The St. Louis region offers entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, and marketers many opportunities. With options for networking, business support, skill acquisition, and pure enjoyment, there’s an event to suit every individual. Check out this detailed guide from our Founder, Erik Lutenegger, covering events and opportunities in St. Louis for the week of April 24-28, 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? You can still
Volunteer! (Community Opportunity)
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)
Due May 10 // Techstars Accelerator
Techstars applications are due for Future of Finance, Austin, Berlin, London, New Orleans, Sustainability Paris, Toronto, and Alabama EnergyTech.
(Accelerator)
Due May 12 // Startup Exit & Fire Awards 2023 | St. Louis Inno
Nominations are due for Startup Exit Awards and Lifetime Achievement Award. Also due are the Fire Awards nominations, which honor companies and organizations setting the local innovation economy ablaze. (Community Recognition & Awards)
Marketing, AI, and Startup Events
Events on April 24
April 24-28 // STL TechWeek
TechSTL is hosting the inaugural STL TechWeek with 15 innovation tracks, over 100 industry experts, and more than 5000 attendees! I’m going to do this differently this week. Each day I will break down what’s happening at Techweek and then go through the rest of that day’s events. Ready to check out the impressive lineup of St. Louis startups, innovators, and disruptors! (In-Person)
Becoming the Epicenter of Digital Opportunity at World Wide Technology Headquarters | STL Techweek
This is an all-day event and serves as the opening ceremonies for the week; and brings together the biggest leaders and change agents from across the St. Louis Metro to discuss a 5-year strategy of “Becoming the Epicenter of Digital Opportunity.” It will highlight critical components of digital transformation, smart city growth, and equitable economic opportunity. That one is sold out, but you can join virtually. (In-Person/Sold-out & Virtual)
TechSTL Takeover at CIC at 4240 Duncan Ave | STL Techweek
It’s the next of the TechSTL Takeover at 4240 Duncan, and members can enjoy coworking there all week. (In-Person)
Discover Another Reality at XR Lab at T-REX | STL Techweek
A tour and demonstration of the XR Lab, followed by a networking gathering over cold beers in the 5th-floor lounge. (In-Person)
NextGen Mixer at Stereotaxis | STL Techweek
This program supports 18-24-year-olds entering the tech industry and is meant to get you connected in the Healthtech field! There will be a tour of their production facilities to see their surgical robots, and you’ll get tips from staff on entering the tech workforce. (In-Person)
Improving Your Sales Process Webinar | Missouri SBDC
Join this free webinar exploring strategies to develop a targeted sales approach and reach ideal customers with timely, effective messaging. (Virtual)
Endgame of Entrepreneurship Expo | Skandalaris Center
Project teams will showcase their business ideas and prototypes. So come out and support students and engage with their innovative new ideas! Then stick around for networking, snacks, and congratulating the teams! (In-Person)
Silver Lining Cocktails Fundraiser for Assisi House
Assisi House provides housing in small, communal settings where each person is treated with dignity and respect by leasing former convents and rectories and repurposing them as affordable housing. And this is great to support them. (In-Person)
Events on April 25
Small Business Innovation Bootcamp at Northside Economic Empowerment Center | STL Techweek
At this event, there will be three tracks with over 2 dozen local trainers discussing technology, innovation, and small business. (In-Person)
AgTech Disruption at Danforth Plant Science Center | STL Techweek
Here you can explore the innovation causing a rippling effect across startups, research, and corporate players in Agtech. That event might be sold-out.
(In-Person)
The STL Data Key at T-REX | STL Techweek
Here community leaders will talk about how data leadership is moving forward and what else needs to be done to advance data in public safety, public health, public education, and real estate. (In-Person)
Geospatial Demonstration at Saint Louis University Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building | STL Techweek
(In-Person)
3D Printing Tour at Saint Louis University Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building | STL Techweek
(In-Person)
Exploring the Metaverse at Busch Student Center at SLU | STL Techweek
What is the Metaverse? Where do we find it? Why should we be there? How do we monetize it? These questions will be explored with experts and developers specializing in the Metaverse.
(In-Person)
STL FinTech Summit at The Pageant | STL Techweek
This is one of the bigger tent pole events for the week. There will be a keynote from Jim McKelvey, CEO of Block and Invisibly. As well as other presenters will be discussing topics like AI/ML, Merchant Services, Data Security, FinTech Marketing, Open Banking, Blockchain, and NFTs. This event will make it clear why our city is the epicenter of FinTech innovation. (In-Person)
Tech Careers 101 at LaunchCode | STL Techweek
Are you wanting to pursue a new career in technology? You’ll find out everything you need to know to get started in coding, cybersecurity, geospatial, and data analytics. (In-Person)
Full Spectrum Gala at Contemporary Art Museum St Louis | STL Techweek
This event celebrates the immersive and creative side of technology! And will showcase the powerful convergence of tech with art, media, fashion, and design. (In-Person)
April 25-27 // A11y Conference 2023
This is a three-day event celebrating disability and promoting accessibility, featuring tools, technologies, and best practices. With the theme “People with Disabilities Taking Action,” the conference empowers attendees through five tracks and an impressive lineup of speakers. (Virtual)
April 25-28 // Atarim Web Agency Summit 23
This event features over 40 WordPress experts and offers live online sessions to scale agency and freelance businesses by attracting high-paying clients and building recurring revenue. (Virtual)
How to Infuse Creativity & Take Risks to Build a Brand that Demands Attention | AMA & ClickUp
Learn to infuse creativity, storytelling, and humor into your marketing strategy, establish a unique brand personality, take calculated risks, and elevate your social media presence for accelerated business growth. (Virtual)
5 Strategies to Run a More Efficient Business | SCORE St. Louis
Here you’ll discover 5 cost-effective strategies to optimize your small business operations. And learn to streamline workflows, eliminate redundancies, increase productivity, prioritize tasks, delegate responsibilities, and maximize financial resources for continued growth and profitability. (Virtual)
Government Funding For Your Business: How Do You Claim These Dollars? | Enterprise University
Here you’ll learn to Understand organizational policies related to claiming government funds. Discover why government funding is available, why it often goes unclaimed, and how to check your business’s eligibility. (Virtual)
How to Do Competitor Analysis for Your Startup | Founder Institute
At this webinar, you’ll learn How to do competitor research using accessible online sources, how to analyze your findings, and to utilize tested frameworks to favorably position your business. (Virtual)
SLU eMentor April Trivia Night | Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship
This is part of their monthly networking series and is an excellent opportunity to network with SLU students, local entrepreneurs, entrepreneur support professionals, faculty, and staff. (In-Person)
Marketing for beginners: Creating a social media campaign | Canva Design School
At this 60-minute beginner-friendly webinar on creating impactful social media campaigns, you’ll learn audience targeting, lead magnet identification, campaign design in Canva, and performance tracking using metrics. (Virtual)
Big Ideas: A Data-Driven Innovation Competition | WashU School of Medicine
The Big Ideas Program intends to support novel and innovative, clinically relevant, technically feasible, and operationally sustainable projects. (In-Person & Virtual)
Events on April 26
Gateway to Innovation at America Center | STL Techweek
This is the premier regional event for IT executives, focusing on maintaining a competitive edge through innovative IT solutions. Attendees can expect CxO panel presentations, interactive breakouts, and unparalleled networking opportunities while learning from regional successes and national speakers. (In-Person)
STL SportsTech Conference at The Armory | STL Techweek
This event unites representatives from the city’s five professional sports teams to discuss technology’s impact on performance, fan experience, and player wellness. (In-Person)
Black Tech Conference at Harris-Stowe State University | STL Techweek
This event highlights BIPOC leadership and innovation, featuring tech founders and professionals impacting the St. Louis Metro. Attendees will learn about fundraising, scaling systems, and community advancement, with interactive strategic planning for expanding the Black Tech Community. (In-Person)
GRIT Women’s Leadership Expo at Woodard Cleaning and Restoration | STL Techweek
G.R.I.T. Authors will speak on thought leadership, expo booths to showcase local women entrepreneurs, food trucks, and more! (In-Person)
Consumer Product Innovation Expo at COLLAB at Cortex | STL Techweek
Here they’ll have speakers from the largest production companies in St. Louis, the fastest-growing product companies, and the top organizations supporting CPG businesses. (In-Person)
GEO + AI at Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville | STL Techweek
Hear from local leaders in Artificial Intelligence as they explain the challenges and opportunities the new technology presents to the data security sector. (In-Person)
TechWeek Happy Hour at The Kerr Foundation | STL Techweek
This lively discussion and Happy Hour on “Visualizing Collective Impact with Data-Driven Storytelling” is hosted by the teams at GirlLouie and Buzzbold. And will shed some light on the powerful tools and strategies available to leverage data in storytelling. (In-Person)
Tech On Deck at Heydays | STL Techweek
You’ll enjoy Elotes, Margaritas, and Tech Demos while mixing, mingling, and jingling with your favorite creatives, entrepreneurs, and techies to the Sounds by Maxa. (In-Person)
STL Capital Network – Private Reception at The Globe Building | STL Techweek
This is a Private Reception and is invite-only, but I’ll bet you can probably get an invite if you do a little thinking. (In-Person)
1 Million Cups St. Louis | Presenter: Chiara Carroll Bridal & Benefit Bump
This event is for local entrepreneurs to meet and present their startups to the innovation community here in St. Louis. (In-Person)
The Data Tipping Point – A Panel Discussion | Insider Intelligence
Here you’ll get the answers to these questions:
What types of data collection and targeting techniques are worth experimenting with?
How can you effectively approach data across channels?
How will retail media and transactional data offer advertisers powerful targeting signals?
(Virtual)
Understanding Your Financial Statements | Heartland Black Chamber & SBDC
Join this event on understanding financial statements; they’ll analyze Profit & Loss Statements and Balance Sheets, identify critical business information, and learn to calculate essential financial ratios for improved decision-making. (In-Person)
Finding Your Target Market | Urban League of Metro St. Louis Women’s Business Center
Knowing your target market is the game changer to an effective marketing strategy. In this workshop, you will learn how to use customer discovery to find your target. (Virtual)
Events on April 27
Shift Summit at LaunchCode | STL Techweek
Are you charged with shaping your company’s next generation of talent? Don’t miss this crucial conversation and networking opportunity! (In-Person)
Health Innovation Symposium at Washington University | STL Techweek
This three-hour event combines research and business worlds to showcase some of the biggest St. Louis innovators in healthtech, MedTech, and digital health. (In-Person)
DevOps at T-REX Downtown | STL Techweek
This is a lineup of local speakers sharing their industry expertise and best practices on the DevOps process. Presenters will share case studies and models they successfully implement and offer training on the tools they utilize. (In-Person)
Emerging Trends in Cybersecurity at Havana Room at Cortex | STL Techweek
A series of speakers that are looking at the emerging trends and greatest threats in Cybersecurity in 2023. Especially considering the impact of Artificial Intelligence advancements and cloud security, this event will explore the frontline technology that is posing new threats to the Cybersecurity industry. (In-Person)
COLLIDE Startup Expo at Venture Cafe St Louis | STL Techweek
This is a very special edition with two big events happening simultaneously. There’s the COLLIDE Startup Expo. In this expanded version, they will host all things technology. And Pathways to Digital Equity will facilitate a community conversation on bridging the digital divide for the Metro. The speakers will share information about regional, state, and federal programs tied to digital inclusion. There will also be a resource fair and a panel sharing opportunities to increase device accessibility and education in the St. Louis Metro. (In-Person)
How to Brand your business authentically in 2023 | Wenta
This webinar is ideal for startups and existing business owners. You’ll learn when and why to brand, client identification, brand definition, brand building, and growth. (Virtual)
Market Your Business Like an Ad Agency *on a small business budget | Kirkwood Public Library
At this hybrid event, find out how to use FREE tools and resources that will enable you to make smart marketing and advertising decisions for your business. (In-Person & Virtual)
How to Drive More Impactful Go-to-Market Strategies With Brand & Customer Insights | MarketingProfs
Here you’ll learn how to Refine your target buyer personas, Leverage insights to not only retain buyers but also drive buyer growth, Use strategies for building brand customers love and want to advocate for. (Virtual)
Events on April 28
Women in Tech Bruncheon at Spark Coworking | STL Techweek
This event hosts a lineup of brilliant, bold, and inspiring ladies who leverage their position of influence to create positive outcomes for the STL Community. This might be sold-out.
(In-Person)
Generation AI at T-REX | STL Techweek
AI and ML are the hottest topics in technology, and this day is all about it. They’re bringing together the biggest innovators, disruptors, and developers that St. Louis has to offer; this event is focused on how we are officially entering the Generation driven by AI technology.
(In-Person)
Show Me the Money – A Business Capital Showcase at TechArtista Downtown | STL Techweek
This event brings together a room of capital providers in debt, equity investment, grants, and crowdfunding. You’ll get connections with bankers, investors, accelerators, grant providers, advisors, and more. So bring your business cards and get ready to receive a speed-dating crash course in capital! (In-Person)
Bourbon Friday at TechArtista Downtown | STL Techweek
We are the Closing Celebration for STL Techweek. We will have drinks, food, and a special Bourbon Tasting Room. This is not one to be missed. So, come enjoy the evening and unwind from an amazing Techweek at Techartista Downtown. Stop by for 3 minutes or 3 hours for more great drinks and better conversations. We aren’t sold out yet, but we are heading in that direction, so you better RSVP now.(In-Person)
Events on April 29
Spring Fling – A Celebration of the Season | PocketParks
Enjoy the sounds from Landolfi, floral crafts from Sophia’s Crowns & Perennial STL, seasonal cocktails & mocktails from STL Barkeep, and even some friendly competition with Bocce Ball and Croquette.
Events on April 30
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
We’d love to hear what’s on your mind this week! Whether it’s something exciting happening in your life or an idea to enhance the St. Louis Startup, Tech, and Marketing Ecosystem, drop a comment below.
If you have an event or deadline on the horizon, don’t hesitate to email us at events@bourbonfriday.show.