Southern Missouri will shine a spotlight on innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional collaboration during Innovate SOMO Week, taking place April 21–25. The weeklong celebration will showcase the growing tech ecosystem and the far-reaching impact of the Southern Missouri Innovation Network (Innovate SOMO), a joint initiative led by Codefi and Missouri State University’s efactory.
Spanning 47 counties, Innovate SOMO is designed to empower individuals and strengthen communities through tech education, business support, and talent development. The network connects entrepreneurs with critical resources to drive innovation and promote economic growth across the region.
“The network’s strength lies in two primary areas: One, the buy-in from the leadership of community connectors across the region. And two, the shared ideal that together, we make more possible,” said Nicki Donnelson, director of marketing and communications at efactory. “Yes, we’re celebrating impact and big announcements, but we’re also using Innovate SOMO Week to say thank you to all of the partners who say yes and want to improve opportunities and the economic vitality of the areas they serve.”
The celebration is supported by the Missouri Technology Corporation Regional Node Grant Program and will include events, recognitions, and announcements aimed at energizing and uniting innovators, educators, and entrepreneurs across the region.
For more information and a full schedule of events, visit the Innovate SOMO website.
Community members from across the state can participate in a number of live and virtual events:
- April 21
- 10 a.m. Kickoff Extravaganza: This event, held at efactory and co-hosted by efactory and Codefi, will highlight stories of great impact, celebrate partnerships, unveil new opportunities and bring together communities across the region.
- 3:30 p.m. Future-Ready Youth: Coding, Competition, and College and Career Pathways: Find out about bringing coding education to the young people in your area during this informational webinar hosted by Codefi. This webinar is geared at school administrators, community organizers and librarians.
- April 22
- 9 a.m. Tech-Forward Communities: Building Pathways to Opportunity: Codefi will host a panel discussion on Code Labs’ Full Stack Web Development program and Skill Forge courses in Cape Girardeau.
- 9 a.m. Discover & Lead with Your Strengths: This interactive workshop at efactory will lead participants through a self-assessment and teach leaders how to identify and capitalize on strengths of their team members.
- 2 p.m. Connecting SOMO Webinar: Local Entrepreneurs Designing and Building Products in Demand: Connect with founders and aspiring entrepreneurs of tech based startups who will share about validating their business ideas.
- April 23
- 10 a.m. Where are the New Jobs Coming from in Southern Missouri? Dr. James Stapleton, president and CEO of Codefi, will share about his research on job creation and loss over the last 30 years in this webinar. He will detail how it illustrates the evolution of employment in SOMO.
- 11:30 a.m. Lunch & Learn: Brand Building Funding for Businesses: In this Ozarks Small Business Incubator event in West Plains, explore affordable strategies to help small businesses grow their brand and reach.
- Noon: Cultivating Innovation: Thriving Tech Startups in Unexpected Places: This virtual panel discussion, co-hosted by Southeast Missouri Regional Economic Development, Inc. and Codefi, will bring together founders to share experiences of building a tech company outside of major metros.
- 2 p.m. AI Simplified: Practical Tools for Business Productivity: In this course at efactory, participants will learn how to leverage AI tools for marketing, presentations and communication, improving workflow efficiently and ethically.
- April 24
- 5 p.m. The Network Member Event: Meet & Mingle: The Cowork Collective in Monett will host a social for its members.
- April 25
- 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free Coworking Day: Try out the creative and collaborative spaces at:
- Codefi, 338 Broadway St., 6th Floor, Cape Girardeau
- Joseph Newman Innovation Center, 407 S. Pennsylvania, Joplin
- efactory, 405 N. Jefferson Ave., Springfield
- Cowork Collective, 308 E. Broadway St., Monett
- 9 a.m. Introduction to Grant Writing: Learn the essentials to grant writing in this workshop at efactory.
- 10 a.m. Announcing Traction Studio AI: This webinar, hosted by Codefi, will showcase this new platform and highlight how it can change opportunities for early-stage tech companies.
- 1 p.m. Big Special Announcement: The network will end our week full of events and celebrations with an announcement that will really change the game for innovators and entrepreneurs. The official announcement will be held at Codefi’s headquarters in Cape Girardeau.
- 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free Coworking Day: Try out the creative and collaborative spaces at:
