Episodes

From the team that brings you the Speaking Startup podcast comes a new podcast: Market Dives. The show dives into big developments across business, politics, sports and more, explains the economic forces driving them and helps you understand why they matter in Missouri. On the first episode of Market Dives, we tackle the topic of compensation for college athletes. Landmark decisions this summer mean that NCAA athletes can now earn money from endorsements for the first time. We examine what that ...

The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast is a tale of two types of retail. First, we visit with St. Louis entrepreneur Doug Spencer. He's co-CEO of Bold Xchange, an ecommerce startup looking to boost Black-owned businesses by providing them the exposure and connections they need to grow. Then, we hear another story from our Outstate series on entrepreneurship in small-town Missouri. This installment takes us to an Amish community in eastern Missouri to learn about the entrepreneurs the...

In the midst of Midwest Black Restaurant Week, we set out to find Missouri entrepreneurs getting involved in the second-year event. We wound up talking with a trio of entrepreneurs participating in the event for the first time — because it's their first year in business. On the latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast, we dig into three Black restaurateurs' reasons for starting food-service businesses during a time that's been particularly tough on the industry. Plus, we hear from Elango T...

In the fall of 1839, a young boy named Samuel Clemens moved with his family to Hannibal, Missouri. Almost two centuries later, Clemens — more commonly known by his pen name, Mark Twain — has given the town an international reputation. Hannibal is perhaps best known as the childhood home of Twain and the setting of some of his most famous books, including "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Tourists now flock to the town to learn more about the author, and many bu...

In the eastern Missouri town of Bowling Green, the demolition of a pair of prominent buildings a few years ago left a void in the downtown district, and ultimately it inspired a revitalization effort. City leaders are pursuing a host of ideas for reinvigorating the business district. But those big plans start with small, wooden structures. The city has three chalets that provide short-term homes for young businesses looking to test their concepts without the burden of long-term leases. The lates...

Many businesses have been hit hard by the cancellation of large, indoor events as a result of COVID-19. According to the Live Events Coalition, an industry group, 90% of events businesses have seen cancellations since the beginning of the pandemic. But in the face of diminished demand for some events, other options have … popped up. Pop-up picnics have been one area of the event industry that has thrived. The plush affairs are often complete high-end dinnerware, custom table settings, themed dec...

This week's episode of the Speaking Startup podcast is a holiday-themed entrepreneurship extravaganza. First, from bubble buses to beer trucks, entrepreneurs across Missouri who cater to crowds at large public events are bracing for brisk business this weekend with the return of large July Fourth events. It’s a different scene from last summer, when as many as 80% of Independence Day celebrations were shut down due to COVID-19. Plus, after record consumer spending on fireworks last year, Missour...

The U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, or USICA, is a $250 billion bill aimed at boosting the U.S. semiconductor industry, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics and more. The legislation, viewed as an effort to encourage American competition with the growing high-tech sector in China, passed the U.S. Senate earlier this month and is working its way through the House. To learn more about what the bill might mean in Missouri, the latest episode of the Speaking Start...

Neobanks are a type of financial technology, or fintech, aimed at making banking faster, cheaper and easier. They have grown significantly, especially alongside racial protests over the last year highlighting financial inequities, which have been exacerbated partly by lack of access to banking. Tim Prier started one of these neobanks, called Wicket, in the Kansas City area. He saw it a way to reach communities that couldn't access traditional banking services. The latest episode of the Speaking ...

It's no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought extreme difficulties for bars and restaurants. More than 110,000 of those businesses across the U.S. shuttered either permanently or temporarily last year, according to the National Restaurant Association. Still, amid widespread closures resulting from the pandemic, some business owners have gotten bars and restaurants off the ground over the last year-plus. The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast looks at two such businesses. Firs...

Jonaie Johnson grew up in a single-parent household with a mom she describes as "the epitome of a businesswoman," and Johnson knew from a young age that she wanted to run her own business. In high school, she hatched the idea for a connected device to enable busy dog owners to monitor and interact with their pets remotely. Now a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Johnson is the founder of Interplay, a startup developing that device. And when Johnson's not studying or working on h...

The special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, has seen a surge in popularity recently. A SPAC is company without any operations that goes public for the purpose of acquiring another company, effectively enabling the acquired company to go public without the same scrutiny and processes it would have to navigate in an initial public offering. Te number of SPACs to go public jumped to 248 last year from 59 in 2019, an increase of 320%, according to data from the website SPACInsider. This year's...

From pitches in the "Shark Tank," to bars being rescued, to diners, drive-ins and dives getting Fieri'd, TV today is littered with examples of entrepreneurs sharing their stories and seeking expert advice. It's a tried-and-true formula for compelling television. And for the businesses involved? Missouri entrepreneurs who have been featured on shows like "Shark Tank," "Bar Rescue" and "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" will tell you their reality doesn't always match what ends up on the airwaves. But ...

The subject of social entrepreneurship may call to mind big brands like footwear company Toms Shoes and eyewear retailer Warby Parker, but social enterprises come in all different shapes and sizes. The latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast looks at Missouri entrepreneurs running businesses that aim to address social, cultural and environmental problems. Plus, the latest installment from our series on Black farmers in Missouri looks at different agricultural operations in Kansas City's u...

Though economic recessions historically lead to increased unemployment, they also can lead to increased entrepreneurial activity. Dane Stangler, director of strategic initiatives at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. Census numbers show a surge in business applications in the second half of 2020. Stangler said one cause of this is that when people lose their jobs and can’t find another, their next best option is to become self-employ...

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have been drawing lots of attention — and investment — in recent weeks. Earlier this month, the digital artist Beeple set a record for the sale price of an NFT when a piece of digital art he created sold at auction for more than $69 million. But it's not just artists that are tapping into the capabilities of NFTs, which are unique digital assets whose ownership is authenticated using blockchain technology. Early adopters of NFTs say the technology has potential for ...

Entrepreneurs are often known for working around the clock to keep their business afloat. But is sacrificing sleep for work actually what’s best for business? According to Jeff Gish, an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Central Florida, the answer is no. Gish’s research shows that a lack of sleep can have a negative impact on decision making. “We found that when you're sleep deprived, you still come up with the same amount of ideas, but they're just not as good. So the...

The coronavirus pandemic has posed an existential threat to businesses in the health and fitness sector, with various industry estimates suggesting more than one in seven gyms has closed for good since the onset of COVID-19. The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association estimated that 15% of gyms and fitness studios had shuttered through the third quarter of 2020. A December report from ClubIntel put that figure at 18%. Still, some businesses in the sector have grown as others have ...

As Black History Month draws to a close, this week's episode of the Speaking Startup podcast digs into two stories of Black entrepreneurship in Missouri. First, from Columbia's Sharp End business district to a St. Louis entrepreneur with ties to the famed Madam C.J. Walker, Missouri his a history rich with thriving Black businesses. We look at the evolution of some of those businesses and their legacies today. Then, we hear from Black entrepreneurs looking to change the landscape of Missouri far...

St. Louis entrepreneur Akeem Shannon has enjoyed a busy few months, pitching his smartphone accessory, the Flipstik, on the television show “Shark Tank” and earning a spot in the inaugural Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Accelerator at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He credits opportunities like the accelerator with helping him gain important introductions and access. Shannon joined this week’s Speaking Startup podcast to discuss the new accelerator program, which he hopes can catalyze chan...

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Shelley Cooper saw an increasing demand for health care and a shortage of doctors. Cooper found a solution through virtual doctors appointments. She founded telehealth consultancy Diversity Telehealth in 2014. In 2019, she launched SureShow, a startup that works to help doctors replace no-show appointments with virtual visits. Once the pandemic hit, Cooper saw her industry really take off. Telehealth has grown into a $3.5 billion industry, according to market...

When the COVID-19 pandemic created more uncertainty than startup investors could handle, they took a break. But it didn’t last long. Brian Matthews, a founder and general partner of St. Louis-based venture capital firm Cultivation Capital, said after a few months of watching the market, the group decided to jump right back in to investing. Data suggest Cultivation Capital wasn't the only firm to react this way. Despite the pandemic, 2020 brought more venture capital investment than 2019, accordi...

Speaking Startup: A pandemic, a Netflix hit and a chess boom by Missouri Business Alert

Hunting in the U.S. has grown over the past few decades to be a billion-dollar industry. That has implications for entrepreneurs in Missouri, where hunting-related businesses draw outsiders to spend time — and money — in rural communities. During the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. has seen "unprecedented spikes" in hunting and fishing, according to Matt Dunfee of the Wildlife Management Institute. However, that hasn't necessarily translated into improved profits for local businesses. The latest ...