#3 Mizzou Startup Community

Hottest news on Mizzou foundings, fundings, and feats

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Brett Calhoun & Kiley Grimes
March 29, 2024

What’s New 🐅 

It’s crazy that we are at the end of the first quarter of 2024. That said, the first cohort of students is starting in the Redbud VC-sponsored incubator at Mizzou. In addition, Redbud’s first investment in 2024 was in Trially, a company founded by a UMKC alum. If you are an alum or student building a tech company, Redbud actively invests up to $150k. In addition, if you are interested in investing in alums, sign up for our waitlist to join our angel network here. ⤵️ 

Mizzou Startup Community is a place to connect with, invest in, hire, and mentor Mizzou students and alumni and access curated building resources. MIZ!

Mizzou Founder Features 🐯 

Mizzou Founder Features: Nic Parks

About The Pinball Company and Parks Amusements + Q&A with Nic Parks.

Mizzou Founder Features: Robert Griggs

About Trinity Products + Q&A with Robert Griggs.

Mizzou Founder Features: Dr. DéRecco Lynch

About The Excellence Factory + Q&A with Dr. DéRecco Lynch.

New founder spotlight and Q&A every Monday!

Highlights from Columbia and Beyond 📈

🚀 Missouri Startup Weekend is right around the corner! Who’s launching the next billion-dollar idea?

This is the last chance for tickets; only 2 left 🙉 

It's kind of like a hackathon, but better.

→ USE CODE: MIZ FOR 25% OFF ←

  • PRIZE: $15,000, legal formation, PR, office space, and potential investment

  • BONUS: You get to work with the founders of Zapier, EquipmentShare, and Balto

  • WHO: For the weekend hustler, builder, and problem solver

  • PEOPLE: Judges and Mentors

This is a great chance to network with the Mizzou Startup Community - we hope to see you there!

→ Check out the schedule!

Interested in investing in Mizzou alums or students?💰️ Sign up below

Sam Blond, Mizzou alum and ex-Brex CRO, announced earlier this month that he is leaving his position as Partner at Founders Fund after 18 months. Known for his expertise in sales and previous roles at Brex and Zenefits, Blond returned to operating, saying on X that “Full-time investing / being a VC isn’t the right fit for me.” What’s next for Sam? Read more on TechCrunch.

Campus Chatter 📣

Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Entrepreneurship Alliance Accelerator Pitch Competition

April 5th, 9-11:15 am, Monsanto Auditorium

www.linkedin.com/posts/mizzoubusiness_miz-events-entrepreneurship-activity-7178495584356507648-aOMh?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Applications are now open for the Mizzou Incubator sponsored by Redbud VC and EquipmentShare.Students from the four UM System universities can participate in the studio at the Griggs Innovators Nexus in the MU Student Center. The program offers education, mentorship, and financing opportunities.

Student Entrepreneurs 🚀

Aperture Media Group: Media company using drones and other filming techniques.

  • Founders: Jerry Zhang and Grant Cox

  • Are ramping up to launch officially

  • Alumni Ask: Introductions to media experts and mentors

Twiyo: Providing opportunities for users to access unique adventures locally and around the world

  • Founders: Reagan Wiles

  • In development and recently received funding form the Redbud sponsored Mizzou incubator

  • Alumni Ask: Experts in consumer app development

Alumni Company of the Month 🔥

Autoblocks is a collaborative, cloud-based workspace that helps you iteratively test and improve your GenAI products. Autoblocks was founded by Adam Nolte, a Mizzou Computer Engineering alum.

Autoblocks: GenAI product workspace

Build better, more differentiated AI products.

www.autoblocks.ai

Alumni Fundraising 💰️ 

Alumni Job Openings 💼 

If you would like to be featured in our next newsletter, please email [email protected]