Startup Missouri Information to fuel Missouri business startups

Consider this scenario: a local eatery known as, THE HUMONSTRO HAMBURGER JOINT, just a single hamburger stand a few years back owned and operated as a dba by Hugo Louie, became well-known and well-liked in its metro area for its large, tasty hamburgers, the “Humonstro”. The Humonstro burger was often listed in on line “best burger” ratings, and had a ...

By Chris McCulloch, CFE SVP, Corporate Security Officer Enterprise Bank & Trust Becoming a victim of fraud is probably not at the top of a startup executive’s worry list. However, businesses of all sizes are the victims of fraudulent behavior every day, and, interestingly, smaller businesses are at high risk. Fraud comes in a variety of forms and from both ...

By Harley Blosser and Matthew Kayrish of Sandberg Phoenix Many successful Startup Companies have their genesis built around some “great ideas” that have been turned into a portfolio of patents limiting potential competitors. Here are some practical tips on maximizing your patent protection for your invention(s) at the core of your Startup Company based on our experience writing and presenting ...

by Jason Koelling Vice President, Relationship Manager Enterprise Bank & Trust The rising cost of health insurance has been well documented. Employers’ health care costs started small. In 1950, health benefits amounted to only 0.50% of total compensation, according to the 2018 Willis Towers Watson report, “Health Care USA: A Cancer on the American Dream.” Since then, health insurance premiums ...

As an experienced Intellectual Property attorney, I honestly can’t remember the number of “elevator pitches” by Startup Companies that I have attended seeking investors. Whether the focus of the company is for a new smart phone application based on an algorithm which will produce a delicious set of weekly menus based on your input of health, allergy and food preference ...

  by Joe Mark Vice President, Relationship Manager Team Lead Enterprise Bank & Trust, Member FDIC You land a large, industry-leading company as a client that could have a significant impact on your bottom line – but they ask for 90 days to pay their invoices. How do you handle this issue? Extended payment terms are a policy in which ...

by Mark Lawson, Director of Treasury Management Enterprise Bank & Trust, Member FDIC The Journey to “Yes” Every entrepreneur dreams of having more capital. Whether you need to purchase equipment or expand, it can often be the missing ingredient needed for you to be successful. When you arrive at the moment that you need to explore securing capital to fulfill those ...

By Mark Lawson, Director of Treasury Management Enterprise Bank & Trust, Member FDIC The never-ending quest to boost your company’s financial growth and profitability has many obstacles — regardless of the size of your business. Some hurdles are obvious but unavoidable, such as increases in the cost of raw materials, or increased tax burdens. Other threats to your profits prove ...

At just 23 years old, Columbia, Missouri-based entrepreneur Libby Martin won over $40,000 in the University of Missouri System’s first Entrepreneur Quest Student Accelerator competition. She is using her winnings to further launch Calving Technologies, a veterinary tech startup that is revolutionizing how birthing cows are tracked and cared for. Calving Technologies is solving a major problem for cattle ranchers ...

One of any business’s most valuable – and too often overlooked – assets is its intellectual property. Patented innovations, trademarks and copyrights are the foundation of many businesses, and having less than bulletproof protection can pose a serious threat to a company’s bottom line or even its future. And while intellectual property law is often viewed as a highly specialized ...