In the fall of 1839, a young boy named Samuel Clemens moved with his family to Hannibal, Missouri. Almost two centuries later, Clemens — more commonly known by his pen name, Mark Twain — has given the town an international reputation.

Hannibal is perhaps best known as the childhood home of Twain and the setting of some of his most famous books, including "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Tourists now flock to the town to learn more about the author, and many businesses in the downtown district have sought to honor his legacy.

For the latest episode of the Speaking Startup podcast, we traveled to Hannibal to learn more about businesses with ties to Twain’s legacy in the northeast Missouri town.

Plus, we spoke with the organizers of HERImpact Kansas City, a new pitch competition for female social entrepreneurs, to learn about the event and the need for funding of women-led startups.

Speaking Startup: Twain, tours and entrepreneurs

Missouri Business Alert’s Business Brief is a podcast covering business news and issues shaping the state.