Missouri
Missouri Starters Coalition debuts effort to boost homegrown jobs, future founders
Entrepreneurs across Missouri gained a new champion this week as regional and national advocates launched a new coalition to support builders in the face of systemic, confidence-shaking roadblocks as they seek to drive job creation and higher lifetime incomes.
Jim Malle, Missouri Coalition manager for Right to Start, speaks to coalition stakeholders during a launch event in Kansas City; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
The Missouri Starters Coalition on Thursday unveiled its founding members — Back2KC, Cortex, E-Factory, Keystone Innovation District, LaunchKC, NextMO, and lead organizer Right to Start — which together plan to make entrepreneurship a greater civic priority through convening, addressing barriers to starting businesses, and making sure all communities are included.
“We are beginning the journey today of launching a coalition of entrepreneurs, policy makers, civic organizations, to really come together to continue to boost entrepreneurship in the state of Missouri,” said Jim Malle, Missouri Coalition manager for Right to Start.
“Kansas City has had a lot of great momentum over the last 5 to 10 years in this space, and Right to Start is going to be here to continue to move that along in a great direction,” he added.
The launch event also included a panel on how small businesses can prepare for and benefit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. An estimated 650,000 World Cup visitors are expected across June and July 2026 as Kansas City hosts both group stage and quarterfinal matches.
World Cup will produce KC small biz millionaires in just weeks, leaders say, but it’s only the start
Wes Rogers, 2nd District Councilman for KCMO and chair of the city’s Small Business Taskforce, center, speaks on panel moderated by Right to Start’s Jason Grill, right; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
Entrepreneurship drives America
Victor Hwang, founder and CEO of Right to Start, returned to Kansas City for Thursday’s event and praised the city’s growth as a startup hub.
“This is one of the most dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems that I’ve seen, and it’s just a really exciting time,” Hwang said.
He pointed to research showing that 65 percent of Americans believe it is harder to start a business today than it was a generation ago. Yet, he noted, nearly everyone agrees that entrepreneurship is critical to the future of the country.
“New and young businesses account for almost all net job growth in the economy,” Hwang said, citing that a 1 percent rise in local entrepreneurship raises household incomes by about $500, and at the state level, a 1 percent increase lowers poverty rates by 2 percent.
“Entrepreneurship-led economic development leads to higher lifetime incomes, more homegrown jobs, and more opportunity for all,” added Jason Grill, chief government affairs officer of Right to Start.
In light of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, Hwang said, the country’s founding story is tied to today’s entrepreneurs.
“America was one of the great startup ideas,” he said. “Founders of today, the people that are doing stuff now, are part of that same story. We want everyone to feel like they can be a founder of the future of this country.”
‘America the Entrepreneurial’: Can builders restore the promise of ‘the most courageous startup the world has ever seen?’
Jim Malle, Missouri Coalition manager for Right to Start, right, speaks alongside Victor Hwang, founder of Right to Start, at Keystone CoLAB in Kansas City; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
Statewide push follows legislation
The Missouri Starters Coalition builds on policy momentum already in motion. In 2024, Show Me State lawmakers passed the Right to Start Act, which created Missouri’s first office of entrepreneurship and set up new tracking for government contracts awarded to businesses less than three years old.
Jessica Powell, Right to Start; photo by Austin Barnes, Startland News
“As a lifelong Kansas Citian, entrepreneur, and former member of the Missouri House of Representatives, it gives me great joy to see Missouri embracing the importance of new, young businesses to the economy and well-being of the state,” said Grill.
Malle, based in St. Louis, will oversee the coalition’s growth with the help of Jessica Powell, who is based in Kansas City and a Right to Start advocate for Missouri.
“Having spent much of my career advancing entrepreneurship in both Kansas City and St. Louis, I’m excited to see this coalition emerging to promote entrepreneurship as a civic priority statewide,” Malle said. “It’s especially important, as entrepreneurship benefits literally everyone in Missouri.”
The 2025 Missouri high school football season has come to a close with an exciting slate of MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl champions crowned last weekend at Spratt Memorial Stadium in St. Joseph.
Platte County stood at the forefront once again, opening the year as the state’s preseason No. 1 and finishing in the same spot after a 14-0 run capped by an overtime win against Carthage for the Class 5 championship. The season also delivered first-time titles for Worth County in 8-man and Tipton in Class 1, along with undefeated state champions in Blair Oaks (Class 2) and Kearney (Class 4).
Movement across the top 10 took center stage this week.
Lee’s Summit made the most dramatic ascent. The Tigers opened the preseason at No. 10 before falling off with an 0-4 start, then reeled off 10 consecutive wins and beat then No. 3 Jackson in the semifinals and No. 2 Nixa in the Class 6 championship to finish No. 2.
Nixa held firm as a contender and finished No. 5 after reaching the Class 6 final, while Seneca broke into the top 10 by securing the Class 3 title after two straight runner-up finishes. Carthage and Jackson also delivered strong postseason showings that kept them firmly in the upper tier.
Championship-caliber balance defined several of the state’s elite programs. Kearney rode one of Missouri’s stingiest defenses to a perfect season and the Class 4 crown, and Blair Oaks dominated its first year back in Class 2 on the way to its second consecutive title and seventh in program history. Behind them, programs such as CBC, Kirkwood, Lafayette, and Hannibal anchored a deep and competitive field that showcased high-level football from August to November.
With five state champions finishing undefeated and several programs returning significant pieces, the groundwork has already been laid for another compelling chase in 2026.
Dec. 7, 2025
Final Record: 14-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
It takes a truly special team to run the table as No. 1 for the entirety of the season, but that’s exactly what they did. They won games in a variety of fashions — blowouts, last-second touchdowns and overtime wins. But they always found a way, and they claimed their second consecutive Class 5 state championship with a thrilling 34-28 victory over Carthage in the Show-Me Bowl.
Final Record: 10-4
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
Ranked No. 10 in our preseason poll, the Tigers quickly fell off after an 0-4 start. But, with senior star Preston Hatfield healthy and running the offense, the Tigers ripped off 10 straight wins, including postseason victories over five state-ranked teams — Lee’s Summit North, North Kansas City, Liberty, then No. 3 Jackson and No. 2 Nixa — to win the Class 6 championship.
Final Record: 14-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
Ranked No. 11 in the preseason, the Bulldogs did nothing but impress all season. Their defense never allowed more than 24 points in any game and they beat No. 12 Hannibal 21-14 to win the Class 4 state championship.
Final Record: 14-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
One of the best teams regardless of classification, the Falcons won the 2024 Class 3 championship and then dropped down to Class 2 with much of that same team intact. They breezed to their second straight championship, beating St. Pius X (Festus) 59-0 in the title game while allowing only 15 points and pitching three shutouts in five postseason games.
Final Record: 13-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Ranked No. 2 since the preseason, the Eagles barged their way into the Class 6 championship game for the second time in as many seasons. The favorite going in against Lee’s Summit, the Eagles’ defense allowed a Show-Me Bowl record 457 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns to Tigers quarterback Preston Hatfield and lost 41-37.
Final Record: 12-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Backed by a superb defense, Carthage went on a tear in the postseason and took No. 1 Platte County to the wire in the Class 5 championship before falling 34-28 in overtime.
Final Record: 12-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
Jackson’s season ended with a 35-28 loss to eventual Class 6 champion Lee’s Summit in the state semifinals.
Final Record: 13-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
Coming off back-to-back runner-up finishes in Class 3, the third time was the charm for the Indians, as they beat Lift for Life Academy 33-26 to claim their third state championship in program history.
Final Record: 11-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 8
The Cadets lost to Jackson, 45-42, in the Class 6 quarterfinals.
Final Record: 10-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
Their season ended with a 64-35 loss to No. 1 Platte County in the Class 5 semifinals.
Final Record: 10-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
Lafayette’s season ended with a 77-62 loss to No. 3 CBC in the Class 6 District 2 championship game.
Final Record: 11-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 12
Getting back to the Show-Me Bowl for the first time since 2021, the Pirates finished as Class 4 runner-up with a 21-14 loss to No. 3 Kearney.
Final Record: 9-4
Last Week’s Ranking: 13
The Lions’ season ended in the Class 5 semifinals with a 20-8 loss to state runner-up Carthage.
Final Record: 11-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
A 45-28 loss to Nixa ended the Crusaders’ season in the state quarterfinals.
Final Record: 10-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 15
Liberty reached the Class 6 quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Lee’s Summit, 24-14.
Final Record: 9-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 16
The Jaguars’ season ended with a loss to Blue Springs in the Class 6 District 6 semifinals.
Final Record: 9-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 17
Rockhurst’s season ended with a 29-22 loss to No. 1 Platte County, who scored the winning touchdown with 2 seconds remaining, in the Class 5 District 8 championship.
Final Record: 9-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 18
Republic’s season ended in the Class 5 District 6 championship with a 31-14 loss to Carthage.
Final Record: 10-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 19
The Panthers saw their 2025 season end in the Class 6 quarterfinals with a 38-13 loss to Cardinal Ritter.
Final Record: 8-4
Last Week’s Ranking: 20
The Wildcats’ season ended in the Class 6 District 6 finals with a 26-21 loss to unbeaten Helias Catholic.
Final Record: 10-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 21
The Tigers’ season came to a close in the Class 4 state semifinals with a 52-24 loss to No. 4 Kearney. Festus averaged 36.8 points per game in 2025.
Final Record: 8-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 22
North Kansas City’s season ended with a 42-21 loss to Lee’s Summit in the Class 6 District 7 championship.
Final Record: 7-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 23
SLUH’s season ended Nov. 7 with a 28-25 loss to Lafayette Wildwood in the Class 6 District 2 semifinals.
Final Record: 8-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 24
The Wildcats’ season ended at the hands of No. 7 Kirkwood, 21-10, in the Class 5 District 2 championship.
Final Record: 10-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 25
Savannah’s season came to an end with a 24-0 loss to No. 5 Kearney in the Class 4 District 8 championship.
The Missouri Tigers are looking to bounce back from their first loss when they square off against the Kansas Jayhawks on Sunday. New users in Missouri still have time to claim our DraftKings Missouri promo code to score $300 in bonus bets instantly with a $5 wager on today’s big game.
DraftKings Missouri promo code at a glance
| 🏆DraftKings Missouri promo code | No code required |
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| 📋DraftKings MO promo terms and conditions | – Bonus bets are awarded instantly after you bet $5+. This qualifying bet can win or lose. – Bonus credited as 12 $25 bonus bet tokens. – Bonus bet tokens are non-withdrawable and cannot be transferred. – Bonus bet stake removed from potential payout; only the profits are paid out if you win. – Bonus bets expire seven days (168 hours) after receipt. |
| ✅Last verified | Dec. 7, 2025 |
DraftKings MO promo code: How to get started betting in Missouri today
Next, I am going to show you how to sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook in the Show Me State:
- Select one of our DraftKings Missouri promo code links or a “GET BONUS” icon on this page. You will not need to enter a promo code during sign-up.
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- Locate the green “Deposit” button at the top of the DraftKings website or mobile app and fund your new account (minimum $5).
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- You will instantly receive $300 in bonus bets, win or lose.
- Your 12 $25 bonus bet tokens expire seven days (168 hours) after you receive them.
How the DraftKings Missouri promo code works
Here, you can take a more in-depth look into exactly how this new user offer from DraftKings Missouri works:
- Promo code: No code required. Click one of our links to score the bonus.
- Who is eligible: New customers who are 21+ and located in Missouri
- Minimum first deposit: $5
- Minimum first bet amount: $5
- Minimum odds requirement: None
- Bonus bet structure: Issued as 12 $25 bonus bet tokens
- When you’ll receive your bonus bets: Instantly after placing a $5 qualifying wager
- Expiration of bonus bets: Seven days (168 hours) after they reach your account
Reasons to sign up with the DraftKings Missouri new-user promo
DraftKings Sportsbook is one of the leaders in the sports betting industry, and this is for many reasons.
For starters, its mobile app is arguably the best of its kind when it comes to speed, layout and overall experience. The app currently owns user ratings of 4.7/5 and 4.8/5 from the Google Play Store and Apple Store, respectively.
Another reason to sign up with the DraftKings Missouri promo code is, of course, the welcome offer, but also the ongoing promos for existing users. The “Bet $5, get $300 in bonus bets” offer is for Missouri sports betting participants only, and it’s available for a limited time.
Now that DraftKings has launched, you can check out the “Promos” page to see the lineup of ongoing offers. These include a variety of profit boosts, no sweat bets, the new Early Exit promo and others.
Bet on Missouri vs. Kansas with the DraftKings MO promo code
Missouri fell to Notre Dame in its last outing, and things don’t get any easier on Sunday when it faces Kansas. It remains unclear whether or not star freshman Darryn Peterson will suit up for the Jayhawks. No matter which bet you plan to make, grab today’s DraftKings Missouri promo code to wager with bonuses.
The Tigers haven’t faced a lot of tough competition yet. In fact, their best win is against Minnesota, which is ranked outside of the top 100 according to KenPom. The Jayhawks, meanwhile, have faced and lost to North Carolina, Duke and UConn. They did pick up a win over Tennessee.
The matchup to watch in this contest will be Missouri’s Mark Mitchell against Flory Bidunga of Kansas. Mitchell is a versatile big, but he could struggle inside against Bidunga, who is averaging over two blocks and nearly nine rebounds per game.
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After falling as the No. 1-ranked team in the country on the road in Columbia last year, the Kansas Jayhawks are determined to get their revenge on their cross-state rival, the Missouri Tigers.
Both teams have high expectations for this season, and a Border Showdown is never a game that should be missed. For those who don’t know how to watch the game on Sunday afternoon, here is everything you should know.
How to Watch Kansas vs. Missouri
- Who: Missouri Tigers (8-1) vs. No. 21 Kansas Jayhawks (6-3)
- What: 10th regular season game for both teams and the 273rd rendition of the basketball Border Showdown
- When: Sunday, December 7 at 12 p.m CT.
- Where: T-Mobile Center (18,972) in Kansas City, MO.
- TV/Streaming: ESPN2 (To access link, CLICK HERE)
- TV announcers: (Tom Hart for play-by-play, Fran Fraschilla for color commentary)
- Radio: As always, fans can tune into Jayhawk Radio Network to listen to the Voice of the Jayhawks, Brian Hanni, call the contest (810 AM, 1510 AM, 99.3 FM in Kansas City, 94.7 KSKU, 99.3/1370 KIOL in Wichita). The pregame show begins 30 minutes prior to tip-off at 11:30 a.m.
- Radio announcers: Brian Hanni (play-by-play)
- This season: Kansas fell to 6-3 on the season earlier this week after losing a home game to No. 5 UConn. The Jayhawks have gone 5-2 without Darryn Peterson in the lineup. KU’s best wins so far have come against Tennessee and Syracuse. Missouri was previously undefeated before falling to Notre Dame on the road in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The Tigers boast one of the best offenses in the SEC, though they have not taken on much competition so far, with their best win coming against Minnesota.
- Series history: Kansas holds a 176-96 lead in the all-time series, which extends all the way back to 1907. The Jayhawks have won nine of the past 11 meetings, though Missouri came out on top last year in an upset victory.
Meet the Coaches
- Dennis Gates, Missouri: Gates just began his fourth year at the helm in Columbia. Across a little over three years, he has amassed a 63-47 overall record, including a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.
- Bill Self, Kansas: Self is one of the greatest coaches the game has ever seen, and throughout his lengthy tenure at KU, has dominated the Tigers. He is 19-5 against Missouri all-time and will look to make it 20 wins over MU.
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