Opportunities 
for Startups

Marketing as a small business can feel overwhelming, but this course provides a solid foundation for long-term marketing success. By focusing on your brand identity and marketing strategy first, you’ll ensure that your marketing resonates with your target audience, creates consistency and drives breakthrough results. Plus, it allows you to measure and refine your efforts over time to continuously improve your outcomes.

In this session, you’ll begin by understanding what brand identity is, why it matters, and the essential components that make up your brand “DNA.” Once you have clarity on your brand, we’ll dive into creating a marketing strategy tailored to your business. Key topics include setting clear objectives, identifying your target audience, prioritizing messages, and more. You’ll also learn time-saving tips and AI tricks that will simplify your marketing efforts.

By the end of the session, you will have a brand identity and marketing plan template in hand, leaving you well on your way to effective, results-driven marketing.

Dates: July 15 OR October 28
Times: 9:00am – 12:00 p.m.
Fee: $79
Format: In-Person
Make your payment on our Marketplace

In this 3-part, virtual, training series, you’ll learn how to avoid a common pitfall of entrepreneurship—no customer, no business. You’ll validate your idea through customer discovery and ensure your business concept solves real problems for real, paying customers before investing a lot of time and money.

Entrepreneurs often jump straight into building and branding their business, only to find themselves stuck in the Startup Loop of Despair—facing low sales or market indifference. In “Proof to Profit,” you’ll learn how to gather proof through interviews, surveys, observations, and small experiments. We tap into the wisdom of All in Startup by Diana Kander to learn the how to do customer discovery, prove your concept, and turn it into sustainable profit.

This class is a prerequisite to StartSmart.

Sr. Business Development Consultant, Joel Barrett, leads the course.  He is a serial entrepreneur and business owner. Since 2017, he has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs annually and taught a wide array of training sessions at the SBDC.

Included with the class:

• A digital copy of All In Startup by Diana Kander
• Group discussion and coaching
• Tools and resources to gather proof of concept
• One-on-one business coaching sessions

Session Dates: begins May 20 OR September 2, 2025.
Times: 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Fee: $199
Format: Virtual

Register here!

Learn how to identify key business information that is captured on an income statement and balance sheet in this basic financial class. Participants will learn to calculate several ratios and understand what those ratios mean in terms of business productivity and success. Leave this session with a greater understanding of how to read and interpret financial documents and how to use that information to drive business decisions.

Dates: July 1 OR October 14, 2025
Times: 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Fee: $79
Format: Virtual
Make your payment on our Marketplace. 

Every business needs fuel to grow, and funding is one of the most critical ingredients. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, this dynamic course will walk you through a wide range of funding sources to help power your business. Explore traditional options like bank loans and SBA loans, while also diving into alternative solutions such as micro-loans, crowdfunding, investors, and grants.

We’ll break down the 5 C’s of bank lending criteria so you understand exactly what lenders look for when evaluating your loan application. You’ll also discover how to leverage owner investment, credit cards, and other creative funding pathways to meet your capital needs. From determining the right fit for your business to crafting a funding strategy that aligns with your goals, this class equips you with the tools to secure the financial support you need to thrive.

Join us and take the next step toward fueling your entrepreneurial journey!

Dates: July 8 OR October 21, 2025
Times: 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Fee: $79
Format: Virtual
Make your payment on our Marketplace

What’s the secret to winning on social media? You need to define the right strategy for your brand, which means you need to know where, when and how to show up for your audience. It’s all about having a good, first impression (so they can find you!) and then consistently creating content that resonates with them (so they stick around for more!).

In this workshop, led by award-winning content marketer Maggie Glenski, you will learn how to determine your brand’s strategy, optimize your profiles and create content efficiently so your brand can start winning on social.

(Part 1) Determining your strategy for social
Before you get on social, you have to know why you’re on it, who you’re trying to reach and where to find them. We’ll dive into:

• Defining your objective
• Knowing your target audience
• Determining the right platforms for you

(Part 2) Optimizing your profile for success
Now that you know your key strategies, let’s make sure you’re showing up on social with a good first impression. Are your Instagram or LinkedIn profiles set up to attract and convert users?

(Part 3) Creating content efficiently
Now that you’re ready to show up, let’s tackle one of the toughest challenges for small businesses – how to consistently post on social when you don’t have a team or plenty of time.

Learn more about our speaker:

Maggie Glenski is an award-winning advertising leader who gained expertise in content strategy and development by managing some of the most memorable brands in the world – Gatorade, Tropicana, Intel, Dannon, ExxonMobil, and Toyota. After working in global ad agencies like VML, BBDO, and Dentsu for 10+ years, Maggie left her job to follow her dreams of being a mom and female founder. Through her company, Wrinkle’s Content Studio, Maggie partners with ambitious, small business founders to grow their brands through high-quality content and strategic thinking that you’d typically see from large agencies, at a fraction of the cost. She’s a content strategist who specializes in helping founders grow with intentional social media, email and blog content.

Date: July 22, OR November 4, 2025
Times: 9:00am – 12:00 p.m.
Fee: $79
Make your payment on our Marketplace

Starting a business is an exciting journey, but it’s essential to lay the groundwork for success. StartSmart: Your Business Foundations is a dynamic, hands-on, interactive course designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who are ready to turn their ideas into thriving businesses.

You will learn how to:

• Validate that there’s a market for your product or service
• Conduct effective customer discovery and market research
• Craft a compelling elevator pitch to attract interest and investment
• Build a customer persona to better understand your audience
• Navigate legal structures and essential considerations for your business
• Understand the basics of accounting, bookkeeping, pricing, and sales
• Explore HR essentials, from hiring to managing contractors
• Develop strategies to ensure long-term profitability and growth

Class Includes:

• Proof to Profit access (Customer Discovery curriculum + virtual sessions)
• A comprehensive binder packed with worksheets and resources to expand on what you learn in class
• Group learning, lively discussions, and coaching in a collaborative environment
• One-on-one coaching sessions with an SBDC business coach for personalized guidance
• Access to the LivePlan toolkit for writing your business plan and creating 3 years of sales projections
• Networking opportunities with other entrepreneurs and business owners
• Access to four single-session classes right for any phase of business: Reading & Understanding Financial Statements, Show Me the Money! Navigating Funding Options for Your Business, Social Media for Small Business, and Branding 101 (single session classes must be used in the same trimester as your StartSmart registration. You will be added to those rosters automatically).

Each session is packed with real-world applications, interactive activities, and expert guidance. You’ll leave with practical tools and a clear roadmap to take your business from concept to launch.

Whether you’re at the idea stage or have just started, **StartSmart: Your Business Foundations** will give you the confidence and knowledge to succeed. Secure your spot today and get ready to turn your vision into reality!

StartSmart sessions begin May 20 OR September 23, 2025. Register here!

Scaling a business takes more than just growth—it requires a strong, aligned team. As your company expands, it’s easy for team members to lose focus or struggle in the wrong roles. Understanding how your team works best can help you improve productivity, morale, and long-term success.

The Working Genius Assessment is a simple yet powerful tool that helps employees identify their strengths and challenges. Unlike typical personality tests, this assessment focuses 80% on productivity and 20% on personality, giving you clear insights into how each team member contributes. Since no one person excels in all six “geniuses,” teams that use this tool see immediate improvements in efficiency, teamwork, and burnout reduction.

The Missouri SBDC sponsors the Working Genius Workshop, led by a certified facilitator. This engaging session includes:

✔ A 15-minute individual assessment and personalized report
✔ A team map to visualize strengths and gaps
✔ A 90-minute interactive development session (available in person or online)

Our own SBDC team has completed this workshop, and it has transformed how we collaborate, solve problems, and execute ideas. We believe this framework so much that we’ll soon have two more consultants certified with Working Genius.

Date/Time: TBD
Fee: Contingent on team size – contact us for more info!