Our Impact

A Cape Girardeau-based group is raising $4 million through a hybrid not-for-profit and venture capital fund to boost tech startups in Southern Missouri, aiming to create higher-paying jobs and foster regional innovation.

Codefi, a tech venture and workforce development firm founded in Cape Girardeau with an additional office in Springfield, has announced a new articulation agreement with Missouri State University–West Plains (MSU-WP) that will allow graduates of codefi’s Code Labs program to earn 14 credit hours toward an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Information Science and Technology. This agreement expands educational access for adult learners seeking in-demand tech careers and builds on codefi’s ongoing efforts to connect learners throughout Missouri with academic and employment opportunities through its Innovate SOMO initiative. “We’re thrilled to partner with MSU-West Plains and provide our graduates a way to continue their education with recognized college credit,” said Cara Dirnberger, Adult Education Director at codefi. “This is about unlocking opportunity—both in the tech workforce and through higher education—for learners who may not otherwise have access.”

Codefi today announced that its Innovate SOMO Funds has secured more than $2 million in commitments, surpassing the halfway point toward its $4 million fundraising goal. The milestone was achieved through a significant $1.5 million commitment from a group of Cape Girardeau-area private investors, representing one of the largest regional venture capital commitments in southern Missouri history.