One of TheGoodz Cofounders and a Mizzou Alumni needs your help saving the world.

What is TheGoodz and what happened to it?

TheGoodz provided 30 minute or less delivery of everything you could find in a convenience store. You may have known us as the guys who delivered the party. We started in Columbia Missouri and it was the Mizzou community that helped us get things off the ground.

It was with great sadness that TheGoodz ended up closing up shop. As many start-ups do, TheGoodz ran out of money. Our founding team didn’t take a salary at all for as long as we could, but unfortunately landlords don’t yet accept hopes and dreams as payment. We miss you, and we love you Mizzou.

Who is TheGoodz Guy that needs help?

Do you remember when the little car zipped across TheGoodz app when you opened the app for the first time? The maps that showed when drivers would arrive suddenly appearing one day? The automated text messages when the order was almost there?

TheGoodz guy that needs help is the one who built TheGoodz app. We understand you might not have met him, he spent most of his waking hours locked away in a dark room and we occasionally would drop off some pizza and caffeine outside his door. His name is Tristen Harr, and he is a Mizzou Alumni who grew up in Wentzville Missouri. You should go follow him on LinkedIn.

After TheGoodz closed up shop, he went to work for a company and for the past ~6 months he’s been building AI to help put analysts out of their jobs. He doesn’t really like putting those vibes out into the world, and he wants to do something good.

Now he is trying to start his own company with nothing more than a credit card and a dream about using data and AI to do things that have the potential to save lives and help the environment.

I’d tell you more, but it’s against the rules to work on the idea before the event.

Why does he need help?

It’s hard to start a business. It’s especially hard to do it without any money, and it’s a lot better and safer to get investors than to pour in all your savings and empty out your 401k to chase your dream.

Lots of the most important investors have never even been in the state of Missouri. We’re just a fly-over state. We’re just Mizzou. We’re not fancy and important like Stanford or MIT.

In places like San Francisco there are so many investors that it’s much easier to get them to fight each-other to invest in a good idea. When that happens, it is good for the company founder because they will get a better offer.

Tristen needs help because he wants to get a good offer from the investors so he can focus on building a strong, sustainable, and charitable company instead of frantically trying to get more money all the time. He is sick and tired of trying to build things without any money while the San Francisco companies get all the money to build amazing things.

What’s in it for you?

Show up to opening pitches on Friday April 11th at 6:30pm with your student ID for a raffle entry to win an Apple Watch. Show up to final pitches Sunday April 13th at 1:00pm with your student ID for a raffle entry to get a brand new iPad with the Mizzou logo and your name laser engraved into it.

 How can you help?

  • Stick to the plan! Stay focused. Don’t let it slip before April 1st.

  • Go follow TheGoodz Guy on LinkedIn. When you see him posting things about Startup Weekend, smash those likes, and comment about how it’s going to be the most awesome thing ever.

  • Tristen will be posting on his LinkedIn at 8am on April 1st. Like, repost, share, and comment! 🐯 TIGERS ASSEMBLE.

  • You know the drill tigers! 🐯

    Make some noise! 📣

    Show them we’re more than the fly-over state they think we are 🛫

  • Show up to Missouri Startup Weekend at the EquipmentShare Headquarters and make sure that when Tristen pitches, everyone knows that he’s got the backing of Mizzou.

    A chant after he pitches his idea wouldn’t hurt.

    Just showing up for the opening pitches with your student ID will enter you into a raffle after pitches end to win a brand new Apple Watch.

    The location: EquipmentShare - Corporate Office, 5710 Bull Run Dr, Columbia, MO

  • Show up to Missouri Startup Weekend at the EquipmentShare Headquarters and make sure that when Tristen and his team give their final pitch, everyone knows that he’s got the backing of Mizzou.

    A chant after he pitches his idea wouldn’t hurt.

    Just showing up for the final pitches with your student ID will enter you into a raffle after pitches end to win a brand new iPad with the Mizzou logo and your name laser-engraved into it on the spot.

    The location: EquipmentShare - Corporate Office, 5710 Bull Run Dr, Columbia, MO

  • Rally the tigers. Let’s make all the investors that are too fancy to come out to Missouri regret it. Fly-over state my ass.

TELL EVERY TIGER