MTC taps entrepreneur advocate in Missouri senate as new exec, signaling statewide policy alignment
February 25, 2026 | Tommy Felts | Government, News
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Technology Corporation’s drive to advance innovation across the state will lean heavily on a tone already set by Gov. Mike Kehoe, said Travis Fitzwater, pledging a border-to-border economic development strategy that aligns with broader policy goals.
Travis Fitzwater, executive director for MTC
“It starts with having a vision that’s both achievable and big enough to honor the whole state,” said Fitzwater, who was announced Monday as the new executive director for MTC, a public-private partnership within the broader framework of the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED).
“The governor has that vision. He believes in big things,” Fitzwater continued. “MTC ought to be the voice and catalyst for innovation in Missouri, and we have an opportunity here to align this work with a governor and Department of Economic Development that already have been very effective. I want to be part of that.”
The leadership change at MTC comes amid calls for a reinvestment in entrepreneur- and innovation-focused support at the state level (and notably as Kehoe and Missouri General Assembly begin a new round of budget considerations).
In May 2025, legislators slashed MTC’s funding to zero — three years after former Gov. Mike Parson raised its allotment to a historic $31 million (and it later was awarded $95 million from the federal government to boost startup and small business growth in Missouri).
MTC has continued doling out millions in entrepreneur support dollars with Kehoe indicating state leaders are open to reexamining related economic development strategies.
“Republicans and Democrats are both deeply supportive of entrepreneurs,” said Fitzwater, a Holts Summit, Missouri, Republican and longtime entrepreneur advocate. “It’s one of the few broadly bipartisan issues of our time. I look forward to spending time agreeing across the political spectrum on ways we can further the MTC’s mission of making Missouri a more dynamic place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Fitzwater has served in the Missouri legislature for more than a decade, currently as a state senator. MTC officials said details related to his departure from the Missouri General Assembly would be announced soon, and Fitzwater noted he would not seek re-election.
“It’s been 12 years of grinding out good policy that puts Missouri at a competitive advantage,” he told Startland News. “I’ve been thrilled to be part of legislation that’s been crucial for moving our state’s economy forward, and for education and workforce development.”
RELATED: State Sen. Travis Fitzwater leaving legislature to lead Missouri Technology Corp.
In the Missouri House, he notably championed popular STEM and computer science legislation that ultimately was vetoed, reworked and later signed into law by Gov. Parson. (That advocacy helped make Fitzwater a finalist for the KC Tech Council’s 2019 Tech Champion of the Year award.)
Jason Grill, chief government affairs officer for Right to Start; Gov. Mike Parson, R-Missouri; and Missouri Sen. Travis Fitzwater, R-Fulton; photo courtesy of Gov. Mike Parson’s Office
Among his proudest accomplishments, Fitzwater said: working alongside entrepreneur advocates at Right to Start to help push through Missouri’s Right to Start Act and establish the state’s “Office of Entrepreneurship” within the DED.
His appointment to lead MTC is a “superb” decision, said Victor W. Hwang, founder and CEO of Right to Start.
“Travis has long been a crucial advocate for entrepreneurship across the state and played vital roles in advancing landmark legislation for entrepreneurship in both houses of the legislature,” Hwang said. “He understands well the needs of entrepreneurs and their importance to economic development — as the primary vehicle for net new job growth in the nation.”
Prior to his legislative career, Fitzwater built experience in nonprofit leadership, digital marketing and publishing, and small business ownership, including founding Fitzwater Enterprises, LLC in 2008 and working in such executive roles as marketing coordinator and chief operating officer for the Missouri Pharmacy Association.
His ties to the tech and entrepreneur communities run deep, and personal, Fitzwater said.
“I understand the founder’s mentality — the grind it takes to start a company and rely on it for your family and your future — along with the terrors that come along with it,” he told Startland. “We have a lot of founders who are taking those big risks and need to be supported.”
At MTC, he’ll lead efforts alongside the existing team to support high-growth startups, strengthen Missouri’s technology ecosystem, and drive strategic investments — grant-based support to expand the state’s entrepreneurial capacity and direct investments in high-growth companies through a state-sponsored venture capital program — that accelerate economic development statewide.
Click here to learn more about MTC’s investment tools.
Missouri State Sen. Travis Fitzwater, R-Fulton, speaks alongside Gov. Mike Kehoe in mid-February in Jefferson City; photo courtesy of the Office of Mike Kehoe
Allen Dillingham, Missouri Technology Corporation; courtesy photo
Under Fitzwater’s leadership, the organization will continue building on its mission to foster growth in emerging industries and expand access to capital for Missouri-based entrepreneurs, said Allen Dillingham, chair of MTC.
“Travis brings a strong track record of leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to advancing innovation across our state,” he said. “We have great confidence in his vision for strengthening Missouri’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and accelerating investment in high-growth companies.”
“As we look to the next phase of MTC’s impact, we are excited about the direction ahead and fully trust Travis to help lead us there with clarity, collaboration, and purpose,” Dillingham continued.
While MTC focuses specifically on advancing innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-based economic growth through strategic investments and ecosystem development, it aligns with Missouri DED’s statewide economic development strategy and priorities, the organization said. This collaborative relationship ensures that Missouri’s innovation initiatives are closely integrated with the state’s broader efforts to attract investment, support business expansion, and create high-quality jobs across all regions, MTC said in a statement.
“Missouri’s future depends on our ability to compete, innovate, and lead in technology and advanced industries,” Gov. Kehoe said. “Travis understands the importance of growing our innovation economy and supporting the job creators who are shaping the next generation of Missouri businesses. I look forward to the impact he will make at MTC.”
Fitzwater said he is humbled by the opportunity to serve in a new capacity.
“Missouri is my home — and I know wholeheartedly that it is also home to incredible talent, groundbreaking research, and determined entrepreneurs,” he said. “I’m overwhelmed with optimism for our state’s future as we work with partners across the state to expand opportunity, attract investment, and help Missouri companies grow and succeed.”
