HANNIBAL, MO — Five local entrepreneurs and small business owners unveiled their business plans at the first SparkNIGHT event on September 13 at the Rialto in downtown Hannibal.

The evening kicked off in a one-hour trade show environment where participating entrepreneurs informally presented their business plans to investors. The rest of the event was open to the public, with each entrepreneur giving a formal presentation of their project.

The five companies participating in SparkNIGHT were PFM Machining of Monroe City, Hannibal Quarry, Langhorne Meat and Provisions, Peter Same and Jenny Averill of Star Theatre, and Lady Gray’s Botanicals and Tea.

Miranda Sims, owner of Lady Grey’s Botanicals and Tea, said SparkNIGHT was an opportunity to inspire her new business. She says she not only learned about the process of starting her own business, but also about how other entrepreneurs have started their businesses.

“I felt positively encouraged throughout and made many great connections,” Sims said in a press release.

Hal Benedict, CFO of HNB Bank and Chairman of the Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council, said:

Ignite was launched in 2020 as an entrepreneurial development program to help entrepreneurs and small businesses.
From founding to succession. The program provides entrepreneurs in Marion, Ralls, Pike, Lewis, Clark, Monroe and Shelby counties with a supportive culture, access to capital, networking opportunities, business and technical assistance.

Ignite is a partnership of the Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council, Small Business Development Center and the Hannibal Chamber of Commerce. We are dedicated to creating an ecosystem that attracts, creates, supports and accelerates new and existing businesses in Northeast Missouri.