If you are an entrepreneur, techie, or marketer in the St. Louis region, our ecosystem has plenty of opportunities. Whether you’re looking to network, get help with your business, learn new skills, or have a good time, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a rundown from our Founder, Erik Lutenegger, of Events & Opportunities in St. Louis this week, coming up the week of April 10-14, 2023!
Funding, Accelerator, and ESO Opportunities
Are you looking for Accelerators, Incubators, or Funding? Here’s an excellent place to start!
Apply Now // Free WordPress Speed Optimizations from SwingSpan
Tenacity has officially launched SwingSpan, a Digital Divide program that provides free WordPress Speed Optimizations for Non-profits. So if you are part of a non-profit or know someone who is, and they use WordPress for their website, apply at Swingspan.app. (Free Help)
Open Now // TechWeek St. Louis Sign-ups | TechSTL
Techweek St. Louis is just around the corner, and if you want to be part of the action? There are three ways to get involved Partner or Sponsor, apply to Speak or Host, or Join the Planning Committee.
Sponsorship Kit
Apply to Speak
Volunteer
Register for the Event
(Community Opportunity)
Open Now // STL Startup Week
Planning for St. Louis Startup Week has begun, and we are looking for people to join the organizing committee. You can apply to be part of the committee right now. Applications are due on the 20th, but positions will remain open until filled. (Community Opportunity)
Due April 14 // GlobalSTL Health Innovation Summit: Innovator
The GlobalSTL Business Development Platform is the premier US healthcare platform connecting you to $410B of healthcare buying power across our 18 strategic partner organizations. If selected, you will get face-to-face meetings with curated customers who have expressed interest in your solution. (Leads)
Due April 14 // AnitaB.org PitcHER
In collaboration with Backstage Capital, this pitch competition brings leading women and non-binary entrepreneurs to the Grace Hopper Celebration – the world’s largest gathering of women and non-binary technologists – to support, encourage, and provide new funding opportunities to these entrepreneurs. Six finalists will compete for a total of $100,000 in investment capital. (Pitch Competition)
Due May 9 // MIT Solve’s Global Challenges
Seeking social entrepreneurs using technology to solve today’s most pressing problems. Those selected will join a nine-month support program and receive access to over $1 million in funding, grants, and investments. (Accelerator)
Marketing, AI, and Startup Events
Events on April 10
Ready, Set, Startup | Missouri SBDC
At this webinar, they’ll explore the steps needed to get your startup off the ground. So that you can get your ducks in a row and start off with a solid foundation. (Virtual)
Events on April 11
April 11-12 // Marketing in Higher Education | American Marketing Association
Higher education marketers play a critical role in ensuring prospective students have the best chance and experience in enrolling and eventually graduating from higher education institutions. At this free 2-day virtual conference, you’ll get practical tools and insights designed to improve your efforts in the 2023 school year and beyond. (Virtual)
Digital Marketing Basics | SCORE St. Louis
If you are new to Digital Marketing or need a refresher, this fast-paced introductory lunch-n-learn will help you start promoting your business online. Topics include Basic Digital Marketing concepts, How to develop your Digital Marketing plan, Important Digital Marketing techniques, pros & cons, and when to use them. (Virtual)
A Strategic Approach to Paid Digital Marketing | Enterprise University
Here you’ll learn to understand media test variables, how to get valuable data from every campaign, and maintain efficiency by embracing the ability to test and optimize advertising programs and plan strategic digital advertising approaches.(Virtual)
How to Hire Your Team with Equity | Founder Institute
At this webinar, learn about hiring and retaining top talent using various equity structures, benefits, risks, and best practices. This is ideal for entrepreneurs, HR professionals, and executives and covers stock options, restricted stock units, and effective communication strategies. (Virtual)
How to Maximize LinkedIn Virtual Summit | Network After Work
This event features 2 world-class speakers sharing strategies for LinkedIn success. Attendees will learn effective networking, engaging with thought leaders, content sharing, boosting engagement, and maximizing profiles. This event, part of a monthly series, provides innovative tactics and easy-to-use formulas to transform LinkedIn into a lead-generating machine. (Virtual)
VOICES – STL Inclusive Entrepreneurship Affinity Group | BioSTL & CET
If you are a woman, person of color, foreign-born, or LGBTQ+ in the St. Louis Startup Ecosystem, this is a chance to share your voice, connect to peers and resources in the entrepreneur ecosystem, and lead change within your community and organization. (In-Person)
Vetworking STL
Join them at Global Brew for a night of networking with fellow veterans, organizations, and employers. So if you are a transitioning service member or a job-seeking veteran, this is a fantastic opportunity to meet with fellow veterans and companies around St. Louis. (In-Person)
Pitches Get Stitches – ‘Spring Ding’ by Husch Blackwell | bizblip
This quarterly pitch competition, sponsored by Husch Blackwell, gathers early-stage Missouri startups to compete for $500 to propel startups into the ecosystem. Five contestants who qualified through the Blippy Pitch online competition will present in person. And if that wasn’t enough, attendees can win InvestMidwest tickets. (In-Person)
Events on April 12
April 12-13 // InvestMidwest
This event is for local entrepreneurs to meet and present their startups to the innovation community here in St. Louis. The presenter is Verified Backups. (In-Person)
1 Million Cups St. Louis | Presenter: Verified Backups
This event is for local entrepreneurs to meet and present their startups to the innovation community here in St. Louis. (In-Person)
How To Catch a Big GREEN Fish | Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center
This is a panel discussion on B2B sales for impact-driven startups and small businesses with experts from Nasdaq, Bank of the West, Microsoft, and Kloopify. You’ll Learn tips and tactics to connect with the right people, pitch, and close deals. (Virtual)
Why do you need a digital strategy in today’s convulsive business environment? | IE Unversity
Discover the importance of a digital strategy amidst today’s turbulent business environment. This master class, led by expert professors, delves into technology’s role in transformation, factors beyond technology, and how digital strategies can help companies become future-ready. (Virtual)
Ignite Summit | Superside
This virtual conference gathers creative leaders to explore strategies for motivating teams with reduced resources. Attendees will learn from industry experts on creative marketing, handling large-scale creative production, innovation, aligning creativity with business goals, pushing boundaries, and networking. (Virtual)
How Marketers Should be Leveraging AI | Instapage
This expert panel will discuss practical methods to leverage AI tools in marketing for enhanced productivity and improved campaign results. And you’ll learn how to integrate AI into workflows, explore three AI-enriched marketing areas, and discover AI-driven tests to optimize your campaigns today (Virtual)
Get in Control of Your Sales Process | Kirkwood Public Library
Herer you’ll learn to master the sales process with GrowthWheel’s “Sales Chain” Framework. And discover the four phases and 12 essential tasks to boost sales success. (Hybrid)
Futures Fund 2023 Info Session with MAPS | The Luminary
Futures Fund is a regranting initiative organized by The Luminary and funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts to support innovative, experimental, and forward-focused artistic projects throughout the St. Louis region. This is where you can find out how to score 2500 to eight grand grants. (Virtual)
Events on April 13
The 5 Requirements for a Cutting-Edge Digital Asset Management System | Insider Intelligence
Here you’ll learn how to: Manage high volumes of content, images, and more with automated workflows, Innovate creative and messaging without interruption and with easier collaboration across teams, and Deploy faster, timely, and relevant customer experiences at scale. (Virtual)
TECH UP! Resource Expo | PCs for People of Greater St.Louis
This event unites top tech nonprofits for networking and learning opportunities. You’ll engage with organizations like PCs for People, LaunchCode, CyberUp!, NPower, Per Scholas, and Black & Veatch to learn about programs and resources and collect swag. This is ideal for educators, industry professionals, and learners. (In-Person)
2023 Brauer Lecture Series | Olin Business School
This series, created to encourage dialogue on American free enterprise, supports student growth through discussions with leading scholars. It features Monty Moran, former Chipotle Co-CEO, lawyer, author, pilot, and filmmaker will discuss building empowered cultures and unlocking potential. (Hybrid)
Cozad New Venture Challenge Demo Day | University of Illinois
At this event, you’ll see the latest University of Illinois student startups compete for over $300,000 in funding and prizes. (In-Person)
Venture Cafe St. Louis | Community Activations
The theme for that evening is Community Activations. Highlights include Become an Insight Curator: Introduction to Dataplant & Customer Success with DataPlant, a Demo from Veryable, a sample of Delicious Delights by Uniqly D’zynd Cookies; The Get Together: Capital & Community Convos. And if that weren’t enough, Venture Cafe will also be hosting the St. Louis Regional Entrepreneur Educators Annual Pitch Competition where each participating University invites one undergraduate founder/team to pitch for a chance to win $3k in prizes. (In-Person)
Events on April 14
April 14-16 // ThurtenE Carnival 2023 | Washington University
This is the nation’s oldest and largest student-run carnival. You can expect amusement rides, game, and food booths, cultural performances, and interactive games. This event is open to the public. (In-Person)
EVCA Conference 2023
This event is organized by the MBA student-run Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Association at Olin Business School and focuses on resilience and innovation in challenging times. The event includes various sessions on entrepreneurship, AI, idea generation, and local business growth. (In-Person)
Entrepreneurship Networking Event | Skandalaris Center
At this event, all innovators, including community members, alums, current students, investors, and people seeking advice about the startup industry, are welcome. You can even stop by if you are simply interested in learning more about entrepreneurship at WashU. (In-Person)
Bourbon Friday | TechArtista Downtown
It’s Friday, and it’s not Friday without Bourbon Friday. And you can join us at Techartista Downtown for our weekly social gathering celebrating the St. Louis startup scene. Stop by for 3 minutes or 3 hours for more great drinks and better conversations. (In-Person)
Startups, Self-care, & You, hosted by Devon Moody-Graham | T-REX
At this event, Ronika Moody, CEO of Distinct Consulting, will showcase marketing tools to boost your brands by using Canva Pro, and you can learn how to increase your brands’ visibility while saving time. (In-Person)
Events on April 16
St. Louis Code and Coffee | TechArtista UCity
If you are interested in coding at any level and want a community to connect with and share ideas, this is an informal meetup for anyone to work/hack on their project. (In-Person)
Join us on Meetup or Tiktok
What are you excited about this week? What do we need in St. Louis Startup, Tech, and Marketing Ecosystem? Let us know in the comments!
Have an event or important date coming up; please email us at events@bourbonfriday.show.