The St. Louis entrepreneurial scene is buzzing with opportunity the week of March 9-15, 2026. From tech meetups to marketing deep-dives, there is no shortage of ways to grow your business and your network. Erik Lutenegger, our Founder, has pulled together this week’s top events and opportunities across networking, business development, skill-building, and community connection.
ESO, Accelerator, and Funding Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities at LaunchCode
LaunchCode is seeking volunteers for upcoming virtual opportunities supporting data analysis students and early-career technologists. Opportunities include mock interviews, capstone project evaluations, demo day facilitation, and Lunch & Learn speaking engagements on topics like software development, AI, cybersecurity, and professional growth. Volunteers receive guidance and help learners prepare for careers in tech. (Volunteer)
Speaking Opportunities with TechSTL
TechSTL is seeking trainers to lead 45-minute, hands-on workshops across two programs: DevLAB and BuildIT. DevLAB focuses on intermediate developers building real portfolio projects with in-demand tools at T-REX, while BuildIT delivers practical AI workshops for small businesses, startups, and nonprofits at CIC @ Cortex, helping teams move from AI experimentation to real-world execution. (Speaking)
Application Open // Small Business Success Program | Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis
Built for small businesses ready to level up, this bilingual program blends personalized coaching, expert mentorship, and hands-on workshops to help established, revenue-generating companies grow with confidence. Participants gain practical tools, tailored strategies, and a supportive peer community designed to turn momentum into sustainable, year-over-year growth. (Incubator)
Due February 28 // Next Up Missouri | Missouri Business Alert
Missouri’s next wave of builders, founders, and changemakers is getting the spotlight. This statewide recognition celebrates young innovators ages 10–25 who are launching businesses, leading bold initiatives, and solving real problems proving that impact doesn’t wait for adulthood. (Community Award)
Due March 13 // SLU New Venture Accelerator | Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship
Designed for Saint Louis University students and recent alumni, this 14-week accelerator helps founders turn ideas into fundable ventures through hands-on mentorship, customer discovery, and business-building support. Participants may access up to $50,000 in equity-free funding and cap the experience with an investor-facing demo day. (Accelerator)
Due March 20 (Preferred) // Inc 5000
This annual recognition honors the fastest-growing private companies in the United States, highlighting exceptional revenue growth and entrepreneurial success. Honorees gain national visibility through editorial coverage, a permanent company profile, and association with past industry-defining businesses. January 30th is the Early Rate Deadline. (Industry Award)
Due March 31 // Arch Grants Competition
This global startup competition awards $75,000 in equity-free funding to early-stage, scalable companies, with an additional $25,000 for those relocating. In exchange for headquartering in St. Louis for one year, founders gain capital, expert evaluation, mentorship, fundraising support, and access to a powerful regional startup ecosystem. (Competition)
Startup, Tech, and Marketing Events
March 9
Tackling late payments and getting money moving | Enterprise Nation
Embark on a practical lunchtime briefing where the Office of the Small Business Commissioner details how they investigate late payment complaints, highlights steps to champion prompt payment via the Fair Payment Code, and delivers top tips aimed at keeping money moving through your business. (Virtual)
Top Trends in Cybersecurity for 2026 | Gartner
Explore the forces reshaping cybersecurity leadership as AI acceleration, threat volatility, and regulatory change test existing programs. The discussion highlights practical ways to balance innovation with resilience while sharpening strategic decisions around investment, automation, and human oversight.(Virtual)
Vibe Coding as a PM: Hands-On AI Prototyping | Twitch Director of Product | Product School
Engage in a focused, practical session that demonstrates how PMs can prototype AI features using conversational tools, learn frameworks to speed up validation, evaluate trade-offs between speed and robustness, and understand collaboration guardrails for handing prototypes to engineering for production. (Virtual)
Stuck? A Simple Way to Decide. | CreativeMornings
Delight in a practical, workshop-format experience that names common stuck patterns, introduces a short Lewis Deep Democracy primer, guides you through an internal debate on a chosen decision, and helps convert internal conflict into a committed, tangible next step with time for questions. (Virtual)
Google Cloud Cybersecurity Forecast 2026
Gain insight into the cyber risks expected to define the coming year, from supply chain compromise and data theft extortion to the growing influence of generative AI. The discussion connects emerging threats with strategic initiatives that strengthen security operations and long-term readiness. (Virtual)
DOWNLOAD THE B2B WORDPRESS SECURITY CHECKLIST
March 10
Connect and Engage with Industry Professionals | St. Louis Agribusiness Club
Connect with professionals across the agricultural industry during an in-person networking event designed to build relationships, exchange insights, and explore opportunities within the St. Louis agribusiness community. (In-Person | Bank of America)
Unlocking LLM Visibility: A Reddit Playbook | HubSpot
Witness how Reddit communities can shape stronger AI outcomes when approached with credibility and care. The session explains why niche subreddits often carry greater value, how authentic participation builds visibility, and which missteps can quickly damage trust and reputation. (Virtual)
Agentic AI-Driven Workflows in Transportation Operations & Logistics | Amazon Web Services
Transform the way operational teams surface answers from scattered data through a session focused on agentic AI in logistics. The presentation shows how business intelligence can evolve into automation that delivers instant responses and proactively shares timely, organization-wide insights. (Virtual)
The 10x Leadership Framework for Growth in Large Organisations | Founder Institute
Participate in a focused talk that walks leaders through designing empowerment at scale, balancing autonomy with coherence, and deploying thinking tools to navigate uncertainty; expect concrete strategies to remove internal blockers, align decision-making and translate ambition into repeatable execution across large organisations. (Virtual)
From Paper to Portfolio: The Executive’s IPO Playbook to Shift from Private‑to‑Public | Carta
Immerse yourself in a conversation about how late-stage preparation can influence executive decision-making once a company goes public. Topics include managing concentrated equity, working within trading rules, and building a more structured approach to wealth preservation after liquidity arrives. (Virtual)
Fix what AI can’t find. Is your institution showing up when AI search recommends programs? | American Marketing Association
Take part in an actionable session that demonstrates how AI evaluates university content, highlights the limits of standard SEO, and provides a practical content-readiness scoring system; participants will gain prioritized tactics and a concrete action plan to boost program discoverability in AI-driven search. (Virtual)
No Luck Required BOSS Bia Happy Hour | Nicole Ingram
Be part of a focused happy hour that starts with open networking and a concise kickoff highlighting confidence over luck; attendees engage in pressure-free conversations, celebrate professional growth, own their expertise, and practice showing up confidently among supportive, like-minded women. (In-Person | Saucy’s Pizzeria)
Tech on Tap STL | TechSTL
Venture into a lively monthly gathering of entrepreneurs, engineers, and industry professionals for casual conversation, networking, and idea exchange. TechSTL supplies dinner while a cash bar offers beer, creating an inclusive setting to form connections and discover emerging projects. (In-Person | Schlafly Bottleworks)
March 11
To SEO, or Not to SEO: The Diagnosis Before The Prescription | Digital Boost
Embrace a frank, diagnostic approach that replaces FOMO with analysis, as the speaker shares comparative stories, evaluation techniques, and a practical framework to help you determine whether SEO should be a priority for your business before you allocate time or budget. (Virtual)
2026 Women’s History Month Breakfast | Focus St. Louis
Enjoy an energizing program that pairs a lively panel discussion with intentional networking opportunities, where experienced leaders discuss advocacy, resilience, and career growth while participants share experiences, forge connections, and leave motivated to apply new leadership perspectives. (In-Person | Missouri Athletic Club)
What an AI-ready website looks like at global scale | Webflow
Enhance your web strategy by watching practitioners demonstrate experimentation frameworks, personalization techniques for diverse audiences, and localization best practices that retain control across markets, along with technical and organizational measures to prepare a site for AI-driven discovery and expansion. (Virtual)
PitchSTL
Share in a casual, supportive ‘warm fuzzy shark tank’ experience every Wednesday morning: one or two founders pitch briefly, receive focused feedback, and stay after to network with peers, discover sponsor opportunities, and access local startup resources and mentorship. (In-Person | Northside Economic Empowerment Center)
The State of Data & AI Literacy in 2026 | DataCamp
This session examines new enterprise survey findings that reveal how prepared organizations are for a future shaped by data and AI literacy. It highlights skill gaps, adoption barriers, and the strategies high-performing companies use to improve productivity and scale transformation. (Virtual)
AI Fluency for HR – Building the Skills that Matter | CPHR Manitoba & CPHR BC & Yukon
Venture into a concise, example-rich webinar where HR professionals learn to identify where AI truly adds value, avoid common pitfalls like bias and over-reliance, craft better prompts, and implement straightforward behaviours to use AI confidently in everyday HR processes. (Virtual)
Key Trends in AI Commercial Contracting and Outsourcing Agreements | Morgan Lewis
Connect with presenters as they map practical negotiation pathways for customers and providers, explore allocation of data rights and IP, examine outsourcing arrangements, and assess how agentic AI features alter warranties, indemnities, and service levels in real-world contracting scenarios. (Virtual)
Ensuring ADA Compliance & Accessibility for Small Businesses | Start Small Think Big
Gain practical guidance on meeting ADA requirements for your small business, covering digital and physical accessibility standards, compliance strategies, and steps to ensure your operations are inclusive and legally sound. (Virtual)
Azure Decoded: Getting Ready for the Migrate & Modernize Summit 6 | Microsoft Reactor
Experience a focused livestream preview that highlights real-world migration and modernization scenarios, explains Microsoft’s approach from assessment to optimization, and details connected skilling opportunities—helping attendees know what to prioritize during the summit and how to apply lessons afterward. (Virtual)
How AI Broke Brand Discovery (And What Smart Marketers are Doing to Fix It) | EMarketer
Uncover a focused discussion on the shift to AI overviews and disappearing click paths, as Moloco and BCG reveal which industries face greatest disruption and recommend three CMO-ready tactics to sustain growth via owned channels, robust first-party data, and mobile-first experiences. (Virtual)
How Creatives Assess, Structure, and Sustain Work Opportunities | Freelancers Union
Revel in a practical, narrative-driven class that teaches freelancers to convert informal interest into structured opportunities, evaluate projects before saying yes, establish clear roles and scope, and adopt flexible frameworks that safeguard time, collaboration quality, and income. (Virtual)
Building Agent-Ready Data Architectures on Google Cloud | Data Science Connect
Discover how modern data architecture can give AI systems the current enterprise context they need to perform effectively. The session examines continuous data movement, governance, and observability as essential foundations for safer reasoning, flexible design, and real-time decision support. (Virtual)
The Art of Conversation and Communication | NY Public Library, Thomas Yoseloff Business Center
Learn communication fundamentals from a media professional who blends broadcasting insight with practical coaching. Nora Ali breaks down body language, narrative structure, and techniques to manage nerves, offering interactive exercises and real-time guidance to strengthen everyday conversations and professional interactions on Zoom. (Virtual)
Geosaurus Unleashed: Missing Ramps, Missing Data: What AI Can and Can’t Tell Us About Getting Around. | T-REX
Partake in a compelling lecture from Shiloh Deitz on using AI to locate inaccessible sidewalks and curb ramps, why many cities lack crucial data, and how analytic choices can alter problem definitions, then mingle with peers over complimentary drinks and networking time. (In-Person | T-REX)
Build & Protect: Small Business Protection & Opportunity Overview | Porscha Anderson
Participate in an interactive one-hour session that breaks down contract clauses, trademark filing basics, and essential tax support, then shifts to identifying side income opportunities; attendees receive practical tips, checklists, and next-step recommendations to quickly strengthen their business foundation. (In-Person | Cortex @ 20 S Sarah)
Decoding GovCon Compliance: Essential Regulations Explained | St. Louis County Library
Transform your approach to government contracting through a concise, expert-led class that explains the FAR, how subcontracting limitations affect bids and performance, and current cybersecurity compliance expectations, combining illustrative examples and actionable guidance in an accessible in-person and virtual format. (In-Person | Clark Family Branch)
March 12
Unleash Design Creativity with AI | General Assembly
Take in a practical exploration led by an experienced designer, featuring tool demonstrations, UX workflow examples, and actionable takeaways that show how AI can augment creativity, simplify tasks, and shift designers toward strategic, critical, and ethically conscious roles without replacing essential human decision-making. (Virtual)
Codex for Software Engineers | OpenAI Academy
Dive into hands-on examples of Codex assisting developers with code generation, debugging, test execution, and repository navigation while presenters walk through workflows that illustrate automation of routine tasks, collaboration with AI, and concrete techniques for integrating Codex into engineering processes. (Virtual)
WP:26 | Human Made
Gain practical insights from developer advocates, accessibility specialists, SEO experts, and WordPress leaders as they unpack emerging trends, share case studies and actionable guidance, and discuss how new APIs and agentic features will reshape content workflows and platform strategy. (Virtual)
Choosing the Right Business Structure: Reduce Taxes, Limit Risk & Stay Compliant | SCORE
Share in a concise roadmap that details what each business entity must file, who pays, typical costly mistakes, and proactive quarterly planning, while demonstrating how LLC versus corporate choices and tax elections influence long-term financial outcomes. (Virtual)
Tackling Privacy and Personalization: Fireside Chat with PwC and the NFL | MarTech
Explore practical strategies as senior experts discuss how consent and preference management enable consumers to define data use, support compliance, and power tailored experiences, with real-world insights from OneTrust, PwC, and the NFL on turning privacy into a business-strengthening advantage. (Virtual)
How Marketing Teams Actually Collaborate in 2026 | MarketingProfs
Delight in a focused session that strips AI hype to reveal practical collaboration tactics: build connected work systems, create shared context, and deploy human-led AI to speed delivery. Learn why excessive communication impedes momentum and how to restore alignment across marketing teams. (Virtual)
Real-World AI & Automation Use Cases for Business Leaders | Enterprise University
Be part of a concise virtual learning experience featuring 90-minute courses that concentrate on core business competencies, actionable advice, and real-world techniques, equipping participants to refine strategies, boost productivity, and move their business or career forward. (Virtual)
Founders Lounge Global | Powered by Metis Analytics
Indulge your curiosity in a weekly, collaborative forum where builders explore technical AI topics through dialogue, case studies, and hands-on insight. Sessions prioritize real-world applicability—design choices, agentic systems, and operational lessons—so attendees can implement AI more intentionally in their work. (In-Person | Spark Coworking – St. Louis)
Sip & Tour: The Future Is Female | 21c Museum Hotel St Louis
Enjoy a thoughtfully paired night of flavor and interpretation as a specialty cocktail translates artwork’s warmth and tension into taste, and participants embark on a guided tour of the current exhibition; tickets cover the cocktail and tour, with complimentary valet available. (In-Person | 21c Museum Hotel St Louis)
March 13
Are you a Manager or Leader? | The Wedge
Enhance your managerial toolkit in an engaging, in-person session that breaks down key differences between task-focused management and people-centered leadership, offers role-play scenarios to practice shifting approaches, fosters group reflection, and equips attendees with practical habits for daily leadership. (In-Person | The Wedge)
Bourbon Friday | Sponsored by Tenacity
Discover a weekly meetup where founders and supporters convene to trade insights, celebrate progress, and enjoy curated bourbon samplings, fostering informal mentorship, candid conversation, and community connections in an accessible, responsibly run environment. (In-Person | TechArtista UCity)
March 14
BWB: African women in Technology | African Chamber of Commerce, St. Louis
Take in meaningful conversations over brunch that combine storytelling, panel discussions, and informal networking to celebrate achievements, examine systemic barriers, exchange mentorship opportunities, and inspire attendees to pursue tech pathways while connecting with peers, local leaders, and industry advocates. (In-Person | African Palace)
March 15
St. Louis Code & Coffee
Absorb a community-driven coding gathering where participants choose to tinker or socialize, join an intro circle to share names and offerings, listen to event announcements at one, then engage in independent collaboration or attend a scheduled member-led workshop. (In-Person | TechArtista UCity)
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What’s catching your eye this week? Drop a comment and let us know! We’re always working to strengthen the St. Louis Startup, Tech, and Marketing Ecosystem, and your input makes a difference. If you have an upcoming event or deadline to share, send it our way at [email protected].
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