Codefi Launches Missouri's First AI-Native Startup Studio and Workforce Programs, Expands Statewide and Beyond

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Codefi Foundation, the Missouri-based nonprofit that has spent more than a decade building tech talent and supporting startups in the state's rural communities, today announced a major organizational relaunch. The expansion makes Codefi's new suite of AI-native programs available to every community in Missouri—from Kansas City and St. Louis to the rural counties where the organization began—and introduces a national offering for organizations and communities outside the state.

The announcement marks Codefi's evolution from a regional nonprofit serving southeast and southern Missouri to a statewide platform with national reach, powered by an integrated set of programs built entirely around artificial intelligence.

"What do you do when the thing you built isn't enough anymore?" said James Stapleton, CEO of Codefi Foundation. "About a year ago, we had to ask ourselves that question. We'd done real work—sixty startups, six hundred people trained, a hundred million dollars in economic impact. But we had to be honest about what the next decade demands. So we rebuilt everything—our team, our model, and our programs—from the ground up."

New Programs

Codefi's relaunch introduces five interconnected offerings, each designed around AI-native methods and tools:

AI Skills provides hands-on training across three tracks. Prompt to Product is a 10-week program that takes entrepreneurs and business leaders from idea to working application with no coding experience required. AI Masterclass and Rapid AI Development are designed for existing software developers who want to build faster using AI-assisted methods, including vibe coding, AI agents, and context engineering.

Startup Studio, powered by the organization's proprietary Traction Studio AI platform, provides founders with a systematic, AI-guided path from initial idea through validation to scale readiness. The platform pairs AI-powered intelligence and tools with proven startup methodology and human expert support, helping founders validate ideas, build traction, and avoid startup perils.

Dev Studio offers software development services for both startups and organizations. For founders, the team builds prototypes, MVPs, and scalable platforms. For organizations, the focus is custom AI agents, workflow automation, and enterprise tools—all built using AI-native methods with accelerated turnaround and reduced costs.

Builders Lab is an organizational transformation program that takes teams from initial AI exposure through hands-on building to real products and solutions. The program centers on vibeathons—collaborative build events where participants use vibe coding and AI tools to create working prototypes—and provides ongoing development pathways for companies, universities, and communities.

Missouri Ecosystem connects these programs through a statewide network that Codefi co-founded with partners at Missouri State University’s efactory, that includes vibeathon events across Missouri, industry-specific startup studios, pre-seed investment funds, investor education, and regional partnerships designed to strengthen the state's innovation economy.

Statewide Expansion

For the first time, all Codefi programs are available to residents and organizations across Missouri. The organization has committed to offering programs at the lowest possible cost for Missourians, with free and reduced-cost access available through grant funding.

"This isn't us walking away from rural," Stapleton said. "This is rural's victory lap. Rural Missouri was our proving ground. If we could build world-class programs in a town of two thousand with limited resources and no existing tech ecosystem, we could build them anywhere. Now we're scaling what works."

National Reach

Codefi has also begun working with organizations outside Missouri—universities, economic development groups, and workforce boards—that are seeking proven models for AI-native startup support and workforce development. The national expansion strengthens the organization's economic sustainability, enabling it to protect accessible pricing for Missouri residents.

A Decade of Impact

Since its founding, Codefi has supported more than 60 startups, trained more than 600 individuals in tech skills, and contributed to over $100 million in total economic impact across Missouri's rural communities. Startups in Codefi's programs have raised more than $60 million in follow-on capital.

“What the Codefi team has built over the past decade is remarkable, and the progress made in the past year represents a meaningful shift,” said Chris Dittmer, Vice Chairperson of Codefi Foundation’s Board of Directors. “Rather than layering AI onto existing programs, the organization restructured its approach to integrate it at the core. The board is confident this strengthens Codefi’s ability to deliver workforce development and startup support in Missouri—especially for rural Missourians—while extending its impact and partnerships beyond the state.”

About Codefi Foundation

Codefi Foundation on Rural Innovation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit building Missouri's AI-ready workforce and innovation economy. Through AI skills training, startup studio programs, software development services, and organizational transformation, Codefi equips founders, developers, and communities with the tools to compete in the digital economy. Headquartered in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Codefi serves communities statewide and partners with organizations across the country. Learn more at codefiworks.com.