The St. Louis ecosystem continues to deliver for entrepreneurs, technologists, and marketers the week of June 8-14, 2026. With events ranging from deep technical dives to broad networking opportunities, there’s no excuse not to get involved. Our Founder, Erik Lutenegger, has curated this week’s highlights across networking, business support, skill building, and fun.
ESO, Accelerator, and Funding Opportunities
Due June 10 // Velocity | TechSTL
Got a startup idea but not sure what comes next? This six-week founder program helps aspiring entrepreneurs move from concept to clarity through customer discovery, problem validation, MVP planning, market research, and pitch development. Designed for first-time founders, it provides a structured path from idea to actionable startup strategy. (Bootcamp)
Due June 10 // Techstars Accelerators
This global network of three-month accelerator programs provides early-stage startups with seed capital, world-class mentorship, curated workshops, and access to a vast ecosystem of investors and alums. Founders receive strategic resources, Demo Day exposure, and lifetime access to Techstars’ network. Applications are now open for: ABN AMRO + Future of Finance, AI Health Baltimore, Alabama EnergyTech, Anywhere, Boulder, Columbus Powered by The Ohio State University, Future of Food Powered by Ecolab, Healthcare Powered by Permanente Medicine Mid-Atlantic States, New York City, and Space. (Accelerator)
Due June 26 // Small Business Launchpad | St. Louis County Library
Built for formerly incarcerated individuals ready to build a new chapter, this eight-week entrepreneurship program provides hands-on training in business planning, marketing, sales, and funding. Participants develop real-world startup skills, receive expert guidance, and pitch their business ideas for a chance at startup funding. (Bootcamp)
Startup, Tech, and Marketing Events
June 8
What big brands know about marketing that SMEs don’t | Enterprise Nation
Soak up expert guidance in a short online session that demystifies why small business marketing often falters, outlines three key disciplines world-class teams follow, and provides an immediately usable one-page foundation to make your campaigns more strategic and effective. (Virtual)
How to Turn Your Idea Into a Million-Dollar Business | NY Public Library, Thomas Yoseloff Business Center
Be part of an intimate virtual conversation as founders and industry experts share first-hand stories and actionable tactics for scaling solo-run or small-team ventures to seven figures, covering invention-to-market journeys, overcoming challenges, revenue models, and brand development, with time for audience questions. (Virtual)
How to Launch an AI-Powered Company With a Day Job with Adeo Ressi | Founder Institute
Learn from Adeo Ressi as he maps a focused, weekly approach to launching startups alongside a day job, demonstrating how AI can replace full-time roles, streamline operations, and provide a clear decision framework for founders contemplating the leap to entrepreneurship. (Virtual)
Efficient Neural Networks Through Tensor Networks | PyData St. Louis
Applaud a practical exploration of physics-inspired methods that compress neural network representations: learn what tensor networks are, how MPS and tensor trains work, see demonstrations in Python, and join a post-talk Q&A and networking period to connect with local data practitioners. (In-Person | Spark Coworking)
June 9
June 9-18 // Startup School: Agentic AI | Google Cloud
Uncover the architecture behind autonomous customer intelligence tools, progressing from rapid prototyping in Google AI Studio to secure deployment on Google Cloud, while examining Gemini Live API, Multimodal RAG, embeddings, and human-in-the-loop vision systems for real-world product execution. (Virtual)
St. Louis Business 500 Live | St. Louis Magazine
Unite with local business leaders for morning networking and breakfast bites before a moderated panel; Matt Coen leads candid conversations with Rich Ledbetter, Alyssa Huffman, and Chris Hoffmann about capital choices, team building, scaling challenges, and strategic decisions, followed by a live audience Q&A. (In-Person | Emerson Auditorium & Frick Forum, Knight Hall)
Canva Basics | Nonprofit Marketers Network-STL
Experience a practical Canva session that translates design basics into real marketing assets, combining a concise tutorial with a hands-on lab to experiment with templates, typography, and imagery while receiving live guidance to make immediate improvements to your organization’s communications. (In-Person | Network for Strong Communities)
AI and Cybersecurity: Securing AI While Strengthening Defense | Gartner
Learn how security teams can approach AI with clarity and discipline, balancing innovation with protection. Key insights cover adversary tactics, defensive applications, roadmap development, and practical considerations to strengthen cybersecurity programs without getting distracted by market hype. (Virtual)
Esri Partners Leveraging ArcGIS Monitor for Observability | Esri
Savor pragmatic guidance from Cloudpoint and Dymaptic as experts walk through proactive management workflows for ArcGIS Enterprise, demonstrate monitoring best practices, and discuss leveraging AI to extend ArcGIS Monitor’s analytics and alerting for improved system observability. (Virtual)
Getting Your Small Business Game Ready for FIFA World Cup 2026? | NYC Department of Small Business Services
Enhance your hospitality business readiness with a one-hour webinar series led by NYC’s small business team, delivering practical strategies, marketing tips, staffing guidance, and tourism-focused operations advice to prepare for the anticipated visitor surge during the FIFA World Cup. Zoom access is provided. (Virtual)
Marketing Unleashed: See the Tools Rewriting What’s Possible | American Marketing Association
Network through a session that opens with an expert walkthrough of current AI-enabled marketing practices, then moves into live demonstrations from technology partners highlighting integrated event management, brand consistency at scale, and hands-on tactics to convert attendee signals into measurable business outcomes. (Virtual)
Advanced SEO Strategies to Drive Traffic, Leads and Sales | SCORE
Discover how established businesses can refine their SEO programs through stronger technical foundations, smarter content architecture, and more strategic authority signals. The discussion focuses on reducing low-value pages, improving topic clusters, and using search data to support measurable growth. (Virtual)
Coding Agents and the Future of Engineering | Cursor
Partake in a data-driven live session exploring how coding agents are transforming software engineering, with findings from the Cursor Developer Habits Report, practical frameworks for new metrics and workflows, and guidance on designing teams and processes as agent-generated work enters production. (Virtual)
Communicating the Value of Green Building | SMPS St. Louis
Kick off an evening of networking and expert conversation where panelists from design and construction describe when and how sustainability discussions occur, how to tailor messaging across project types, and which communication strategies most effectively demonstrate the long-term business and human benefits of green building. (In-Person | McCarthy Building Companies)
STL PetCare Innovation District Meetups
Connect with a vibrant PetCare innovation community as Dr. Stephanie Clark shares insights on animal health, nutrition, science, and entrepreneurship. The conversation highlights emerging industry trends, startup opportunities, and practical ways innovators are improving companion animal care. (In-Person | T-REX)
Tech on Tap STL (June) | TechSTL
Explore a monthly gathering for St. Louis tech leaders, featuring a 90-minute, casual setting with dinner and a cash bar; attendees trade ideas, discuss startups and careers, build meaningful relationships, and discover emerging innovations across the local ecosystem. (In-Person | Schlafly Bottleworks)
Quarterly Professional Networking | Black Girls Do STEM
Revel in an evening of connection and celebration where high school seniors, college-aged students, alumni, and STEM professionals network, share stories over food and drink, honor an inaugural STEM legacy award chosen by a youth committee, and participate in fundraising to sustain the program. (In-Person | Il Monastero at Saint Louis University)
June 10
PitchSTL
Embrace a supportive pitch environment designed for founders to showcase ideas in six focused minutes, receive twenty minutes of audience feedback, and network with fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, and sponsors while exploring resources, past presenter videos, and opportunities to join the community or board. (In-Person | NEEC powered by SLDC)
Does AI Kill Software? AI and the Future of the Software Industry | Startup Grind Doha
Participate virtually in a forward-looking dialogue, moderated by Marcel Dridje, that dissects trends ranging from agentic AI to open models, exploring practical implications for startups, investors, and enterprises as deterministic software gives way to probabilistic, AI-driven applications and services. (Virtual)
The Best Way to Design an App(vs. Claude Design & Lovable) | UX Pilot
Engage in a comparative demo session where the team constructs the same application using three methods to illustrate AI-driven design versus speed trade-offs; the presentation includes examples, decision rationales, and instructions so attendees can experiment with the approaches firsthand. (Virtual)
Agents League: Reasoning Agents Battle | Microsoft Reactor
Uncover hands-on demonstrations of multi-step intelligent agent creation, watching experts model problem decomposition, orchestration and response strategies while building with Microsoft Foundry, then learn how to adapt those patterns and submit improved agent solutions as part of the hackathon series. (Virtual)
Convert a Horizontal Video to a Vertical One and Back Again | CreativeMornings
Take part in a practical editing session focused on creating adaptable video content for today’s platform requirements. Topics include mobile conversion techniques, capture tips for flexible framing, and camera or app options that can record in multiple formats simultaneously. (Virtual)
Geosaurus Unleashed | T-REX
Connect with practitioners, students, and community partners during presentations showcasing student-led GIS work addressing St. Louis transportation issues, revealing methodologies, community engagement strategies, and actionable recommendations, while offering networking, refreshments, and conversation about applying geospatial tools to real-world planning. (In-Person | T-REX)
Protection and Income Strategies for Small Businesses | Porscha Anderson
Delight in a compact weekly workshop tailored to business owners seeking clarity on safeguarding their ventures, with guidance on contracts and formation, trademark protection, tax and legal support tools, employee benefits solutions, and actionable ideas to expand income opportunities. (Virtual)
June 11
Build a Soccer Agent | DataCamp
Ignite deeper understanding of sports data analysis through an AI-driven workflow that combines autonomous agents, cloud infrastructure, and match intelligence. The session highlights how developers can build systems that analyze soccer data, surface tactical patterns, and generate meaningful performance insights. (Virtual)
Turning Intent to Action in the AI Era | Demandbase + G2
Unite with industry experts to explore how AI and zero-click research are reshaping buyer behavior, why traditional intent signals are changing, and practical steps GTM teams can use to prioritize accounts, trigger campaigns, and convert stronger signals into pipeline faster. (Virtual)
How AI and Innovation Drive U.S. Small Business Exports | Washington International Trade Association (WITA)
Embark on an hour-long online discussion where experts examine AI’s role in expanding exports, transforming supply chains, and reducing friction for small and large exporters, with a featured government speaker and a panel of private-sector trade, technology, and policy specialists. (Virtual)
Networking With Purpose Lunch | Job Seekers’ Garden Club
Partake in an intentional networking lunch where professionals, recruiters, and job seekers gather to exchange referrals, offer advice, and cultivate relationships; attendees who select the lunch option enjoy food while engaging in focused conversations designed to generate job leads and professional support. (In-Person | RISE Services, Inc.)
Laugh Lab | Delmar DivINe
Bask in a lively, 90-minute improv acting workshop crafted for seniors, where participants engage in playful exercises, build confidence, and explore creativity in a supportive group setting; all experience levels welcome, guided facilitators lead activities, and a complimentary lunch is provided. (In-Person | Delmar DivINEe)
The AI Impact Playbook: Navigating the Roadmap to Success | Martech
Enjoy a behind-the-scenes walkthrough of AI adoption that follows use case selection, effort-impact evaluation, and collaborative planning across IT, marketing, operations, and sales, with actionable frameworks, deployment practices, and lessons learned to help teams drive real value from applied AI initiatives. (Virtual)
Building Smarter Robots: From AI Perception to Real-World Deployment | Association for Advancing Automation
Transform understanding of robotics deployment through a discussion of AI perception, sensor fusion, compute, and control. Industry leaders examine how integrated hardware and software ecosystems support reliable real-world performance across autonomous mobile robots, humanoids, intelligent automation, and medical robotics. (Virtual)
How sales teams use Codex | OpenAI Academy
Understand how teams can transform fragmented account context into client-ready deliverables through step-by-step examples, interactive guidance on refining model output, and practical tips for crafting prompts that produce prep materials, follow-ups, and reviewable artifacts for sales collaboration. (Virtual)
Pre-Seed and Seed Financing for Startups | Morgan Lewis
Appreciate a focused session where the team reviews common pre-seed and seed deal structures, analyzes the current venture market dynamics, and outlines strategies to optimize early-stage investments, with practical guidance from experienced practitioners and information about CLE credit availability and requirements. (Virtual)
Capital Compass: Preparing for Capital Through Readiness | Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center
Explore structured activities that move founders from curiosity to capital readiness by evaluating funding stage, identifying priority improvements, and practicing articulation of loan purpose, use of funds, and repayment capacity while refining financial organization, projections, and strategic positioning for lender conversations. (Virtual)
Strategic Planning That Actually Works for Freelancers | Freelancers Union
Ignite your business direction with a focused workshop covering an annual, quarterly, and monthly planning structure, hands-on creation of a straightforward 90-day plan during the class, and a sustainable 20-minute monthly check-in habit to consistently steer your freelance work forward. (Virtual)
Your Data, Your Questions: Self-Service Customer Insights Without the Bottleneck | Data Science Connect
Unveil a practical approach to self-service analytics where business users independently query data through intuitive AI, receiving rapid, governed insights that replace manual requests, shorten decision cycles, and preserve compliance while fostering data-driven conversations across teams. (Virtual)
Smart Money: Leverage for Success | Start Small Think Big
Clarify how businesses can become more attractive funding prospects with real-world guidance from lending and small-business experts. The session explores lender selection, smoother approval processes, financing misconceptions, and practical steps to avoid delays that can derail access to capital. (Virtual)
Founders Lounge Global
Marvel at a community-driven learning space that emphasizes practical AI mastery through candid conversation and shared experiments. Sessions center on foundational concepts, agentic systems, and model behavior, helping participants translate theoretical ideas into concrete product workflows and deployment practices. (In-Person | Spark Coworking)
Meeting and Networking with ALOT | St. Louis Agribusiness Club
Share in an engaging club gathering that blends networking, recognition, and rural hospitality. Agriculture Leaders of Tomorrow participants add fresh perspective, while awards, refreshments, photo opportunities, spirit sampling, and a celebrated cobbler tradition create a lively community experience. (In-Person | Warren Stemme Farm)
Procurement Won’t Pick You Until You Learn Why | Center for Entrepreneurship – Urban League
Elevate your business approach by learning how procurement teams assess vendors, which documentation and messaging matter most, and how to tailor your offerings and bids so buyers recognize your company as the top, low-risk choice for their contracts. (In-Person | Urban League HQ)
SheCan Connect Sundresses & Shades Networking & Vendor Expo | #SheCan Connect Global Network
Participate in a dynamic evening built for visibility and growth, where women connect over curated cocktails, explore a handpicked marketplace of fashion, beauty and creative businesses, watch a confidence-driven fashion experience, capture glowing photos, and celebrate community with prize raffles and grant recognition. (In-Person | The Post Building)
June 12
Wavelength: Clarity in decisions. Strength in feedback. | Filament
Absorb hands-on coaching that blends theory with practice: short lectures introduce a clarity framework, breakout labs apply it to current challenges, and guided feedback sessions refine delivery and reasoning so attendees can confidently implement stronger decision processes. (In-Person)
Campaign Management Friday Forum | MarketingProfs
Engage with a compact program that tackles ICP-driven campaign planning, operational fixes for faster launches through AI-powered automation, and revenue-focused campaign structuring; speakers share step-by-step methods to eliminate approval delays, gain real-time visibility, and link campaign activity to measurable pipeline results. (Virtual)
SLDC ConnectSTL Quarterly Forum: Workforce + AI in St. Louis
Soak up expert perspectives on workforce and AI trends shaping regional jobs and skills, hear federal policy implications for local programs, learn about ConnectSTL tools and funding initiatives, and engage in cross-sector conversations designed to strengthen digital inclusion and collective workforce preparedness. (In-Person | T-REX)
QueerTech
Revel in an easygoing midday meetup that invites professionals to step away from screens for conversation, camaraderie, and informal networking; organized by a queer tech community, the hour offers a friendly space to decompress, share stories, and expand your local network. (In-Person | Tin Roof)
Bourbon Friday | Sponsored by Tenacity
Immerse yourself in a weekly community meet-up featuring curated bourbon tastings alongside open conversation about startup life, fostering new relationships and idea exchange in a conveniently accessible venue with street parking, a nearby lot, and a short, transit-friendly walk. (In-Person | TechArtista CWE)
NEXUS Art Market | Elevator St. Louis
Marvel at a lively al fresco marketplace bringing together 15+ local makers and curators offering vintage pieces, handmade goods, jewelry, and zines while DJs spin upbeat sets, on-site food and drinks keep the crowd fueled, and children enjoy free admission for a relaxed outing. (In-Person | Elevator St. Louis)
DevOps Foundations for the AI Agentic Era | Microsoft Reactor
Embrace a practical walkthrough of DevOps principles tailored for AI-driven workflows, exploring how modern dev and ops agents like GitHub Copilot and Azure SRE integrate with pipelines, testing, and environments to accelerate delivery while maintaining quality, reliability, and operational control. (Virtual)
June 14
St. Louis Code & Coffee
Appreciate a welcoming tech gathering that balances social time and focused work: brief organizer updates, an intro circle to share current projects and how you can help, open co-working driven by attendees, and a possible member-led workshop before wrap-up. (In-Person | TechArtista UCity)
Women in Business | Self Care Sunday | Blue Sky Yoga
Cherish an afternoon of restorative yoga and thoughtful journalling designed to release tension and reconnect you to your body, paired with facilitated conversations about sustaining work-life balance, providing space to refill your cup and connect authentically with peers. (In-Person | Blue Sky Yoga St. Louis)
Bloom Where You Are Planted Anniversary Celebration | The 89th Collective
Soak up an intimate anniversary afternoon that combines a guided floral workshop, community networking, casual refreshments, and introductions to local creatives and entrepreneurs, designed to create meaningful connections while celebrating growth, resilience, and a year of shared accomplishments. (In-Person | The 89th Collective)
Join us on Meetup or Tiktok.
What’s got you fired up this week? Tell us in the comments below! We’re always seeking ways to enhance the St. Louis Startup, Tech, and Marketing Ecosystem. Have an event or key date? Don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected].
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