Building isn't the bottleneck anymore.
Reading the signal is.
AI Skills sessions.
Built for your small business.
Show-Me Founders is a year-long series for Missouri founders — 36 sessions on building, raising, and scaling with AI, running August 2026 through July 2027. New sessions open on a rolling basis. Here's what's open for registration right now.
Show-Me Founders is a year-long series for Missouri founders — 36 sessions on building, raising, and scaling with AI, running August 2026 through July 2027. New sessions open on a rolling basis. Here's what's open for registration right now.
Aug 2026 – Jul 2027 | Virtual | At no cost to you
Aug 2026 – Jul 2027 | Virtual | At no cost to you
These trainings are brought to you by Codefi through the Show Me Network
These trainings are brought to you by Codefi through the Show Me Network
These trainings are brought to you by Codefi through the Show Me Network
Four Events | Registration Required for Each Event
Four Events | Registration Required for Each Event
SESSION 1 of 36
Start It Right: Formation & Governance
Start It Right: Formation & Governance
Tue, Aug 25
SESSION 2 of 36
Fund It Legally: SAFEs & Term Sheets
Fund It Legally: SAFEs & Term Sheets
Wed, Aug 26
SESSION 3 of 36
Synthesize the Signal: Business Model
Synthesize the Signal: Business Model
Sep · Wk 1
SESSION 4 of 36
Should You Even
Raise?
Should You Even
Raise?
Sep · Wk 2
SESSION 5 of 36
Books That Don't Scare Investors
Books That Don't Scare Investors
Sep · Wk 3
SESSION 6 of 36
Investor-Ready: Use of Funds & the Deck
Investor-Ready: Use of Funds & the Deck
Should You Even Raise?
Sep · Wk 4
SESSION 7 of 36
The Financial Model Investors Expect
The Financial Model Investors Expect
Oct · Wk 1
SESSION 8 of 36
Pitch Ready:
Story + Q&A
Pitch Ready:
Story + Q&A
Oct · Wk 2
The Problem
AI collapsed the cost of building. It didn't collapse the failure rate.
What took 18 months now takes 18 days — and 42% of startups still fail from misreading the market. Founders aren't losing because they're too slow to build. They're losing because they're moving fast on guesses instead of signal.
"I built the product in a weekend. I still don't know if anyone actually wants it."
"Every AI tool promises to save me time. I spend more time evaluating tools than using them."
"I don't know if I should even be raising money right now, or if I'm just doing it because that's what founders do."
"I signed a contract I didn't fully understand because I couldn't afford a lawyer at the time."
Here's the thing
Most founders haven't done anything wrong — the tools moved faster than the guidance did. Show-Me Founders is built around the moments that actually decide whether a startup survives: what to build, whether to raise, and what to sign before you do. Eight sessions to start, at no cost to eligible Missouri founders.
The Problem
AI collapsed the cost of building. It didn't collapse the failure rate.
What took 18 months now takes 18 days — and 42% of startups still fail from misreading the market. Founders aren't losing because they're too slow to build. They're losing because they're moving fast on guesses instead of signal.
"I built the product in a weekend. I still don't know if anyone actually wants it."
"Every AI tool promises to save me time. I spend more time evaluating tools than using them."
"I don't know if I should even be raising money right now, or if I'm just doing it because that's what founders do."
"I signed a contract I didn't fully understand because I couldn't afford a lawyer at the time."
Here's the thing
Most founders haven't done anything wrong — the tools moved faster than the guidance did. Show-Me Founders is built around the moments that actually decide whether a startup survives: what to build, whether to raise, and what to sign before you do. Eight sessions to start, at no cost to eligible Missouri founders.
The Problem
AI collapsed the cost of building. It didn't collapse the failure rate.
What took 18 months now takes 18 days — and 42% of startups still fail from misreading the market. Founders aren't losing because they're too slow to build. They're losing because they're moving fast on guesses instead of signal.
"I built the product in a weekend. I still don't know if anyone actually wants it."
"Every AI tool promises to save me time. I spend more time evaluating tools than using them."
"I don't know if I should even be raising money right now, or if I'm just doing it because that's what founders do."
"I signed a contract I didn't fully understand because I couldn't afford a lawyer at the time."
Here's the thing
Most founders haven't done anything wrong — the tools moved faster than the guidance did. Show-Me Founders is built around the moments that actually decide whether a startup survives: what to build, whether to raise, and what to sign before you do. Eight sessions to start, at no cost to eligible Missouri founders.
Register now
Each session stands alone.
The series keeps going.
Register for what's open now. New sessions open every month through July 2027 — each one built to leave you with something you can use before your next work day.
Session 1 of 36
Start It Right: Entity Selection, Formation & Governance
Paperwork, Done Right the First Time
📅 Wed, Aug 26, 2026 · TBD — per Roots by Redbud run-of-show
💻 In-person — Roots by Redbud, Springfield, MO
"LLC or C-corp? Most founders guess. Thompson Hine doesn't."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders who haven't formed an entity yet, or want Thompson Hine's venture attorneys to confirm the one they picked. Delivered live at launch; opens a path to 1:1 legal support.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
The choices you make setting up your company are cheap to get right now — and expensive to fix later, once an investor or grantor is asking why they weren't made correctly.
The Session
Thompson Hine's venture lawyers walk the LLC-vs-C-corp decision live, plus the formation checklist and governance basics investors expect to see on day one.
What You Leave With
• A clear entity decision (LLC vs C-corp) for your path
• A formation checklist
• The governance basics investors expect
Session 2 of 36
Fund It Legally: SAFEs, Term Sheets, Cap Tables & Shareholder Rights
Decode the Fine Print Before You Sign
📅 Thu, Aug 27, 2026 · TBD — per Roots by Redbud run-of-show
🖥 In-person — Roots by Redbud, Springfield, MO
"A SAFE isn't a loan. A term sheet isn't final. Know the difference before someone hands you one."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders planning to raise in the next 6–12 months. Delivered live at launch by Thompson Hine's venture attorneys; pairs with the Ready
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
The fastest way to regret a raise is to sign something you didn't fully understand — and most founders sign their first SAFE or term sheet from hope, not knowledge.
The Session
Thompson Hine breaks down SAFEs vs. priced rounds, how to actually read a term sheet, and the cap-table red flags that should stop you before you sign.
What You Leave With
• A working grasp of SAFE vs. priced rounds
• How to read a term sheet
• Cap-table basics and red flags
Session 3 of 36
Synthesize the Signal: Architect Your Business Model on One Page
Your Whole Business, One Page
📅 Wed, Sep 2, 2026 · 12:00–1:00 PM
🖥 Virtual
"If you can't map your business on one page, you don't have a business model — you have a hunch."
WHO IT'S FOR
First-time and early-stage founders with a raw idea — no business background required.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
Most founders carry their business model in their head, where the gaps stay hidden — until money's already been spent finding them the hard way.
The Session
In one working session, turn your idea into a structured, editable one-page business model — the signal, distilled — so you can see the whole picture and find the gaps before you build around them.
What You Leave With
• A completed one-page business model
• Your riskiest assumptions, surfaced
• A clear next step to test them
Session 4 of 36
Should You Even Raise? Capital Basics & the Missouri Funding Landscape
Raise, Bootstrap, or Wait
📅 Wed, Sep 16, 2026 · 5:30–6:30 PM
🖥 Virtual
"Not every business should raise money. Some shouldn't raise yet. Figure out which one you are first."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders considering a raise who haven't yet decided if it's the right move. Opens the Ready to Raise series; feeds the Nov 4 MTC cycle.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
Raising capital isn't a milestone — it's a choice with real consequences, and in the AI era, lean teams often need far less capital than they assume.
The Session
We'll build a bootstrap-vs-raise decision framework, then map Missouri's funding landscape — MTC TechLaunch, Seed, and VC included — so you know your likely-fit path before you pitch anyone.
What You Leave With
• A bootstrap-vs-raise decision framework
• A map of Missouri funding incl. MTC TechLaunch/Seed/VC
• Your likely-fit path
Session 5 of 36
Books That Don't Scare Investors: Bookkeeping, Statements & Software Setup
Numbers an Investor Can Trust
📅 Wed, Sep 23, 2026 · 12:00–1:00 PM
🖥 Virtual
"Messy books don't just slow you down — they make investors nervous before you've said a word."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders handling their own books, or about to. Opens the Numbers That Hold Up series, delivered by our accounting partner; opens 1:1 accounting support.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
Messy books cost founders deals, loans, and sleep — and most don't find out how messy until an investor or lender asks to see them.
The Session
Set up your chart of accounts, demystify the three core financial statements, and choose the right software for your stage — so your numbers hold up under scrutiny from day one.
What You Leave With
• A chart of accounts and bookkeeping setup
• The three statements demystifie
• The right software for your stage
Session 6 of 36
Investor-Ready: Financial Foundation, Use of Funds & the Deck
The Deck Investors Actually Read
📅 Wed, Sep 30, 2026 · 5:30–6:30 PM
🖥 Virtual
"Investors don't fund ideas. They fund a use-of-funds line they believe in."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders actively preparing to raise. Part of the Ready to Raise series.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
Investor-ready” isn't a vibe — it's a specific package, and most founders show up missing the slide investors most want to see: why they're defensible in an AI world.
The Session
Build your use-of-funds and 18-month forecast, draft your investor deck, and put your AI moat on the page instead of leaving it implied.
What You Leave With
• A use-of-funds and 18-month forecast
• A first-draft investor deck
• An articulated AI moat
Session 7 of 36
The Financial Model Investors Expect (+ AI Economics)
Model the Business, Not Just the Spreadsheet
📅 Wed, Oct 7, 2026 · 12:00–1:00 PM
🖥 Virtual
"Seats don't tell the whole story anymore. Neither does a model that ignores what AI actually costs you."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders building or revising their financial model ahead of a raise. Part of Numbers That Hold Up; pairs with Ready to Raise.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
A forecast built on hope gets found out in the first diligence call — especially now that usage-based revenue and compute costs don't fit the old modeling playbook.
The Session
Build the driver-based 18-month forecast investors expect, modeling usage and outcome revenue alongside compute costs — not just seats — and tie your use-of-funds to real milestones.
What You Leave With
• A driver-based 18-month forecast
• A use-of-funds tied to milestones
• AI-era revenue and cost modeling
Session 8 of 36
Pitch Ready: Nail the Story and the Q&A
Rehearse Before the Room Does
📅 Wed, Oct 14, 2026 · 5:30–6:30 PM
🖥 Virtual
"The pitch isn't where founders lose the room. The Q&A is."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders with a deck already built who need to tighten the story and prep for the hard questions. Part of the Ready to Raise series.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
The deck gets you the meeting — the room is won on story and Q&A, and most founders over-prepare the deck while under-preparing for “what stops an incumbent or a foundation model from doing this?”
The Session
Tighten your 10-minute narrative, build a Q&A battle sheet for the questions that break most founders — AI-defensibility included — and run it live for recorded, reviewed feedback.
What You Leave With
• A tightened pitch narrative
• A Q&A battle sheet incl. AI-defensibility
• A recorded, feedback-reviewed run
We are adding the events here as they get closer.
If You're registered for one, you'll get notified for all of the events.
Register now
Each session stands alone.
The series keeps going.
Register for what's open now. New sessions open every month through July 2027 — each one built to leave you with something you can use before your next work day.
Session 1 of 36
Start It Right: Entity Selection, Formation & Governance
Paperwork, Done Right the First Time
📅 Wed, Aug 26, 2026 · TBD — per Roots by Redbud run-of-show
💻 In-person — Roots by Redbud, Springfield, MO
"LLC or C-corp? Most founders guess. Thompson Hine doesn't."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders who haven't formed an entity yet, or want Thompson Hine's venture attorneys to confirm the one they picked. Delivered live at launch; opens a path to 1:1 legal support.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
The choices you make setting up your company are cheap to get right now — and expensive to fix later, once an investor or grantor is asking why they weren't made correctly.
The Session
Thompson Hine's venture lawyers walk the LLC-vs-C-corp decision live, plus the formation checklist and governance basics investors expect to see on day one.
What You Leave With
• A clear entity decision (LLC vs C-corp) for your path
• A formation checklist
• The governance basics investors expect
Session 2 of 36
Fund It Legally: SAFEs, Term Sheets, Cap Tables & Shareholder Rights
Decode the Fine Print Before You Sign
📅 Thu, Aug 27, 2026 · TBD — per Roots by Redbud run-of-show
🖥 In-person — Roots by Redbud, Springfield, MO
"A SAFE isn't a loan. A term sheet isn't final. Know the difference before someone hands you one."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders planning to raise in the next 6–12 months. Delivered live at launch by Thompson Hine's venture attorneys; pairs with the Ready
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
The fastest way to regret a raise is to sign something you didn't fully understand — and most founders sign their first SAFE or term sheet from hope, not knowledge.
The Session
Thompson Hine breaks down SAFEs vs. priced rounds, how to actually read a term sheet, and the cap-table red flags that should stop you before you sign.
What You Leave With
• A working grasp of SAFE vs. priced rounds
• How to read a term sheet
• Cap-table basics and red flags
Session 3 of 36
Synthesize the Signal: Architect Your Business Model on One Page
Your Whole Business, One Page
📅 Wed, Sep 2, 2026 · 12:00–1:00 PM
🖥 Virtual
"If you can't map your business on one page, you don't have a business model — you have a hunch."
WHO IT'S FOR
First-time and early-stage founders with a raw idea — no business background required.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
Most founders carry their business model in their head, where the gaps stay hidden — until money's already been spent finding them the hard way.
The Session
In one working session, turn your idea into a structured, editable one-page business model — the signal, distilled — so you can see the whole picture and find the gaps before you build around them.
What You Leave With
• A completed one-page business model
• Your riskiest assumptions, surfaced
• A clear next step to test them
Session 4 of 36
Should You Even Raise? Capital Basics & the Missouri Funding Landscape
Raise, Bootstrap, or Wait
📅 Wed, Sep 16, 2026 · 5:30–6:30 PM
🖥 Virtual
"Not every business should raise money. Some shouldn't raise yet. Figure out which one you are first."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders considering a raise who haven't yet decided if it's the right move. Opens the Ready to Raise series; feeds the Nov 4 MTC cycle.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
Raising capital isn't a milestone — it's a choice with real consequences, and in the AI era, lean teams often need far less capital than they assume.
The Session
We'll build a bootstrap-vs-raise decision framework, then map Missouri's funding landscape — MTC TechLaunch, Seed, and VC included — so you know your likely-fit path before you pitch anyone.
What You Leave With
• A bootstrap-vs-raise decision framework
• A map of Missouri funding incl. MTC TechLaunch/Seed/VC
• Your likely-fit path
Session 5 of 36
Books That Don't Scare Investors: Bookkeeping, Statements & Software Setup
Numbers an Investor Can Trust
📅 Wed, Sep 23, 2026 · 12:00–1:00 PM
🖥 Virtual
"Messy books don't just slow you down — they make investors nervous before you've said a word."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders handling their own books, or about to. Opens the Numbers That Hold Up series, delivered by our accounting partner; opens 1:1 accounting support.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
Messy books cost founders deals, loans, and sleep — and most don't find out how messy until an investor or lender asks to see them.
The Session
Set up your chart of accounts, demystify the three core financial statements, and choose the right software for your stage — so your numbers hold up under scrutiny from day one.
What You Leave With
• A chart of accounts and bookkeeping setup
• The three statements demystifie
• The right software for your stage
Session 6 of 36
Investor-Ready: Financial Foundation, Use of Funds & the Deck
The Deck Investors Actually Read
📅 Wed, Sep 30, 2026 · 5:30–6:30 PM
🖥 Virtual
"Investors don't fund ideas. They fund a use-of-funds line they believe in."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders actively preparing to raise. Part of the Ready to Raise series.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
Investor-ready” isn't a vibe — it's a specific package, and most founders show up missing the slide investors most want to see: why they're defensible in an AI world.
The Session
Build your use-of-funds and 18-month forecast, draft your investor deck, and put your AI moat on the page instead of leaving it implied.
What You Leave With
• A use-of-funds and 18-month forecast
• A first-draft investor deck
• An articulated AI moat
Session 7 of 36
The Financial Model Investors Expect (+ AI Economics)
Model the Business, Not Just the Spreadsheet
📅 Wed, Oct 7, 2026 · 12:00–1:00 PM
🖥 Virtual
"Seats don't tell the whole story anymore. Neither does a model that ignores what AI actually costs you."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders building or revising their financial model ahead of a raise. Part of Numbers That Hold Up; pairs with Ready to Raise.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
A forecast built on hope gets found out in the first diligence call — especially now that usage-based revenue and compute costs don't fit the old modeling playbook.
The Session
Build the driver-based 18-month forecast investors expect, modeling usage and outcome revenue alongside compute costs — not just seats — and tie your use-of-funds to real milestones.
What You Leave With
• A driver-based 18-month forecast
• A use-of-funds tied to milestones
• AI-era revenue and cost modeling
Session 8 of 36
Pitch Ready: Nail the Story and the Q&A
Rehearse Before the Room Does
📅 Wed, Oct 14, 2026 · 5:30–6:30 PM
🖥 Virtual
"The pitch isn't where founders lose the room. The Q&A is."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders with a deck already built who need to tighten the story and prep for the hard questions. Part of the Ready to Raise series.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
The deck gets you the meeting — the room is won on story and Q&A, and most founders over-prepare the deck while under-preparing for “what stops an incumbent or a foundation model from doing this?”
The Session
Tighten your 10-minute narrative, build a Q&A battle sheet for the questions that break most founders — AI-defensibility included — and run it live for recorded, reviewed feedback.
What You Leave With
• A tightened pitch narrative
• A Q&A battle sheet incl. AI-defensibility
• A recorded, feedback-reviewed run
We are adding the events here as they get closer.
If You're registered for one, you'll get notified for all of the events.
Register now
Each session stands alone.
The series keeps going.
Register for what's open now. New sessions open every month through July 2027 — each one built to leave you with something you can use before your next work day.
Session 1 of 36
Start It Right: Entity Selection, Formation & Governance
Paperwork, Done Right the First Time
📅 Wed, Aug 26, 2026 · TBD — per Roots by Redbud run-of-show
💻 In-person — Roots by Redbud, Springfield, MO
"LLC or C-corp? Most founders guess. Thompson Hine doesn't."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders who haven't formed an entity yet, or want Thompson Hine's venture attorneys to confirm the one they picked. Delivered live at launch; opens a path to 1:1 legal support.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
The choices you make setting up your company are cheap to get right now — and expensive to fix later, once an investor or grantor is asking why they weren't made correctly.
The Session
Thompson Hine's venture lawyers walk the LLC-vs-C-corp decision live, plus the formation checklist and governance basics investors expect to see on day one.
What You Leave With
• A clear entity decision (LLC vs C-corp) for your path
• A formation checklist
• The governance basics investors expect
Session 2 of 36
Fund It Legally: SAFEs, Term Sheets, Cap Tables & Shareholder Rights
Decode the Fine Print Before You Sign
📅 Thu, Aug 27, 2026 · TBD — per Roots by Redbud run-of-show
🖥 In-person — Roots by Redbud, Springfield, MO
"A SAFE isn't a loan. A term sheet isn't final. Know the difference before someone hands you one."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders planning to raise in the next 6–12 months. Delivered live at launch by Thompson Hine's venture attorneys; pairs with the Ready
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
The fastest way to regret a raise is to sign something you didn't fully understand — and most founders sign their first SAFE or term sheet from hope, not knowledge.
The Session
Thompson Hine breaks down SAFEs vs. priced rounds, how to actually read a term sheet, and the cap-table red flags that should stop you before you sign.
What You Leave With
• A working grasp of SAFE vs. priced rounds
• How to read a term sheet
• Cap-table basics and red flags
Session 3 of 36
Synthesize the Signal: Architect Your Business Model on One Page
Your Whole Business, One Page
📅 Wed, Sep 2, 2026 · 12:00–1:00 PM
🖥 Virtual
"If you can't map your business on one page, you don't have a business model — you have a hunch."
WHO IT'S FOR
First-time and early-stage founders with a raw idea — no business background required.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
Most founders carry their business model in their head, where the gaps stay hidden — until money's already been spent finding them the hard way.
The Session
In one working session, turn your idea into a structured, editable one-page business model — the signal, distilled — so you can see the whole picture and find the gaps before you build around them.
What You Leave With
• A completed one-page business model
• Your riskiest assumptions, surfaced
• A clear next step to test them
Session 4 of 36
Should You Even Raise? Capital Basics & the Missouri Funding Landscape
Raise, Bootstrap, or Wait
📅 Wed, Sep 16, 2026 · 5:30–6:30 PM
🖥 Virtual
"Not every business should raise money. Some shouldn't raise yet. Figure out which one you are first."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders considering a raise who haven't yet decided if it's the right move. Opens the Ready to Raise series; feeds the Nov 4 MTC cycle.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
Raising capital isn't a milestone — it's a choice with real consequences, and in the AI era, lean teams often need far less capital than they assume.
The Session
We'll build a bootstrap-vs-raise decision framework, then map Missouri's funding landscape — MTC TechLaunch, Seed, and VC included — so you know your likely-fit path before you pitch anyone.
What You Leave With
• A bootstrap-vs-raise decision framework
• A map of Missouri funding incl. MTC TechLaunch/Seed/VC
• Your likely-fit path
Session 5 of 36
Books That Don't Scare Investors: Bookkeeping, Statements & Software Setup
Numbers an Investor Can Trust
📅 Wed, Sep 23, 2026 · 12:00–1:00 PM
🖥 Virtual
"Messy books don't just slow you down — they make investors nervous before you've said a word."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders handling their own books, or about to. Opens the Numbers That Hold Up series, delivered by our accounting partner; opens 1:1 accounting support.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
Messy books cost founders deals, loans, and sleep — and most don't find out how messy until an investor or lender asks to see them.
The Session
Set up your chart of accounts, demystify the three core financial statements, and choose the right software for your stage — so your numbers hold up under scrutiny from day one.
What You Leave With
• A chart of accounts and bookkeeping setup
• The three statements demystifie
• The right software for your stage
Session 6 of 36
Investor-Ready: Financial Foundation, Use of Funds & the Deck
The Deck Investors Actually Read
📅 Wed, Sep 30, 2026 · 5:30–6:30 PM
🖥 Virtual
"Investors don't fund ideas. They fund a use-of-funds line they believe in."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders actively preparing to raise. Part of the Ready to Raise series.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
Investor-ready” isn't a vibe — it's a specific package, and most founders show up missing the slide investors most want to see: why they're defensible in an AI world.
The Session
Build your use-of-funds and 18-month forecast, draft your investor deck, and put your AI moat on the page instead of leaving it implied.
What You Leave With
• A use-of-funds and 18-month forecast
• A first-draft investor deck
• An articulated AI moat
Session 7 of 36
The Financial Model Investors Expect (+ AI Economics)
Model the Business, Not Just the Spreadsheet
📅 Wed, Oct 7, 2026 · 12:00–1:00 PM
🖥 Virtual
"Seats don't tell the whole story anymore. Neither does a model that ignores what AI actually costs you."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders building or revising their financial model ahead of a raise. Part of Numbers That Hold Up; pairs with Ready to Raise.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
A forecast built on hope gets found out in the first diligence call — especially now that usage-based revenue and compute costs don't fit the old modeling playbook.
The Session
Build the driver-based 18-month forecast investors expect, modeling usage and outcome revenue alongside compute costs — not just seats — and tie your use-of-funds to real milestones.
What You Leave With
• A driver-based 18-month forecast
• A use-of-funds tied to milestones
• AI-era revenue and cost modeling
Session 8 of 36
Pitch Ready: Nail the Story and the Q&A
Rehearse Before the Room Does
📅 Wed, Oct 14, 2026 · 5:30–6:30 PM
🖥 Virtual
"The pitch isn't where founders lose the room. The Q&A is."
WHO IT'S FOR
Founders with a deck already built who need to tighten the story and prep for the hard questions. Part of the Ready to Raise series.
No experience required · No cost to you - Sponsored access · Registration required
The Problem
The deck gets you the meeting — the room is won on story and Q&A, and most founders over-prepare the deck while under-preparing for “what stops an incumbent or a foundation model from doing this?”
The Session
Tighten your 10-minute narrative, build a Q&A battle sheet for the questions that break most founders — AI-defensibility included — and run it live for recorded, reviewed feedback.
What You Leave With
• A tightened pitch narrative
• A Q&A battle sheet incl. AI-defensibility
• A recorded, feedback-reviewed run
We are adding the events here as they get closer.
If You're registered for one, you'll get notified for all of the events.
Built by Codefi Foundation
A Decade of Direct Startup Support in Missouri
1000+
Tech & AI Learners Trained
Exclusive
Sponsorships for Missouri Residents
$100M+
Total economic impact in southern Missouri
"Codefi's programs allowed me to grow my knowledge and take what was a loose idea and convert that into a working product. Prior to the course I used LLMs like a search engine. Now I can create tools and develop ideas that I thought I would never be able to."
Christopher W
"I had ZERO previous experience. It completely changed how I approach AI. I now think in terms of systems, workflows, and real user problems instead of just ideas. I'm more confident at turning creative ideas into structured products."
Jorge H
Built by Codefi Foundation
Graduates Started Exactly
Where You Are.
1000+
Tech & AI Learners
Trained
Exclusive
Sponsorships for Missouri Residents
$100M+
Economic impact in southern Missouri
"Codefi's programs allowed me to grow my knowledge and take what was a loose idea and convert that into a working product. Prior to the course I used LLMs like a search engine. Now I can create tools and develop ideas that I thought I would never be able to."
Christopher W
"I had ZERO previous experience. It completely changed how I approach AI. I now think in terms of systems, workflows, and real user problems instead of just ideas. I'm more confident at turning creative ideas into structured products."
Jorge H
Built by Codefi Foundation
A Decade of Direct Startup Support in Missouri
1000+
Tech & AI Learners Trained
Exclusive
Sponsorships for Missouri Residents
$100M+
Total economic impact in southern Missouri
"Codefi's programs allowed me to grow my knowledge and take what was a loose idea and convert that into a working product. Prior to the course I used LLMs like a search engine. Now I can create tools and develop ideas that I thought I would never be able to."
Jorge Holguin — Prompt to Product Graduate, Feb 2026
"I had ZERO previous experience. It completely changed how I approach AI. I now think in terms of systems, workflows, and real user problems instead of just ideas. I'm more confident at turning creative ideas into structured products."
Christopher Winters — Prompt to Product Graduate, Feb 2026
Frequently
Asked Questions
Here's everything you need to know before getting started.
01
Do I need to register for each event separately?
No — Registering for one gets you in to all four. Registration confirms your spot and delivers your join link.
02
Do I need any prior experience or equipment?
No prior experience required for any of the three sessions. You'll need a laptop and a reliable internet connection.
03
What actually happens during the hour — is it hands-on?
Yes. Each session runs live demos, shows you real AI tools in action, and ends with time for questions. You'll leave with prompts, tools, or frameworks you can use the same day — not slides to read later. The goal is for you to actually do something before the session ends.
04
What is Show Me Network?
The Show-Me Network, powered by Missouri State University’s efactory and codefi, connects entrepreneurs, innovators, and small businesses with the resources, training, and funding they need – right in their own communities. Through our statewide network of Regional and Community Connectors and Training Partners, we’re breaking down barriers, building stronger local economies, and creating opportunities that last.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Here's everything you need to know before getting started.
01
Do I need to register for each event separately?
No — Registering for one gets you in to all four. Registration confirms your spot and delivers your join link.
02
Do I need any prior experience or equipment?
No prior experience required for any of the three sessions. You'll need a laptop and a reliable internet connection.
03
What actually happens during the hour — is it hands-on?
Yes. Each session runs live demos, shows you real AI tools in action, and ends with time for questions. You'll leave with prompts, tools, or frameworks you can use the same day — not slides to read later. The goal is for you to actually do something before the session ends.
04
What is Show Me Network?
The Show-Me Network, powered by Missouri State University’s efactory and codefi, connects entrepreneurs, innovators, and small businesses with the resources, training, and funding they need – right in their own communities. Through our statewide network of Regional and Community Connectors and Training Partners, we’re breaking down barriers, building stronger local economies, and creating opportunities that last.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Here's everything you need to know before getting started.
01
Do I need to register for each event separately?
No — Registering for one gets you in to all four. Registration confirms your spot and delivers your join link.
02
Do I need any prior experience or equipment?
No prior experience required for any of the three sessions. You'll need a laptop and a reliable internet connection.
03
What actually happens during the hour — is it hands-on?
Yes. Each session runs live demos, shows you real AI tools in action, and ends with time for questions. You'll leave with prompts, tools, or frameworks you can use the same day — not slides to read later. The goal is for you to actually do something before the session ends.
04
What is Show Me Network?
The Show-Me Network, powered by Missouri State University’s efactory and codefi, connects entrepreneurs, innovators, and small businesses with the resources, training, and funding they need – right in their own communities. Through our statewide network of Regional and Community Connectors and Training Partners, we’re breaking down barriers, building stronger local economies, and creating opportunities that last.
Four sessions. All at no cost to you. Register now before spots fill.
54 Hours to Change the Trajectory of Your Idea. Start Here.
These sessions are the most direct path to AI skills available to Missouri small business owners right now — sponsored by Codefi Foundation, designed to produce something real, not just awareness.