Economic Development

Home  /  Outcomes  /  Jobs and Businesses Created

Jobs and Businesses Created

MO SBTDC Success Stories

The Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Center (MO SBTDC) has a variety of services that allows a business to succeed.  Take a look at a few of the success stories below:

Success Story 1: Hufft Projects, LLC

Hufft and his wife, Jesse, plunged into the design world after attending New York's Columbia University graduate school and establishing a design firm. They recognized a gap in contemporary area architecture design, and like good entrepreneurs, decided to fill that gap.

The Huffts were introduced to business counselor Mark Allen in late 2011.  Allen introduced the Huffts to three lenders, one of which became their local bank. He also met with the firm's management team to redefine roles, analyze strengths and weaknesses and define the company's strategic direction and goals as well as consider options for employee ownership. He was also helpful in providing introductions to customers and suppliers.

The result of these efforts is undeniable.

From 2010-11, company revenues grew from $850,000 to $1.5 million and this year will eclipse $2 million. In that same timeframe, the company grew from 13 to 24 full-time jobs plus additional part-time help. The Hufft team is largely composed of young, vibrant designers energized by the high performance level and pace of their work, and the Huffts expect to grow even more.

Success Story 2: Comparative Clinical Pathology Services

By 2007, Chuck Wiedmeyer was serious enough about his idea to build his own commerical pathology labratory that he took it to Jim Gann, a business counselor at MO SBTDC. 

To address the business plan, Wiedmeyer secured the talents of five MBA students at MU's College of Business. Soon the plan was on paper. Next, he showed it to the president of a bank in Columbia, who was favorably impressed by the plan.  

At this point Wiedmeyer says his venture has arrived at a stage he can handle. CCPS turned a profit its first year and saw a 37 percent increase in revenue the second. The $26,000 line of credit he borrowed in 2008 was paid off in two years, so the Wiedmeyer's home is safely in their possession. Because he has income from his primary job as a member of MU's vet school faculty, Chuck currently takes no salary from his business venture. He plows the profits back into the firm to buy vital equipment, such as a recently purchased blood coagulation analyzer.

"It's a good arrangement for our current needs," observes Wiedmeyer. "So far, it's gone much better than I anticipated. I suppose a lot of the credit goes to the planning and preparation I made before I opened the business. And a lot of that preparation came from my talks with Jim Gann. I value his advice and continue to seek his counsel when questions arise, which happens often."

For more success stories, click here.

MU Extension's Business Development Program

In 2011, clients of MU Extension’s Business Development Program generated sales of over $235 million, created almost 6,000 jobs, and assisted businesses in acquiring almost $200 million in government contracts.

For more information, click here.

MU Life Science Business Incubator

The MU Life Science Business Incubator helps launch startup companies, many of which grow from student and faculty discoveries, including Adroit Motion (laparoscopic instruments), Equinosis (diagnosing lameness in horses) and Organovo (tissue engineering).

Visit the MU Life Science Business Incubator.

MU plays an important role in preparing the work force, graduating an average 6,915 students each year. For example, more Missouri physicians receive medical training from MU than from any other university. Three-fourths of Missouri veterinarians earned their veterinary degrees at MU, and law school alumni practice in every Missouri county and serve at all levels of the state judiciary.

Business Resources >>