In Rock Port, Missouri, Mandy Herron turned two acres in her backyard into a blooming business with Flower and Forged Farms, a concept that sprouted from a peaceful moment in her garden. It happened one day in 2019 when she was on bedrest pregnant with her son while her husband...
Braiding hair for over 20 years, Michelle Byrd’s entrepreneurial journey began out of necessity. She started to braid and style client’s hair to pay for her youngest daughter’s private school tuition. Even though Michelle never envisioned herself starting her own business and just took on a few clients to supplement her...
This 90-minute live Zoom offering is designed to introduce technology start-ups and existing businesses on how they might fund R&D through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants. This is an introduction to the topic that has been developed for companies that are new to seeking grant funds and is not...
What started as a side hustle to pay for daycare has turned into a profitable sign-making, home decor and apparel business for Ashley Raetz. The central Missouri entrepreneur started RiOak Design – named after her two daughters, Riley and Oaklee – 12 years ago at her kitchen table and has...
Spectrum Record Lounge is becoming a community cornerstone in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as the city’s first and only record store, combining the owners’ love of music and meeting for a drink in one retro spot. “It's a nice symbiotic relationship between the record store and the bar,” says Travis Tyson,...
Shirley Washington’s middle-of-the-night inspiration – mixed with a splash of assistance from SCORE St. Louis – has led to a recipe for success for her skewer-serving business. Shirley Washington of Sway-Oh The St. Louis-based entrepreneur launched Sway-Oh and its debut product line – Skewer Food Server – in 2019 after...
When Susan Blaser, 61, noticed a 4,800-square-foot historic stone building for sale in downtown Excelsior Springs, Missouri, she immediately saw potential for a business … well to be accurate, three businesses. Although the space had been vacant for over 30 years, Susan thought the former funeral home would be perfect...
Disillusionment can be a great fertilizer, helping new ideas grow. Just ask Rebecca Brown. Her West Plains, Missouri, small business, Assist America Home Care Services, grew out of frustration and a desire to do the right thing — and to do it better. Learn how this entrepreneur used industry knowledge...
Tyrean “Heru” Lewis' journey into urban farming began with a simple yet profound realization – the scarcity of fresh, sustainable produce in his own community. Tyrean, a former physical education teacher, recalls his days as a vegan in 2017 when he struggled to find fresh produce. “Over 850,000 people in the St....
Melodi Wisswell’s career path seems obvious in retrospect. She’s always loved animals. She has a business degree. And she wanted to live near her family. Now, she’s opened Platinum Paws, a high-end dog-grooming spa in Columbia, Missouri. Here’s how all the pieces came together with the help of the...
