Show-Me Network Week to Spotlight Entrepreneurship across Missouri May 4–8
Missouri is home to more than 500,000 small businesses, employing nearly half the state’s workforce and serving as a driving force behind local economies from rural towns to urban centers. Show-Me Network Week aims to bring those entrepreneurs and the organizations who support them into the spotlight.
Scheduled for May 4–8, Show-Me Network Week will feature events, workshops and networking opportunities across Missouri as part of a coordinated effort to strengthen the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The initiative coincides with National Small Business Week and follows the Route 66 Centennial kickoff celebrations held in Springfield.
Organized by codefi and Missouri State University’s efactory, Show-Me Network Week is designed to highlight the breadth of innovation happening statewide. The celebration will include programming led not only by those organizations, but also by regional and community partners throughout Missouri.
What’s Happening
Events will take place in Arnold, Cape Girardeau, Hannibal, Joplin, Maryville, Monroe City, Perryville, Springfield, St. Joseph and West Plains, reflecting the growing network of support for startups, small businesses and emerging industries across the state.
Complementing these in-person events, virtual sessions will be available throughout the week — making it easy for entrepreneurs anywhere in Missouri to tap into practical education, expert insight and valuable connections.
May 4
- 10 a.m. – Route to Innovation Kickoff – Springfield
May 5
- 9 a.m. – Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce will host Leads Group Three Powered by the Leesman Agency – Farmers – Joplin
- Noon – codefi will host Builder Showcase – virtual
May 6
- 8 a.m. – Missouri SBDC St. Louis Region will host AI for Main Street: What Every Retailer Needs to Know Now – Arnold
- 9 a.m. – codefi will host Intro to Vibe Coding Workshop – virtual
- 9 a.m. – Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce will host Leads Group Three Powered by JB Electric – Joplin
- 11 a.m. – Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce will host the Small Business Luncheon – Springfield
- Noon – codefi will host AI as a Business Multiplier – virtual
- Noon – SEED Law will host Recruiting and Hiring Considerations – virtual
- 2 p.m. – St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Launch Pad, and Missouri SBDC at Missouri Western State University will kick off the Early-Stage Business Boot Camp – St. Joseph
- 3 p.m. – The Missouri SBDC will host Demystifying Credit – virtual
- 4:30 p.m. – Perryville Area CEO Program will host its Class of 2026 Trade Show – Perryville
- 4:30 p.m. – Monroe City Chamber of Commerce will host Business Basics – Monroe City
May 7
- 7:45 a.m. – MoWest and the Missouri SBDC will host MoWest Small Business Forum – St. Joseph
- 9 a.m. – Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce will host Leads Group Five Powered by New York Life – Joplin
- 10 a.m. – The Missouri SBDC at UMKC and Nodaway County Economic Development Center will host Show Me the Money – in Maryville
- Noon – Justine PETERSEN will host QuickBooksâ Online Essentials: Avoiding Common Mistakes – virtual
- 1 p.m. – Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) will host EPIC: Growing Beyond the Ozarks – West Plains
May 8
- All Day – Free Coworking Friday in
- 7:30 a.m. – Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce will host Morning Brew – Joplin
- 2 p.m. – The Missouri SBDC at Hannibal Economic Development Council will host Bank Ready: Understand Your Financials and Find Funding – Hannibal
Show-Me Network Week is made possible through funding provided to efactory and codefi through Missouri Technology Corporation’s Regional Node grant program.
A full schedule of events and participating organizations is available online.
Through federal funding from the Missouri Technical Assistance (MOTA) grant program awarded by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED), State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Technical Assistance Grant funds, the Show-Me Network has increased efforts to support small businesses and startups by offering enhanced technical assistance and referrals to funding opportunities. The program helps entrepreneurs access critical resources that enable growth and expansion. The MOTA grant supports the SSBCI Capital program by preparing startups and small businesses to apply for IDEA Funds, administered by the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC), and IgniteMO, administered by Justine PETERSEN.