BUSINESS
Startup City Columbia is the place where ideas grow. nn BY KATHY CASTEEL
Have a great idea for the perfect business opportunity? You’ve moved to the right place! Innovators thrive here in an economic garden that nurtures new ways of thinking. The city’s standing among startup hotspots soared in 2016 when Entrepreneur magazine put Columbia in the top 20 on its list of Best Cities for Entrepreneurs. But the folks here didn’t need a national magazine to tell them what they already knew: Columbia’s startup scene is a connected community where you’ll find the resources you need to get your idea up and running.
coaching, counseling and training for business owners and entrepreneurs, both online and on site. Tap into SBDC’s expertise to get up to speed on everything from determining who and where your customers are to learning how to reach those customers and developing a business plan. Your first step is a consultation with an SBDC virtual consultant, which you can schedule online.
FIRST STOP
Missouri Women’s Business Center
Several local organizations offer services for entrepreneurs. Get a lay of the land and check out the offerings of these groups.
REDI Regional Economic Development Inc. is a nonprofit, public/ private partnership working to attract and cultivate businesses in Columbia and Boone County. Serving as the economic development arm of the city, REDI acts as a local point of contact for companies requesting information about the area and offers information and support to existing local businesses and entrepreneurs. The downtown offices include meeting rooms, a training center and a business incubator. 500 E. Walnut St., Suite 102; 573-442-8303; ColumbiaREDI.com
Small Business Development Center Get your business off to a good start with the help of the Columbia SBDC pros. The agency provides personalized 44
R E LO C AT I N G I N C O LU M B I A
416 S. Sixth St. (MU Engineering Building North, Room 200); 573-882-1555; SBDC.missouri.edu
The Women’s Business Center — serving Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Moniteau and Osage counties — provides resources, support and networks for women seeking to start or grow their own businesses. Services include classes, workshops, networking opportunities and individualized business counseling. 500 E. Walnut St., Suite 103; 573-818-2980; MoWBC.org
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities The EBV program is a national initiative that offers training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans with service-connected disabilities. The program at the University of Missouri includes a 30-day online course in business skills and a nine-day residency at MU for an intense exposure to entrepreneurship and access to accomplished entrepreneurs from across the country. An additional 12 months of support and mentorship follow. 1211 MU Student Center; 573-882-2073; ebv@missouri.edu
