This Month's Latest Tech News in Columbia, MO - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

April 2025 marked a transformative month for Columbia's tech scene, as the region secured its position at the center of Missouri's tech-driven growth. Major infrastructure projects - including near $11.6 billion data center investments - promise jobs and innovation, with plans for a vast technology park advancing in Columbia County to host over 8 million square feet of next-generation facilities.

As big tech companies bet on Missouri to power artificial intelligence, policymakers anticipate the state will break into the top 10 nationally for technology manufacturing job growth over the next five years, supported by major upgrades in energy and digital infrastructure (projections for Missouri's growing tech industry).

Public and private leaders are also collaborating on substantial local upgrades, from advanced 911 and radio systems to supportive housing and workforce development initiatives (Boone County project updates), laying the foundation for sustained innovation and opportunity in the heartland.

Missouri has rapidly emerged as a strategic hub for artificial intelligence infrastructure, powered by an influx of big tech investments and state-backed development.

Major companies such as Meta and Google are expanding their data center footprints across the region, a move projected to increase Missouri's prominence in AI while stimulating job growth and economic resilience.

According to the 2025 PwC Impact Study on U.S. Data Centers, from 2017 to 2023, the industry's annual U.S. GDP contribution more than doubled from $355 billion to $727 billion, with direct data center employment growing by over 50%.

Missouri's competitive business environment - highlighted by its low 4% corporate tax rate, skilled workforce of over 3 million, and ongoing infrastructure investments - has made it especially attractive for technology companies seeking sustainable expansion.

As detailed in the Business Facilities' Q&A with Missouri Partnership, the state's central location and robust logistics provide additional advantages.

However, these advancements are not without debate; environmental impacts are being scrutinized as data center power demands rise. The Columbia Missourian report highlights that increased development could lead to higher carbon emissions - a challenge both policymakers and industry leaders must address as Missouri cements its standing in the national tech landscape.

EquipmentShare has marked its 10th anniversary with a major milestone: the opening of a state-of-the-art $500 million Technology Development Center (TDC) at its Columbia, Missouri headquarters.

Encompassing a 35-acre campus with over 500,000 square feet of facilities, the expansion consolidates innovation teams in R&D, engineering, and workforce training, all focused on transforming the construction sector through technology.

As detailed by the Columbia Daily Tribune article on EquipmentShare's Technology Development Center, this initiative, supported by Chapter 100 tax abatement bonds and state economic programs, will generate over 500 high-paying jobs in Columbia and 151 additional roles in nearby Moberly.

The TDC includes the high-tech Uptime Center and collaborative prototyping spaces, integrating software, hardware, and operations teams to power innovation across EquipmentShare's nationwide network.

As Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe stated,

“We're pleased to see a Missouri-made innovator like EquipmentShare continuing to invest and create jobs in Columbia. This company's history of success shows what can be achieved through bold ideas, hard work, and commitment to community.”

Since its founding in 2015 at a local startup weekend, EquipmentShare has grown to more than 6,500 employees and 300 U.S. locations - serving as a shining example of homegrown tech success, supported by programs such as Missouri Works and Missouri One Start.

Learn more about the TDC's impact and public-private collaboration in the official press release from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

For those interested in the construction tech sector's evolution and the broader regional innovation landscape, visit the Scherzer Deal Report for insights on regional innovation and construction technology.

Missouri is rapidly gaining momentum as a national leader in tech manufacturing, with recent analyses projecting the state to rank among the top 10 for tech manufacturing job growth within the next five years.

According to the Missouri Chamber Foundation's Technology2030 report, the state's tech industry now accounts for more than 5% of employment and approximately 10% of Missouri's GDP, adding over 14,000 net new jobs over the past five years and employing nearly 159,000 residents.

Missouri boasts significant cost advantages - including low business taxes and affordable housing - while featuring a top-10 nationally ranked diverse tech workforce and sustained job creation in areas like advanced manufacturing, agtech, and AI. The table below summarizes key recent data:

Indicator	Value
Tech Employment (2022)	159,000 residents
Average Tech Worker Earnings	$123,800
Net New Tech Jobs (5 years)	14,000+
Tech GDP Contribution	10%
Tech Workforce Diversity Ranking	6th nationally

“We believe Missouri could become a major player in several emerging tech subsectors...This report highlights opportunities for policymakers, tech industry leaders and economic development professionals across the state to harness our competitive advantages and address deficiencies to help innovation thrive.”

Missouri's focus on talent retention, educational partnerships, and public-private innovation initiatives has positioned it as the 7th fastest-growing state for tech-manufacturing jobs, with efforts ongoing to improve digital infrastructure and inclusivity.

Dive deeper into the economic context and workforce data by exploring the original state projections and real-time progress updates on the Missouri 2030 Dashboard.

Meta has officially launched its standalone AI companion app, Meta AI, designed to rival OpenAI's ChatGPT and other leading digital assistants.

Powered by Meta's advanced Llama 4 language model, the new app delivers conversational text, voice, and image generation, leveraging years of user data from Facebook and Instagram to personalize responses - a feature already in use by over 700 million monthly active users as of January 2025.

Key innovations include a Discover Feed that allows users to share, remix, and learn from others' prompts, and cross-platform integration with Meta's suite of apps and Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

Voice interaction capabilities and personalized features are currently offered in the U.S. and Canada, making conversations more seamless and natural. For added context, CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated,

“2025 is going to be the year when a highly intelligent and personalized AI assistant reaches more than 1 billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading AI assistant.”

Below is a table comparing core features:

Feature	Meta AI App	ChatGPT	Others (Claude, Gemini, Grok)
Personalized Responses	Integrated via Meta user data, U.S./Canada only	Limited, unless user customizes profile	Variable; most lack deep social integration
Voice Interaction	Available; multitasking enabled	Available	Available (varies by platform)
Companion to Wearables	Ray-Ban Meta glasses	N/A	N/A
Discover Feed/Social Sharing	Yes, within app	No	No

To explore Meta's latest AI technology, visit the official Meta AI app announcement, read about its market debut and major features in TechCrunch's coverage of Meta's ChatGPT rival, or see usage details and industry context in the CNBC report on Meta launching its standalone AI app.

Columbia-based startup Healium is making headlines as its virtual reality (VR) technology is validated by the Mayo Clinic for easing pre-surgery anxiety in patients.

In a recent clinical study, 100 patients scheduled for open-heart surgery utilized either immersive VR goggles or a tablet-based VR experience featuring tranquil nature scenes with guided breathing, resulting in measurable reductions in pulse rate and anxiety levels.

As noted by Mayo Clinic researchers,

“These reductions in anxiety are particularly significant given the known link between preoperative anxiety and negative postoperative outcomes, including increased pain, reduced activity and higher medication use.”

Importantly, unlike traditional anti-anxiety medications that can complicate anesthesia procedures, Healium's VR offers a nonpharmacological solution that is effective and well-tolerated, even among older adults - an age group often left out of technology-based interventions.

Healium's founder, Sarah Hill, emphasized the platform's expanding application into trauma and surgery centers, building on collaborations with the U.S. military, VA hospitals, and major sports teams.

The study reflects a broader healthcare shift toward digital therapeutics, as discussed in the Startland News report on Mayo Clinic's Healium research, and aligns with industrywide trends spotlighted in Webelight's analysis of AR/VR's role in mental health care.

For further insights into Mayo Clinic's leadership in medical innovation and XR technologies, visit the extensive Mayo Clinic XR/VR/AR Technology Case Study.

The integration of immersive tech like Healium's VR isn't just improving immediate patient experience - it's establishing a foundation for personalized, tech-enabled healthcare in Columbia and beyond.

The 2025 NAB Show in Las Vegas served as a global stage for artificial intelligence's tangible impact on media, entertainment, and sports - highlighting how Mizzou alumni and Missouri-born ideas continue to shape the industry.

Drawing over 55,000 attendees from 160 countries, the event spotlighted advancements from the creator economy to immersive fan experiences in sports, with nearly 1,100 exhibitors including major brands and AI-driven startups.

At the heart of the show was the PropelME Startup Stage, where 80% of early-stage companies showcased AI-powered solutions, backed by a new partnership with FBRC.ai to accelerate next-generation storytelling and workflow automation.

Hands-on pavilions demonstrated breakthroughs in generative AI, cloud-based content creation, and applications like ElevenLabs' AI-generated voice capabilities for faster, multilingual media production.

The three-day Sports Summit - featuring AWS, Microsoft, and NFL leaders - explored how AI is transforming audience personalization and driving sports rights revenues, projected to soar from $29.54 billion in 2024 to $34.72 billion by 2027.

As noted by NAB executive Karen Chupka,

“AI is transforming media and entertainment, unlocking new ways to tell stories, engage audiences and streamline production.”

For professionals and creators alike, the event's expanded AI educational tracks and innovation pavilions emphasized the technology's mainstream momentum and ethical considerations.

A summary of 2025 NAB Show stats is presented below for a quick view:

Metric	2025 NAB Show
Attendees	55,000+
Countries Represented	160
Exhibitors	~1,100
First-Time Registrants	53%
Sports Rights Revenue (2027 proj.)	$34.72 billion

Learn more about the event's global reach and industry innovation at the official 2025 NAB Show wrap-up press release, explore the NAB Sports Summit announcement for sports tech highlights, and dive into hands-on AI showcases via this in-depth feature on AI at NAB Show 2025.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping youth sports coaching, empowering both amateur and professional athletes with tools once reserved for elite programs.

At the University of Florida, the AI-powered UF & Sport Collaborative initiative leverages wearable sensors, data analytics, and the HiPerGator supercomputer to track student-athlete workload and optimize performance, with coaches crediting data-driven workload management for the men's basketball team's historic tournament success.

As described by Victor Lopez, UF's Director of Strength and Conditioning,

“It worked out like a charm.”

Meanwhile, startups like Ochy are democratizing high-level analytics for young athletes, providing markerless movement analysis via smartphone footage and real-time feedback to prevent injuries - a solution now adopted by over 100 U.S. rehab centers and schools.

On the digital front, Greenlite Ventures' new NBA daily fantasy platform uses their proprietary No Limit Intelligence AI engine to offer predictive insights, injury impacts, and personalized recommendations - making strategic play accessible to everyday users.

The table below highlights key features of these innovations:

Solution	Focus	Key Features
UF & Sport Collaborative	All sports (student-athletes)	Wearable sensors, workload management, injury reduction, coaching dashboards
Ochy	Running mechanics (youth & adults)	Smartphone gait analysis, instant form feedback, partnership with schools
Greenlite NBA DFS	Fantasy sports engagement	Real-time AI insights, matchup analytics, accessible predictions for all users

These advances ensure that data-driven coaching, injury prevention, and player development are increasingly within reach for young athletes, parents, and coaches.

For a closer look at coaches using AI to train youth players, visit NBC News feature on AI's impact on youth sports.

To learn more about AI-powered sports movement analysis, see Sports Business Journal's article on Ochy's AI movement analysis platform funding, and for cutting-edge AI engagement in fantasy sports, explore Greenlite Ventures' announcement of their AI-powered NBA fantasy sports platform.

Tax season 2025 has seen an alarming rise in AI-powered “pop up” tax scams, with cybercriminals leveraging generative technologies to impersonate IRS agents, create convincing phishing emails, and even use deepfake audio to target individuals and businesses.

Notably, the IRS's annual Dirty Dozen list of tax scams for 2025 highlights how AI-generated schemes now include fraudulent tax preparation services, smishing texts, and phishing platforms that harvest Social Security numbers or banking data.

A recent McAfee report found that nearly one in four Americans have either been a victim of a tax scam or know someone who has - underscoring the scale of the threat.

The table below summarizes key statistics from recent findings:

Scam Tactic	Prevalence (%)
Received fake IRS notices	48
Impersonation of tax services	33
Fake refund offers encountered	35

According to experts, AI enables scammers to tailor their attacks, making them highly believable and urgent.

“Now with AI, it's wild because you can get very specific about the information you're asking from somebody… It helps people feel more comfortable with revealing information that they normally wouldn't want to reveal.” - Mike Scheumack, Cybersecurity firm IdentityIQ

To protect yourself: file taxes early, verify communications through official IRS channels, enable two-factor authentication, and never respond to unsolicited emails or calls.

For a detailed breakdown of trending scams and defenses, check out the investigative overview at AI-powered tax fraud is on the rise - here's how to protect your refund and additional strategies in this comprehensive guide to AI-generated audio tax scams.

Columbia-based Healium is gaining national attention for its innovative use of AI-driven biofeedback and virtual reality to promote personalized mental health and wellness.

Recently, a Mayo Clinic study on Healium's VR technology reducing anxiety found that Healium's VR technology can significantly reduce anxiety for older patients facing major surgery, providing a promising nonpharmacological alternative to traditional anxiety medications.

At the heart of Healium's approach is the real-time integration of biometric data - such as EEG brainwave activity and heart rate - with generative AI to create immersive, interactive experiences tailored to each user.

“By collaborating with Mayo Clinic, we've built an important bridge between biometric data, generative AI, and XR content,” said CEO Sarah Hill, underscoring the company's mission to revolutionize patient engagement.

Healium's recent $3.6 million seed funding round, backed by notable investors including the Mayo Clinic, is fueling further development and enhancing accessibility of its iOS, Android, and virtual reality apps for consumers and medical professionals alike (read more about Healium's funding and partnerships).

This momentum aligns with broader healthtech trends, as industry reports highlight AI, XR, and telemedicine as key forces shaping patient-centric care, with major players expected to disrupt the next wave of personalized healthcare solutions (explore global healthtech innovations transforming healthcare).

The table below highlights the clinical study's VR outcomes for pre-surgery patients:

Group	Intervention	Main Outcome
Tablet-based	Guided nature scenes	Reduced anxiety & pulse rate
VR Headset	Immersive interactive environment	Reduced anxiety & pulse rate

“Media images can be hurtful but when compounded differently into something soothing, they can also heal. These are powerful, drugless, portable coping mechanisms for this mental health emergency that quickly interrupt the stress response.” - Sarah Hill, CEO of Healium

Missouri is making notable strides to emerge as a powerhouse in tech innovation, with recent collaboration between state lawmakers, industry leaders, and educators converging on a comprehensive growth vision.

The Missouri Chamber's Technology 2030 report highlights that Missouri now boasts the nation's 7th fastest-growing tech sector, emphasizing the need to focus on talent recruitment, tech infrastructure, and digital inclusion.

Efforts such as bipartisan legislative initiatives for startup incentives and strategic public-private partnerships in artificial intelligence are already underway, with a Senate panel recently advancing a bill to support tech-focused small businesses.

As part of a broader skills pipeline, Missouri's Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Council continues to drive workforce development for youth and adults, ensuring industry-relevant curriculum and bridging service gaps in technology fields; meeting agendas and strategic plans are accessible via the DESE CTE Advisory Council website.

Further, regional events - including the upcoming NRECA Connect Conference in Kansas City - are catalyzing industry dialogue and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders from across the nation, underlining the state's expanding role in the innovation economy (NRECA Connect Conference 2025 details).

As St. Louis Senator Brian Williams notes,

“We're not just operating on a national stage, we're operating on a global stage.”

With a combination of legislative momentum, educational focus, and sector cooperation, Missouri is well positioned to shape the next chapter of tech growth and opportunity.

Columbia, MO's tech momentum has surged with visionary initiatives like Missouri Startup Weekend 2025, which awarded over $200,000 in funding and services to budding entrepreneurs and drew a record crowd to the new, state-of-the-art EquipmentShare Technology Development Center.

This three-day event - fueled by the support of Redbud VC and influential sponsors including Zapier, Veterans United, and Aviron - demonstrates Columbia's growing role as a launchpad for the region's most promising startups.

As EquipmentShare marks its 10th anniversary with a transformative expansion that added over 500 jobs and a sprawling 35-acre campus, the local ecosystem shows how strategic collaboration between business, government, and education can power economic growth.

Opportunities for founders and professionals abound: recent IDEA Fund application deadlines and investments continue to drive innovation, detailed in the latest Missouri Technology Corporation award cycles.

Meanwhile, recognition from The Tech Tribune's 2025 Best Tech Startups in Missouri list - with EquipmentShare topping the list and several Columbia-born ventures gaining statewide acclaim - highlights the city's rise as a tech beacon.

As workforce development and educational pipelines mature, including Nucamp's coding bootcamps and scholarships, Columbia is primed for sustainable, inclusive growth.

In the words of EquipmentShare CEO Ludo Fourrage:

“This new Technology Development Center is proof of how far we've come - but it's also just the beginning. Columbia has always been our home, and we're proud to continue investing in the place and people who helped launch our journey.”

With robust support, upcoming events, and expanding tech infrastructure, Columbia's outlook for 2025 and beyond is boldly optimistic.