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.
Learn fast. Build right. Gain traction.
]]>Learn how to bring your startup idea to a working product in 6 weeks, not months, in this hands-on course.
No coding required. Bring an idea, leave with a prototype.
What you'll learn:
Missouri Startup Weekend is the state's premier startup competition, hosted by Redbud VC. For over a decade, this event has been the launchpad for billion-dollar startup ideas — past participants include the founders of Zapier and EquipmentShare. Over 54 hours, you'll pitch ideas, form teams, validate concepts, and build working MVPs with access to mentors who've been there and done it, including the founders behind those companies.
This event is for aspiring founders, developers, designers, vibe coders, and domain experts at any experience level. Pitch your idea Friday night, form your team, and spend the weekend building — with guidance from 50+ on-call expert mentors. Sunday, present to a panel of investor judges and compete for the largest prize pool in the event's history.
Codefi Foundation is proud to serve as a title sponsor. Every registered participant receives complimentary access to Traction Studio AI — Codefi's startup traction platform combining AI-powered intelligence, stage-appropriate tools, and expert services — starting weeks before the event to validate your market, refine your pitch, and show up prepared.
What the winner receives:
Your ticket includes:
Details:
Do you have a business idea but aren’t sure what comes next? From Idea to Open Doors will walk you through the essentials—business planning, resources, and key steps to get started. This free workshop is open to the public and built to help you move forward with confidence.
]]>Receiving a grant is exciting—but managing reporting and compliance requirements is essential to maintaining that funding and protecting future opportunities.
In this practical workshop, small business owners will learn the key responsibilities that come after receiving a grant. Participants will explore how to understand funder requirements, maintain accurate records, track grant spending, and submit required reports on time.
The session will also cover common compliance issues, different grant reporting structures, and best practices for staying organized throughout the grant lifecycle.
This program is offered in partnership with Borealis Consulting, LLC.
]]>Understand the critical factors that determine your business's worth and learn how to systematically increase its value over time. Based on the Value Builder System, this session identifies the eight key drivers that acquirers and investors evaluate, helping you build a more valuable, sustainable, and sellable business. This program is offered in partnership with Justine PETERSON.
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Learn how to build a simple cash forecast that helps you see what's coming and avoid surprises. We'll focus on an owner-friendly cash flow projection (not the statement of cash flows), show how timing impacts cash, and walk through practical levers you can use when your forecast shows a future crunch.
This program is offered in partnership with RubinBrown.
]]>"The best answer to 'does this actually work?' comes from the people who did it."
WHO IT'S FOR
Anyone curious about AI skills training and what it actually produces. Aspiring founders. Vibe coders. Anyone who has wondered whether they could do this.
The Problem
It's easy to wonder if AI skills training produces anything real — or if it's another course that looks good and produces nothing. That question is better answered by graduates than by anyone promoting the program.
The Session
Shawn Wood, Jessica Vasquez, and Charity McGill completed Prompt to Product and built working applications. On Tuesday, May 5, they'll demo what they built, walk through the learning curve honestly, and take questions live.
What You Leave With
Walk away knowing whether this path is for you — from people who were sitting exactly where you are not long ago.
No experience required · Sponsored — No Cost to Attend for Missouri Residents. Registration required.
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"You don't need to know how to code. You just need to know how to start."
WHO IT'S FOR
Non-technical founders, creators, and anyone curious about building with AI. No coding background assumed or required.
The Problem
You've had the idea. You've assumed the technical barrier was too high. Or you tried vibe coding once and couldn't tell if you were doing it right.
The Session
Two guided hours. You'll build your first working prototype using AI tools — practical prompt techniques, rapid prototyping basics, and the core vibe coding mindset. No prior coding experience required.
What You Leave With
Leave with something you actually built — a working demo — and the clarity to know whether to keep going.
No experience required · Sponsored — No Cost to Attend for Missouri Residents. Registration required.
]]>Building a dream team in your business requires a multitude of strategies to build a competitive employment package, including policies, procedures, and legal compliance. Join SEED Law for a business law workshop that covers the top ten considerations business owners need to plan for when recruiting, hiring, and firing.
This program is offered in partnership with SEED Law, LLC.
"You spend hours every week on work that should take minutes."
WHO IT'S FOR
Business professionals, team leads, operations staff, and department heads. Anyone whose week runs on documents and decisions. No technical background required.
The Problem
Drafting reports, organizing files, summarizing research, responding to the same recurring questions — these tasks eat your week. You know AI should help. Most tools talk about how. This one does it.
The Session
Hands-on workshop featuring Claude Cowork — an AI-powered desktop tool from Anthropic. You'll configure it around your actual work tasks and leave with at least one workflow running.
What You Leave With
Leave with a configured AI workflow running on your actual files — not a demo, a working tool — starting tomorrow.
No experience required · Sponsored — No Cost to Attend for Missouri Residents. Registration required.
]]>Are you an aspiring or early-stage small business owner? The Early-Stage Business Boot Camp helps entrepreneurs look at all aspects of their business, explore the feasibility of a new business venture, and learn how to develop a viable business model.
During this fast-paced, interactive, fun, and energizing program, attendees will discover the best practices, talk through real-life examples, and learn about valuable local resources designed to help small businesses grow. This multi-session Boot Camp is an accelerated program that helps build your foundational business knowledge and jumpstart your new business.
Participants of the program will receive ongoing coaching and mentoring to develop a growth plan and financial budget by the end of the program. Guest speakers and visiting entrepreneurs will bring their real-world experience to make the program topics come alive.
Attend All 4 Program Dates:
Session 1 - Is Owning A Business A Good Fit For You: May 6, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Session 2 - Reaching Your Customers: May 13, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Session 3 - Building Business Credit & Funding: May 20, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Session 4 - Financial Management & Cash Flow: May 27, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This program is offered in partnership with St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Launch Pad, Show-Me Network, and Missouri SBDC at Missouri Western State University.
]]>Join us for an engaging session that takes the mystery out of credit scores and one of the most widely used scoring models by lenders—the FICO® Score. If you’ve ever wondered how credit really works, what lenders are looking for, or how to build stronger credit for the future, this session is for you.
Whether you’re just starting your financial journey or looking to improve your credit knowledge, you’ll walk away with practical tips and useful strategies you can start applying right away.
Topics will include:
• Common myths and facts about credit scores and FICO® scoring models
• Simple ways to build credit and what lenders look for
• Smart strategies for managing credit successfully
This program is in partnership with the Missouri SBDC at Lincoln University.
]]>Join us for a Small Business Summit in celebration of National Small Business Week on May 7th. This free event is designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners strengthen their financial knowledge, connect with local lenders, and learn about valuable business resources.
Participants will receive hands-on training in QuickBooks, gain insights during a live Q&A with local bankers and lenders, and discover the no-cost advising, training, and support available through the Small Business Development Center.
Whether you are starting a business, growing your company, or looking for funding opportunities, this summit will provide practical tools, expert guidance, and opportunities to connect with professionals who support small business success.
This program is in partnership with the Show-Me Network.
]]>QuickBooks® Online is a powerful tool, but many business owners struggle to keep their books accurate and organized. This session will highlight common mistakes that cause confusion, reporting errors, and bookkeeping headaches. Topics include chart of accounts setup, bank feed management, transaction categorization, reconciling accounts, handling owner draws, sales tax tracking, invoicing workflows, understanding key financial reports, and setting proper user controls. Participants will learn simple practices to keep their QuickBooks® file clean, accurate, and useful for making informed business decisions.
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AI WorkFlows to Save You Time!
Google Gemini & Microsoft Copilot compared side by side, live demos showing real AI tools to streamline your business.
]]>Are you an aspiring or early-stage small business owner? The Early-Stage Business Boot Camp helps entrepreneurs look at all aspects of their business, explore the feasibility of a new business venture, and learn how to develop a viable business model.
During this fast-paced, interactive, fun, and energizing program, attendees will discover the best practices, talk through real-life examples, and learn about valuable local resources designed to help small businesses grow. This multi-session Boot Camp is an accelerated program that helps build your foundational business knowledge and jumpstart your new business.
Participants of the program will receive ongoing coaching and mentoring to develop a growth plan and financial budget by the end of the program. Guest speakers and visiting entrepreneurs will bring their real-world experience to make the program topics come alive.
Attend All 4 Program Dates:
Session 1 - Is Owning A Business A Good Fit For You: May 6, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Session 2 - Reaching Your Customers: May 13, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Session 3 - Building Business Credit & Funding: May 20, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Session 4 - Financial Management & Cash Flow: May 27, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This program is offered in partnership with St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Launch Pad, Show-Me Network, and Missouri SBDC at Missouri Western State University.
]]>AI Masterclass helps experienced developers automate and accelerate workflows by mastering prompting strategies that generate quality code from AI. Write clear specifications that AI can follow, spending less time coding and more time directing.
Go deep on advanced techniques for agents and MCPs—tools that multiply your output. Build robust prompting and testing strategies to hand off the heavy lifting without sacrificing quality.
What you'll learn:
Learn the basics of filing for a trademark so you can protect your ideas, brand, and creations before problems arise.
]]>Are you an aspiring or early-stage small business owner? The Early-Stage Business Boot Camp helps entrepreneurs look at all aspects of their business, explore the feasibility of a new business venture, and learn how to develop a viable business model.
During this fast-paced, interactive, fun, and energizing program, attendees will discover the best practices, talk through real-life examples, and learn about valuable local resources designed to help small businesses grow. This multi-session Boot Camp is an accelerated program that helps build your foundational business knowledge and jumpstart your new business.
Participants of the program will receive ongoing coaching and mentoring to develop a growth plan and financial budget by the end of the program. Guest speakers and visiting entrepreneurs will bring their real-world experience to make the program topics come alive.
Attend All 4 Program Dates:
Session 1 - Is Owning A Business A Good Fit For You: May 6, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Session 2 - Reaching Your Customers: May 13, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Session 3 - Building Business Credit & Funding: May 20, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Session 4 - Financial Management & Cash Flow: May 27, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This program is offered in partnership with St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Launch Pad, Show-Me Network, and Missouri SBDC at Missouri Western State University.
]]>Discover how to build a business that runs smoothly without your constant involvement, giving you the freedom to work on strategic priorities or step away when needed. This interactive workshop teaches you how to identify and eliminate bottlenecks caused by owner dependency, delegate effectively, and create systems and processes that empower your team to operate independently while increasing your company's value.
]]>Are you an aspiring or early-stage small business owner? The Early-Stage Business Boot Camp helps entrepreneurs look at all aspects of their business, explore the feasibility of a new business venture, and learn how to develop a viable business model.
During this fast-paced, interactive, fun, and energizing program, attendees will discover the best practices, talk through real-life examples, and learn about valuable local resources designed to help small businesses grow. This multi-session Boot Camp is an accelerated program that helps build your foundational business knowledge and jumpstart your new business.
Participants of the program will receive ongoing coaching and mentoring to develop a growth plan and financial budget by the end of the program. Guest speakers and visiting entrepreneurs will bring their real-world experience to make the program topics come alive.
Attend All 4 Program Dates:
Session 1 - Is Owning A Business A Good Fit For You: May 6, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Session 2 - Reaching Your Customers: May 13, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Session 3 - Building Business Credit & Funding: May 20, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Session 4 - Financial Management & Cash Flow: May 27, 2026 - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This program is offered in partnership with St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Launch Pad, Show-Me Network, and Missouri SBDC at Missouri Western State University.
]]>Learn how to turn your business idea into a clear plan. This workshop walks through the key parts of a business plan, including defining your idea, setting goals, and outlining basic financial projections. You will have time to work on your own business plan and gain practical tools to turn your idea into a realistic and actionable plan for success.
]]>Gain hands-on insights into key financial management techniques for small businesses. Delve into crucial aspects such as effective bookkeeping, loan application strategies, and optimizing cash flow. Put the practices in place to support your business's success.
]]>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.
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