Mizzou Startup Community

?? Exciting News from the Mizzou Startup Community! ?? As part of the recent Mizzou Startup Community launch (mizzoustartups.com), we're so excited to announce the beginning of the Mizzou Founder Features series! ? Here we spotlight exceptional founders who embarked on their entrepreneurial journey at Mizzou or thereafter. DM us or email [email protected] to be featured in an article or added to the newsletter! ?? Explore the incredible achievements of Mizzou alumni, with 20+ billion-dollar companies under their belt - a legacy often under the radar. Our Founder Features series is set to inform, inspire, and empower the next generation of innovators. ?? Kicking off this series, we've invited serial entrepreneur and medical expert Gregg Scheller to share his insights on founding 4 multi-million dollar companies, his 40-year journey as a CEO, writing over 375 successful patents, and much more! ?? Learn more about Gregg and tune into our Q&A with him [https://lnkd.in/g9ib62gi]. ?? Mark your calendars - every Monday we unveil a new Mizzou Founder Feature! ?? Whether you're a student, aspiring entrepreneur, CEO, alumni, or anything in between, this series promises to open your eyes to the remarkable achievements of Mizzou founders and serve as a catalyst to link students to the Mizzou Startup Community so they too can change the world. Welcome to the MSC, we hope you stick around! Explore resources and join the conversation at mizzoustartups.com ?? ?? Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and insights every Monday! ?? #mizzou #mizzoustartups #gotigers #entrepreneurship #FounderFeatures #MizzouLegacy

Meet Dr. DéRecco Lynch - Founder of The Excellence Factory! ?? From a small-town dreamer to a tech trailblazer, with 17 years of leadership experience in higher education, Dr. Lynch has been at the forefront of breaking down barriers for marginalized students and ensuring equitable access to higher education. Now, as a founder of The Excellence Factory, Dr. Lynch is building a thriving community of innovators who are tapping into their dreams and the networks they need to build amazing companies. ?? Read here: https://lnkd.in/eZHHzRsh Explore resources, connect with alumni, and join the conversation at?mizzoustartups.com??? New features every Monday! DM or email?[email protected]?to be featured in an article or added to the newsletter!

?? Check out the latest Mizzou Founder Feature + a Q&A with Robert Griggs: Founder of Trinity Products, author of Foundational Leadership, community leader, Mizzou donor, and much more. Griggs graduated from Mizzou in 1977 and by 1979 was running Trinity Products, which is now the global leader in steel pipe manufacturing. Learn about Robert Grigg’s journey, how he rebuilt Trinity’s culture from the group-up, his advice for young dreamers, our Q&A, and more! ?? Read here: https://lnkd.in/g_7ei-Sx Explore resources, connect with alumni, and join the conversation at mizzoustartups.com ?? New features every Monday! DM or email [email protected] to be featured in an article or added to the newsletter!

? Excited to share the incredible journey of?Nic Parks, the visionary behind The Pinball Company, Level Up, Lakeside Ashland, Silverball, and more! ?? Discover how Nic transformed his life by selling pinball machines and built an "Empire of Fun" that's now a cornerstone of Columbia. ?? In this featured article, Nic opens up about the importance of a great team, strategic growth, and the keys to serial entrepreneurship. Dive into his inspiring story and gain valuable insights for your own entrepreneurial journey! Check it out here ???https://lnkd.in/g7_ftG-S ?? New features every Monday! Explore resources and join the conversation at?mizzoustartups.com??? DM us or email?[email protected]?to be featured in an article or added to the newsletter!

Did you know that one of the largest energy infrastructures in North America was created by two Mizzou alumni? This week we spotlight the co-founders of Kinder Morgan, Inc., Richard Kinder and William Morgan. Kinder Morgan owns and manages around 83,000 miles of oil and gas pipelines, 143 terminals, and 40% of the United States' natural gas transportation. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gQBaZZVZ ?? New features every Monday! Explore resources and join the conversation at?mizzoustartups.com??? DM us or email?[email protected]?to be featured in an article or added to the newsletter!

This week we share the story of Appreciate and get to hear from Co-founder and CEO Nick Farquhar about building a 6-figure business while at Mizzou, winning Startup Weekend in 2022, then dropping out (again), and taking Appreciate to the moon ??. With 150+ properties across Missouri and Kansas City, Nick's company is changing the game in asset management and leveraging tech to empower real estate owners to take control of their operations: https://lnkd.in/gMt4eJmT ?? Huge thanks to Nick for his candid advice and for being a part of the Mizzou Startup Community! Entrepreneurs like Nick are few and far between and we hope this story serves as a reminder to students that the only limit is your imagination. ?? ?? Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and insights every Monday! ?? ?? DM us or email?[email protected]?to be featured in an article or added to the newsletter! #MizzouFounders Explore resources and join the conversation at?mizzoustartups.com ??

?? This week we're thrilled to share that we've invited none other than Wade Foster, Co-founder and CEO of Zapier, to share his story about going from a pitch at Missouri Startup Weekend to a $5B company used by 10M+ people around the world. If you're familiar with Zapier, the game-changing automation platform, or even if you're not, this is a must-read! ?? Learn how Zapier went from a humble Missouri startup to a global tech giant, insights on how you know when you have a good product market fit, invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, and much more: https://lnkd.in/gdChupJq ?? Thank you Wade for joining and inspiring the Mizzou Startup Community! ?? ?? Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and insights every Monday! ?? ?? DM us or email?[email protected]?to be featured in an article or added to the newsletter! #MizzouFounders #StartupSuccess #InnovationJourney Explore resources and join the conversation at?mizzoustartups.com???

?? This week we've invited mental health guru and CEO of Healium Sarah Hill to share her insights on creating the first drugless solution for stress, anxiety, and insomnia using VR and mobile video! ?? Learn more about Sarah and Healium + tune into our Q&A with her [https://lnkd.in/gzSmsgWk] Thank you Sarah for joining the Mizzou Startup Community and inspiring our community of rising entrepreneurs! ?? DM us or email?[email protected]?to be featured in an article or added to the newsletter! ?? Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and insights every Monday! ???Whether you're a student, aspiring entrepreneur, CEO, alumni, or anything in between, this series promises to open your eyes to the remarkable achievements of Mizzou founders and serve as a catalyst to link students to the Mizzou Startup Community so they too can change the world. Explore resources and join the conversation at?mizzoustartups.com???

Mizzou Founder Features Recap: A Spotlight on Mizzou Founder Gregg Scheller ?? Dive into the full article to gain more insights into the life of this visionary entrepreneur [https://lnkd.in/g9ib62gi] ???? Gregg's Journey: - ?? Legacy of Innovation: With 375+ patents and the founding of four companies, Gregg's impact on ophthalmology and neurosurgery is global. - ?? Global Impact: From founding Advanced Surgical Products to leading Synergetics, his inventions save lives and improve surgical procedures worldwide. - ?? Prestigious Accolades: Ernst and Young Midwest Life Sciences Entrepreneur of the Year, 2013 MU Engineering School Honor Award, 2015 St. Louis Bar Association Inventor of the Year. ?? Insights and Advice from Gregg: - ?? Leadership Wisdom: Leadership is about listening, making tough decisions, and sometimes embracing the role of a "dictator" to navigate critical situations. - ?? Philosophies and Values: Gregg credits his work ethic to childhood values, emphasizing the importance of hard work, faith, and continuous self-improvement. - ?? Adapting Leadership Style: Reflecting on his journey, Gregg shares how taking a company public changed his perspective, reinforcing the importance of staying true to one's passion. ??? Words of Wisdom to Aspiring Entrepreneurs: - ?? Entrepreneurial Courage: Entrepreneurs see opportunities, not failure. Courage is about seizing those opportunities. - ?? Passion Over Wealth: Pursue your passion; success and financial rewards will follow. Patience is key; entrepreneurship is a journey, not a quick path to riches. - ?? Choosing Partners: Choose business partners wisely. Align with those who share the workload and contribute meaningfully to avoid costly equity mistakes. Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for more Founder Features every Monday.