University of Missouri

Aug. 28, 2024

The University of Missouri’s Entrepreneur Quest (EQ) program has a successful track record of jumpstarting student businesses. Since its first year in 2018, 50 Mizzou teams representing multiple disciplines have participated in the competition — and more than $184,000 has been awarded to help them make their business dreams a reality.

“The purpose of EQ is to provide a launch pad for our student entrepreneurs so they can grow their ventures and contribute to society,” said Greg Bier, executive director of entrepreneurship programs based at the Griggs Innovators Nexus in the MU Student Center. “It’s rewarding to see the progress and success EQ graduates have achieved so far.”

Read on for updates from a few thriving EQ graduates.

BTB Kicks

Founder: Blake Brown, B.S. B.A. ’23
Location: 250 1/2 Chicago Ave.,Oak Park, Illinois
Follow BTB Kicks on Instagram or YouTube

Type of business: BTB Kicks specializes in restoring a wide variety of sneakers, including classic Jordans, Adidas Yeezys and Nike Air Max styles along with everyday brands such as New Balance, Hoka, Nike Air Force 1, Asics, Birkenstock, Ugg and Timberland.

“BTB Kicks serves a diverse clientele, ranging from casual sneaker enthusiasts to serious collectors and resellers,” Brown said. “Our expertise lies in meticulous cleaning, color restoration, sole protection and custom artwork, ensuring each pair looks and feels brand new.”

Milestones: Brown held the grand opening of the BTB Kicks retail store in April.

“The best moment that day was actually cutting the ribbon in the presence of my family and friends,” Brown said. “Everything came full circle for me — something that I did for fun in my mom’s laundry room as a hobby in middle school and high school is now a real business with a storefront in my hometown.”

In the beginning, Brown relied on word-of-mouth and social media to market his services, but he struggled to grow his client base. Mizzou taught him the importance of customer discovery research, being willing to pivot as circumstances change and taking different problem-solving approaches. Now, BTB Kicks is so booked that Brown recently hired two employees to keep up with demand.

“I would like to thank all of the business professors I had the pleasure of learning from during my time at Mizzou as well as the Entrepreneur Quest program for providing me with the textbook knowledge of business and for their consistent support of my business endeavors,” Brown said.

Partner for Better

Founder: Kasey Hammock, B.S.W. ’16, M.A. ’18, Ph.D. ’24
Location: Columbia, Missouri
partnerforbetter.com

Type of business:  Partner for Better provides nonprofits, foundations and corporate social responsibility departments with tailored services in areas such as grant writing, fundraising, capacity building and program evaluation. Hammock was inspired to establish the business after spending more than a decade working for nonprofit organizations.

“Our passion is to empower professionals, particularly executive directors of small nonprofits, to overcome challenges and achieve their missions more effectively,” Hammock said. “I’m committed to fostering sustainable, impactful change within this sector.”

Milestones: Partner for Better now has four employees and a growing client base.

“We’re working on developing a set of low-cost tools and resource groups to bridge the gap between what services are currently available for small and startup nonprofits and what’s needed for them to grow,” Hammock said.

So far, more than 50 nonprofits have taken advantage of Partner for Better services, which Hammock continues to refine and enhance. She said she’s proud that she and her team have helped their clients secure over $5 million in grants and launched innovative programs like The Do Good Collective, an incubator specifically for nonprofits.

“Mizzou played a crucial role in the start-up of Partner for Better by providing a solid foundation for planning and numerous networking opportunities,” Hammock said. “The lessons learned and the relationships built at Mizzou continue to be assets in our ongoing success and evolution.”

Parker’s Brick Builds

Founder: Parker Owens, B.S. B.A. ’21, B.J. ’21, J.D. ’24
Location: Springfield, Missouri
parkersbrickbuilds.com

Type of business: Parker’s Brick Builds creates and sells Lego-style building kits for wholesale to retailers in more than 30 states. The company also designs branded or customized kits for schools and corporate partners. 

“Since EQ ended, I have launched multiple exclusive items, including products for MU’s School of Law and the Graduate School,” Owens said. “My Columns kits, which are for sale in the Mizzou Store, also are being used by Mizzou Advancement as door prizes.”

Milestones: The company now has three year-round employees as well as a group of seasonal employees. More than 50 stores nationwide are selling Owens’ kits.

“I think that number might reach 100 by the end of the year,” Owens said. “My corporate partnerships are continuing to develop as well — for example, I’m producing items for the U.S. Bank Foundation this fall.” 

In October, Owens plans to debut nine new products — his largest product release to date. Next year, his company is launching a “build subscription” for stores and individuals interested in receiving a unique kit each month for a year. 

“Mizzou really kicked off my entrepreneurial journey,” Owens said. “Before EQ, I knew some business basics, but the practical skills that I learned from the program have been enormously helpful as I continue to grow and develop my business further.”