Vibe Coding Essentials The core mindset and approach to building with AI. Understand how vibe coding works, what it can produce, and how it differs from traditional software development. No coding experience necessary.

Practical Prompt Techniques Learn the key patterns for communicating with AI tools effectively. Develop the foundational prompting skills that drive reliable output — the same techniques used across every course in the AI Skills track.

Rapid Prototyping Basics Experience building something functional in hours, not weeks. Participants work through a guided prototyping exercise that demonstrates what is possible with AI-assisted development — even on day one.

Under the Hood: What Your Business Structure Actually Means

2026-09-29T16:30:00+00:00

Sep 29, 2026 11:30am to 12:30pm

Sole proprietor, LLC, S-corp, partnership. Most small business owners picked one at some point, but fewer understand what that choice actually means for taxes, liability, and day-to-day operations. This session breaks down the most common business structures in plain terms: what each one is, why someone might choose it, and what it takes to change. Whether you're just starting out or wondering if your current setup still fits, this is a practical overview of a decision that has real financial consequences. This program is offered in partnership with RubinBrown. *This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21031-0104 awarded to the State of Missouri by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.*

How to become an Influencer for Entreprenuers

2026-09-29T22:00:00+00:00

Sep 29, 2026 5pm to 7pm

Building an audience by providing value to your business.- Led by Greg Hatten

Investor-Ready: Financial Foundation, Use of Funds & the Deck

2026-09-30T22:30:00+00:00

Sep 30, 2026 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Investors evaluate the story and the numbers together — and most first decks fail because the two don't line up. This session builds the financial foundation, use-of-funds plan, and pitch deck as one connected package, including how to state your AI advantage explicitly rather than leaving investors to infer it. **What We'll Cover** * Building an 18-month forecast grounded in real assumptions * Use of funds: tying every dollar requested to a specific milestone * Unit economics, burn, and runway investors will ask about * Deck structure: what belongs on each slide and what to cut * Articulating an AI moat — what's defensible versus what's just tooling * Aligning the narrative and the numbers so they reinforce each other **Who Should Attend** Missouri founders preparing to pitch, revising a deck that isn't landing, or assembling investor materials for the first time. **What You'll Leave With** * A use-of-funds and 18-month forecast * A first-draft investor deck * An articulated AI moat Part of the Show-Me Founders Series. *This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21031-0104 awarded to the State of Missouri by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.*

Traction Studio AI - On Demand

2026-10-01T13:00:00+00:00

Oct 1, 2026 8am to 5pm

Traction Studio AI is a self-paced startup traction platform that combines AI-powered intelligence, stage-appropriate tools, and expert services to help founders move from idea to traction. Whether you're figuring out what to build or testing whether customers will pay, the platform gives you guidance on what to do next, the right tools to execute, and real human expertise when you need it. Built by Codefi Foundation, Traction Studio AI is designed for founders who are resourceful and ready to move but need structure — not another generic tool. AI intelligence surfaces competitive insights, synthesizes customer discovery patterns, and tells you when you've validated enough to move forward. Integrated tools like the Business Canvas Builder and Validation Tracking keep your work organized. And when you need hands-on help, services like customer Discovery, vibe-coded prototypes, and managed sales are there to accelerate your progress. Eligible Missouri founders get free access thanks to generous grant funding.
Open enrollment — start anytime, work at your own pace Free first project for eligible Missouri founders Learn more: codefiworks.com/traction-studio-ai Sign up: app.tractionstudio.ai
Learn fast. Build right. Gain traction.

Idea to App

2026-10-05T17:00:00+00:00

Oct 5, 2026 12pm to Nov 18, 2026 1pm

What used to take a co-founder, six months, and a developer's paycheck now takes six lunch hours a week. Idea to App is a six-week, application-based cohort for people who have a real problem to solve and are ready to build the solution themselves. Using AI-assisted development (vibe coding), you'll take your idea from a page of notes to a working, deployed application — with hands-on coaching support every step of the way. No developer required. No coding background needed. This is for founders without a technical co-founder, operators who know exactly what tool their work is missing, and anyone who left Intro to Vibe Coding wanting to go further. **What you'll leave with:** 1. A working, deployed application built around your own idea 2. Hands-on experience with AI-assisted development you can keep using 3. A clear next step for your business — not just a demo **Details:** * Cohort: October 5 – November 18 (six weeks, lunch-hour sessions) * Format: Weekly hands-on sessions with individual coaching support — no coding background needed * Audience: Founders without a developer, operators with a specific tool idea, and Intro to Vibe Coding alumni ready to go further * Application: Apply by September 28 — space is limited to keep coaching support hands-on for every participant Bring your idea. Leave with your app. *This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21031-0104 awarded to the State of Missouri by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.*

The Financial Model Investors Expect (+ AI Economics)

2026-10-07T22:30:00+00:00

Oct 7, 2026 5:30pm to 6:30pm

A model built on a growth percentage and a hopeful margin won't survive the first investor question. This session covers driver-based financial modeling — where revenue and costs are built from the specific inputs that actually move them — with focused attention on AI-era economics: usage- and outcome-based revenue, compute and inference costs, and how those change the shape of a forecast. **What We'll Cover** * Driver-based modeling: building from inputs rather than top-line guesses * Revenue models beyond per-seat — usage, consumption, and outcome-based pricing * Modeling compute, inference, and model costs as they scale with usage * Gross margin in AI businesses and why it behaves differently than SaaS * Building an 18-month forecast with defensible assumptions * Tying use of funds to specific, dated milestones * Sensitivity and scenario testing before investors do it for you **Who Should Attend** Missouri founders building or rebuilding a financial model ahead of a raise — particularly AI-enabled companies whose cost and revenue structures don't fit standard SaaS templates. **What You'll Leave With** * A driver-based 18-month forecast * A use-of-funds tied to milestones * AI-era revenue and cost modeling Part of the Show-Me Founders Series. *This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21031-0104 awarded to the State of Missouri by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.*

Get 5 Hours Back: AI for the Tasks You Don't Enjoy Doing

2026-10-13T17:00:00+00:00

Oct 13, 2026 12pm to 1pm

Some of the most time-consuming work in running a small business has nothing to do with your actual product or service. It's the emails, the paperwork, the scheduling, the job postings — the administrative grind that eats up your day before you've had a chance to focus on anything else. This session is built around that work. We'll show you how AI can handle routine email responses, organize inventory lists, summarize long documents, build employee schedules, and write job postings that actually attract the right people — all in a fraction of the time. We'll also cover three areas where small business owners often get stuck: drafting internal policies, responding to online reviews (the glowing ones and the tough ones), and writing professional-sounding replies to vendors and partners. You'll see exactly how to use AI to handle each one with confidence. You'll leave with a clear picture of which tasks on your daily list you can hand off to AI starting tomorrow. We'll close with a live Q&A so you can ask questions specific to your business, your team, and the situations you actually deal with.

Get 5 Hours Back: AI for the Tasks You Don't Enjoy Doing

2026-10-13T17:00:00+00:00

Family Business Legal Considerations

2026-10-14T17:00:00+00:00

Oct 14, 2026 12pm to 1pm

Missouri is known for being home to a high percentage of family owned businesses. According to the Association of General Contractors, 70% of family owned construction companies do not survive past the founder’s generation. Ten percent make it past the second, and only twenty percent of those make it past the third. Join SEED Law for a business law workshop that highlights strategies for business continuity. This program is offered in partnership with SEED Law, LLC. *This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21031-0104 awarded to the State of Missouri by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.*

Pitch Ready: Nail the Story and the Q&A

2026-10-14T22:30:00+00:00

Oct 14, 2026 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Founders rarely lose a room during the pitch — they lose it in the ten minutes after. This session is a rehearsal, not a lecture: tighten the story down to what actually earns attention, then work through the questions that break most founders, including the AI-defensibility line of questioning investors now open with. **What We'll Cover** * Structuring a ten-minute pitch that holds attention start to finish * Opening lines, traction framing, and the ask * Delivery mechanics: pacing, transitions, and cutting filler * The questions founders consistently fumble — and how to prepare for them * Building a Q&A battle sheet, including AI moat and defensibility answers * Handling pushback, unknowns, and questions you can't yet answer * Live practice runs with recorded playback and direct feedback **Who Should Attend** Missouri founders with a working deck who are heading into investor meetings, a pitch event, or a program interview — and want reps before it counts. **What You'll Leave With** * A tightened pitch narrative * A Q&A battle sheet including AI defensibility * A recorded, feedback-reviewed run Part of the Show-Me Founders Series. *This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21031-0104 awarded to the State of Missouri by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.*

Government Contracting Basics

2026-10-15T17:00:00+00:00

Oct 15, 2026 12pm to 1pm

Explore opportunities to sell your products or services to federal, state, and local government agencies through public sector contracting. Learn about certifications (such as small business, minority-owned, and veteran-owned designations), how to register your business, where to find contract opportunities, and the basics of bidding and compliance requirements. This program is offered in partnership with Missouri APEX Accelerator. *This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21031-0104 awarded to the State of Missouri by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.*

AI for Small Business: Save Time, Save Money

2026-10-19T19:00:00+00:00

Oct 19, 2026 2pm to 3pm

AI for Small Business: Save Time, Save Money. A hands-on, 1-hour workshop for small business owners who want practical ways to save time and money using AI — no tech background needed. You'll see real examples and try it yourself before you leave.

AI Masterclass

2026-10-27T17:00:00+00:00

Oct 27, 2026 12pm to 1pm

AI Master Class is a six-week advanced training program designed for experienced developers and engineers ready to fully integrate AI into their professional development practice. The course goes beyond introductory AI concepts to deliver deep, hands-on expertise across AI-powered development environments, complex application architecture, and advanced AI integration patterns. Participants will work within industry-leading IDE agents and build production-ready applications with real infrastructure. The program emphasizes practical application at every stage, with all coursework producing production-grade output aligned to real-world development standards. **What You'll Learn** **IDE Agents & AI Assistants** Master Cursor, Windsurf, Copilot, and other AI-powered development environments for maximum productivity. Learn how to pair with AI across your full development cycle — from architecture decisions to debugging to deployment. **Complex Application Architecture** Build production-ready applications with databases, APIs, authentication, and deployment pipelines. Structure projects that scale, not just projects that demo well. **AI Integration Patterns** Implement RAG, function calling, multi-agent systems, and other advanced AI capabilities. Move beyond basic prompting into the integration patterns that power real AI-native products. Duration: 6 Weeks, 2 Hours per Week, Total of 12 Hours of Instruction

Traction Studio AI - On Demand

2026-11-01T14:00:00+00:00

Nov 1, 2026 8am to 5pm

To learn more, please click [here](https://app.tractionstudio.ai/users/sign_up/founder?__woopraid=AbnmvNC2IbtO&__woopraid=AbnmvNC2IbtO). Traction Studio AI is a self-paced startup traction platform that combines AI-powered intelligence, stage-appropriate tools, and expert services to help founders move from idea to traction. Whether you're figuring out what to build or testing whether customers will pay, the platform gives you guidance on what to do next, the right tools to execute, and real human expertise when you need it. Built by Codefi Foundation, Traction Studio AI is designed for founders who are resourceful and ready to move but need structure — not another generic tool. AI intelligence surfaces competitive insights, synthesizes customer discovery patterns, and tells you when you've validated enough to move forward. Integrated tools like the Business Canvas Builder and Validation Tracking keep your work organized. And when you need hands-on help, services like customer Discovery, vibe-coded prototypes, and managed sales are there to accelerate your progress. Eligible Missouri founders get free access thanks to generous grant funding. Open enrollment — start anytime, work at your own pace Free first project for eligible Missouri founders Learn more: codefiworks.com/traction-studio-ai Sign up: app.tractionstudio.ai Learn fast. Build right. Gain traction.

Marketing Your Business

2026-11-18T17:45:00+00:00

Nov 18, 2026 11:45am to 1pm

Learn the basics of marketing and what helps small businesses get noticed. This workshop covers effective use of social media, brand basics and simple advertising ideas. You will work on a basic marketing plan and gain practical tools to better connect with your customers.

How To Find & Apply For Small Business Grants

2026-11-19T18:00:00+00:00

Nov 19, 2026 12pm to 1:30pm

Grants can be a valuable funding source for small businesses—but finding them and knowing where to look can be challenging. In this practical workshop, entrepreneurs will learn proven strategies for locating and evaluating grant opportunities. Participants will learn how to search effectively using targeted keywords, identify local, regional, and national grant programs, and use curated grant websites and email lists to stay informed about new funding opportunities. The session will also cover how to review eligibility requirements, research funders, and determine which grants are worth pursuing. Whether you’re new to grants or looking to improve your funding strategy, this webinar will provide actionable tools and resources to help you confidently find and pursue grants for your small business. This program is offered in partnership with Mary Overbey of Borealis Consulting, LLC. *This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21031-0104 awarded to the State of Missouri by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.*

Holiday Hustle: Let AI Help You Survive Your Busiest Season

2026-11-19T18:00:00+00:00

Nov 19, 2026 12pm to 1pm

The holiday season is the most important stretch of the year for small businesses — and one of the most overwhelming. This session is timed specifically to help you go into it prepared. We'll cover how to use AI to write gift guides, build social media countdowns, draft Small Business Saturday promotions, and plan flash sales without starting from scratch every time. You'll see how to batch-create holiday content so your posts, emails, and promotions are ready to go before the rush hits — and you're not glued to your phone in December. We'll also walk through the customer touchpoints that build loyalty during the holidays: writing thank-you messages for your best customers, creating gift certificate descriptions that actually sell, and crafting the kind of seasonal content that makes your business feel personal and intentional. And because the holidays also mean stepping away, we'll cover the preparation side — writing out-of-office replies, drafting store hours announcements, and using AI to help think through staffing needs so nothing falls through the cracks. You'll leave with a holiday content plan, ready-to-use prompts, and a lot less stress about the next three months. We'll close with a live Q&A so you can get answers specific to your business, your customers, and your busiest season.