Missouri Startup Weekend

Missouri Startup Weekend Build a startup in one weekend
April 17-19th, 2026
Columbia, MO

One last MASSIVE thank you to our sponsors for MOSW 2026. This year was the biggest, best one yet. And we couldn't have ...
04/28/2026

One last MASSIVE thank you to our sponsors for MOSW 2026. This year was the biggest, best one yet. And we couldn't have done it without your support!

TITLE SPONSORS:

Redbud VC, EquipmentShare, Veterans United, Zapier, Digital Bullpen, Aviron Software, Transitions Law Group LLC, Codefi, and Griggs Innovators Nexus (Mizzou)

GOLD SPONSORS:

Lovable, ElevenLabs, Featherless AI, Forvis Mazars, Missouri Technology Corporation, The Arcade District, and AngelList

SILVER SPONSORS:

Right to Start, Healium, Launch KC, Centennial Investors Angel Network, Columbia REDI, Logboat Brewing Company, and Flat Branch Bank

It was great to see so many of you over the weekend. See you next year!

Missouri Startup Weekend is officially underway! 🚀As the teams continue building today (Saturday), we'd like to take a s...
04/18/2026

Missouri Startup Weekend is officially underway! 🚀

As the teams continue building today (Saturday), we'd like to take a sec and give a huge shoutout to Veterans United Home Loans! They helped us kick things off by hosting an exclusive student launch mixer, bringing together our student builders. From meeting new people to scoping out the competition, the energy was high and the excitement for the next 54 hours is real.

Huge THANK YOU to Veterans United and their Recruitment team for creating a space that truly invests in students, innovation, and what’s next. We’re grateful to be part of a weekend that starts like this.

This is the week - only 3 days to go until MOSW 2026!If you're coming to win, you'd better come prepared. The competitio...
04/14/2026

This is the week - only 3 days to go until MOSW 2026!

If you're coming to win, you'd better come prepared. The competition is definitely gonna be fierce!

Your way to the #1 spot starts with a great 60 second pitch. Land in the top 15 Friday to continue building our idea throughout the weekend.

Beyond winning with your intro pitch, it takes more than just a "good idea" to impress the judges. They are looking for teams that can prove a problem exists, demonstrate a clear path to success, and execute with precision over the course of the weekend.

Whether you're refining your TAM/SAM/SOM or securing those crucial LOIs, keep these six pillars in mind to stay ahead of the pack.

Check out the full breakdown of the judging criteria below. 👇🏼

1️⃣ VALIDATION
- Are you actually solving a problem?
- Did your team get out and talk to customers? Buy in? LOI?

2️⃣ BUSINESS MODEL
- How do you plan on being successful?
- What unique insight do you bring?

3️⃣ TEAM
- What competitive edge do you have?
- How well can you execute on the plan?

4️⃣ EXECUTION/DESIGN
- How much did you accomplish during the weekend?
- Is your product easy to use? Because design matters.

5️⃣ COMPETITION
- Unique understanding vs. competitors?
- Rank within competitive landscape?

6️⃣ MARKET
- How large is the TAM, SAM, and SOM?
- Is this a fast growing market?

Participant tickets for MOSW 2026 are officially SOLD OUT. Joining the waitlist is your best chance to shoot your shot n...
04/08/2026

Participant tickets for MOSW 2026 are officially SOLD OUT. Joining the waitlist is your best chance to shoot your shot now.

If you still want to get in on the action, you can snag a FREE audience ticket and watch the pitches on Friday and/or Sunday.

163 participants.
14 founders in the sprint track.
372 attendees (still open for tickets).
$100,000 in investment up for grabs with $45K+ in prizes, sash, services, and development packages for winners.

It's gonna be awesome.

🎟️ Visit mosw.io to join the participant waitlist or snag a ticket to come watch!

You don't need a finished product or a 10-page business plan to make an impact at Missouri Startup Weekend 2026.In fact,...
03/02/2026

You don't need a finished product or a 10-page business plan to make an impact at Missouri Startup Weekend 2026.

In fact, some of the successful teams in our history started Friday night with nothing more than a set of skills and a desire to build.

Whether you are a developer ready to code, a designer with a vision, or a problem-solver looking for a mission, there is a seat at the table for you at EquipmentShare HQ.

1️⃣ Join a Team
No Idea? No Problem. Just Bring Your Skills.

Most MOSW participants don't actually pitch. Instead, they power the projects that do.

Whether you're a coder, a designer, a marketer, or a spreadsheet wizard, your skills are the "fuel" these startups need to reach Sunday’s demo day.

You'll get to shop around on Friday night, find a project you believe in, and help build a company from scratch.

2️⃣ Watch the Pitches
See the Future of Missouri Tech for Free.

Not ready to build just yet? You can still be part of the energy.

Grab a free spectator ticket to join us for the high-stakes 60-second pitches on Friday night or the polished, high-fidelity Demo Day presentations on Sunday.

Watch the next generation of Missouri unicorns get their start at EquipmentShare HQ.

3️⃣ Become an Expert
Be On-Call to Share Your Wisdom and Expertise.

If you’ve "been there and done that," we need your tactical experience in the room. Instead of boring lectures, you’ll join our on-call Expert Network, jumping into the foxhole with teams exactly when they hit a wall.

From legal advice to UI/UX critiques, your 30-minute intervention could be the difference between a pivot and a failure.

4️⃣ Pitch Your Idea
Bring the Idea. We’ll Bring the Rest.

Got a "shower idea" or a problem that’s been bugging you for years? Friday night is your moment. You have 60 seconds to pitch your concept to a room full of builders.

If your idea gets the votes, you’ll spend the next 54 hours as a Founder, leading a hand-picked team toward a $10,000 top prize and $600k+ in investment potential.

Sign Up to Watch Or Participate!

🔗 in bio!

Next Up Missouri, presented by Missouri Business Alert, celebrates exceptional young Missourians ages 10 to 25 who are m...
02/19/2026

Next Up Missouri, presented by Missouri Business Alert, celebrates exceptional young Missourians ages 10 to 25 who are making an impact through entrepreneurship, innovation and community leadership.

From elementary students with side hustles to college and graduate students launching startups or leading initiatives, Next Up Missouri recognizes young people who are shaping Missouri’s future right now.

We welcome nominations for students and young people who:
➔ Live in Missouri
➔ Are ages 10-25
➔ Have started or led a business, nonprofit, project, product or initiative
➔ Demonstrate creativity, leadership and a commitment to making a difference

Nominations may be submitted by educators, parents, mentors, advisors, peers, or by students themselves.

Honorees will be featured in a special Missouri Business Alert series and receive a plaque. There is no travel required.

We would be grateful if you could share this opportunity with your students, families, faculty advisors, mentors or program participants via email, newsletters, classrooms, listservs or social media.

Nominations close at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2026. More information and the nomination form are available at https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/next_up_missouri/

02/17/2026

We just rebuilt mosw.io from the ground up to match the energy of the weekend. Faster, cleaner, and packed with everything you need to know about the $600,000+ investment pool and our expert network for 2026.

Awesome job from Hemkesh Agrawal on the 🔥 build!

Take a tour and see:

➔ The full 54-hour agenda.

➔ The 2024 & 2025 expert lineups.

➔ How to win the $10k non-dilutive cash prize.

Check out the new look and snag your ticket!
🔗 Explore now: mosw.io

We need the Builders, the Hackers, and the Strategists. 🛠️Missouri Startup Weekend 2026 is officially looking for our ne...
02/16/2026

We need the Builders, the Hackers, and the Strategists. 🛠️

Missouri Startup Weekend 2026 is officially looking for our next cohort of On-Call Experts. We’re moving away from traditional "lecturing" mentors and toward a network of tactical pros who can jump into the foxhole with our founders.

The Goal: Provide 150+ participants with the "unfair advantage" of your experience. Whether you're a designer who can whip up a landing page or an attorney who can explain a cap table, we want you in the room.

The Expert Commitment:

➔ On-Call Availability: You choose your slots throughout the weekend.

➔ In-Person or Virtual: Support teams from anywhere or join us at EquipmentShare HQ.

➔ Pay It Forward: Help build the next generation of Missouri tech "unicorns".

Are you an expert in one of these fields? Join the network today.

🔗 Apply at mosw.io/expert-network

We’re stoked to have Digital Bullpen back as a sponsor for MOSW 2026. Pitch your idea at MOSW 2026 and you could win a b...
02/06/2026

We’re stoked to have Digital Bullpen back as a sponsor for MOSW 2026.

Pitch your idea at MOSW 2026 and you could win a branding & website package from the same team that built Redbud VC’s new site.

When you're trying to build the next billion-dollar company, your brand becomes the foundation of your story.

Digital Bullpen is a premier branding agency that specializes in helping early-stage and growth startups ship fast without cutting corners. They act as an embedded design team, providing high-end brand identity, product design, and high-converting websites for companies that need to move with urgency.

The Grand Prize Branding Package

The first-place winner of the Classic Track will get a $15,000 Branding and Design Package from Digital Bullpen to help turn their weekend project into a market leader.

What’s included in the winner's package:

➔ Brand & Visual Identity: A comprehensive visual foundation including professional logo design and typography.

➔ Style Guide: A complete script for your team to ensure consistency across all digital and print materials.

➔ Website: Digital Bullpen is the creative force behind Redbud VC's new website, and they bring that same high-end, "operator-DNA" approach to every project.

Don't miss your chance to work with the team that helps Missouri's best startups stand out.

📅 April 17-19, 2026

📍 EquipmentShare HQ, Columbia, MO

🎟️ Get your tickets to participate at mosw.io

Address

5710 Bull Run Drive
Columbia, MO
65201

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