Whether you’re a tech devotee, entrepreneur, marketing expert, or simply eager to explore the newest trends and innovations, this list encompasses a wide range of interests. Discover the upcoming game-changer or forge significant connections. Here’s a roundup from our Founder, Erik Lutenegger, featuring events and opportunities in St. Louis during the week of August 28-September 1!
ESO, Funding & Accelerators Opportunities
Looking for funding, business acceleration, or entrepreneur support opportunities.
Applications Open | STL Startup Week
If you didn’t see, the new STL Startup Week Week website has launched. And if you want to be part of the action beyond just attending, there are 3 ways to get involved. If you have a regular event in the Startup Ecosystem, you can run a Community Event and be added to the Schedule; you can Sponsor the week or volunteer to help at the events. All of those applications are open now.
Community Events
Volunteers
Sponsors
(Ecosystem Opportunities)
Applications Open | Cortex Square One Boot Camp
This is an in-depth 10-week program that combines formal instruction with hands-on learning, networking, and mentoring. It seeks to instill in entrepreneurs the confidence and skills needed to succeed in high-growth industries. Participants will work on specific deliverables such as a business model canvas, financial statements, pitch deck, 2-minute elevator pitch, and planning checklist. (Incubator)
Applications Open | North St. Louis Small Business and Non-Profit Grant Program
The City of St. Louis has allocated $37 million for a grant program to assist small businesses and non-profits in North St. Louis. Aimed at reversing decades of disinvestment, the program targets entities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, within specified geographic areas for economic development and empowerment. (Funding)
Due August 31 // STL Startup Week 2023: Startup Connection
On Wednesday, Sept. 20, Startup Connection will be back, highlighting more than 40 of the region’s most promising up-and-coming startup companies. So, if you are a high-growth, innovation-focused company, this a great place to showcase your brand. (Expo)
Due August 31 // AI Launchpad | Paddle
This is a 6-week program covering product strategy, go-to-market strategy, and finance & operations. Successful applicants will join a group of other founders and mentors to help turn ideas and MVPs into solid and growing businesses. There’s also a chance to win $25k. (Incubator)
Due September 1 | Keep It Local Business Fund
The Nextdoor Kind Foundation and NAACP are offering $5,000 grants and valuable resources to support entrepreneurs of color nationwide. Eligible businesses must be majority-owned/operated by people of color. (Funding)
Due September 1 | Techstars Accelerator: New York City
(Accelerator)
Due September 1 | OPO Demo Day
This is a live tech-industry pitch competition on September 19th, 2023. Four finalists will present in a “Shark Tank Style” for cash prizes and feedback. Applicants should have early-stage tech businesses with a clear revenue plan. Prizes total over $5000. (Pitch Competition)
Due October 2 | Enthuse Foundation 5th Annual Pitch Competition
This NYC competition celebrates women in the food, beverage, and CPG sectors. Five entrepreneurs will present to industry experts. Prizes include up to $10,000 cash and business services. Eligible participants are female-majority-owned businesses, operational for under 4 years, earning under $500,000. (Pitch Competition)
Apply Now // Free WordPress Speed Optimizations for Non-Profits
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)
Startup, Marketing & Tech Events
Events on August 28
August 28-September 1 // TechSTL Takeover at Heydays HQ
TechSTL is hosting a series of events for its members where they will have free access to co-working spaces in the top innovation district hubs in St Louis. There will be a Networking Breakfast on Tuesday and a Pizza Lunch on Friday. This is a members-only event. But there’s still time to sign up. (In-Person)
How to Convert Product Trials into Paying Customers | Founder Institute
Startup founders will learn from expert Kent Summers about turning product trials into sales, covering product packaging, pricing, Pilot Agreement details, team execution, and customer follow-up. Attendees receive a B2B Pilot Agreement Template. (Virtual)
Events on August 29
Efficient Fine-Tuning for Llama-7b on a Single GPU | DeepLearning.ai
Piero Molino and Travis Addair from the open-source Ludwig project will delve into the challenges of memory issues when fine-tuning complex models. They’ll present solutions, techniques, and tools to address these challenges with hands-on demos and practical insights. (In-Person)
Supercharge Your Operations with Continuous Improvement | Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center
David Crysler, from the Crysler Club, will share a framework for streamlining operations, optimizing resources, and enhancing growth. Learn about strategic planning, the cycle of improvement, and elevating business performance. (Virtual)
Get Your House In Order With Predictive AI To Prepare For GPT | AMA
Explore AI in marketing with Salesforce experts, understanding the distinction between predictive and generative AI, integrating AI tools into messaging, and adopting a continuous test-and-learn approach for campaigns. (Virtual)
Creating Your Brand | Mid-Continent Public Library
At this hybrid session, Cynthia Fails will guide a 90-minute deep dive into understanding your brand’s story, customer relationship, and effective communication strategies. Funded by the Kauffman Foundation, this session offers insights on refining brand values, identifying brand personality, and clarifying its narrative. (Virtual)
Sustainability Lab @ T-REX – Flooding in East St. Louis & Stormwater Management | OneSTL
John O’Donnell will discuss the Prairie Du Pont Watershed Plan to tackle East St. Louis flooding issues. Later, Allison Joyce will discuss how citizens can enhance stormwater management, including MSD Project Clear’s grant opportunities for rain gardens and similar projects. (In-Person)
Events on August 30
1 Million Cups St. Louis
This event is for local entrepreneurs to meet and present their startups to the innovation community here in St. Louis.
(In-Person)
How to find and use keywords for a small business website | Enterprise Nation
Gill Wilson delves into the importance of keywords for enhancing online visibility. Learn from the expert behind Buttered Host about keywords’ significance, practical keyword identification tools, and strategies to implement them for optimal online impact. (Virtual)
G.R.I.T. Community August Luncheon
Linda Goldstein, former Mayor of Clayton and commercial construction leader, will discuss “Leadership Lessons from Business and Politics,” sharing her expertise on effective leadership and her experience in executive coaching and strategic planning. (In-Person)
How To Be Successful on LinkedIn with AI | Network After Work
Learn from Joe Apfelbaum, CEO of Ajax Union, on leveraging AI for LinkedIn, differentiating between automated and manual tasks, and understanding the impact of AI on networking and prospecting. (Virtual)
Mastering Canva for Social Media Video Creation | NY Public Library, Thomas Yoseloff Business Center
Maggie Carey offers a hands-on workshop on crafting captivating social media videos using Canva, focusing on platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok. Learn to create standout content with Canva’s tools, templates, and animations. (Virtual)
STL EMERGE – Life Science Market Trends | TechSTL
Explore St. Louis’ top innovation sectors with front-line tech innovators discussing emerging market trends in Life Sciences. Dive deep into AI’s impact in AgTech, BioMed, and Healthcare. Special presentations will be on “AI Responsibly Applied in Healthcare” and “Graphs+AI for Revealing Hidden Data Patterns.” (In-Person)
How to Crush the 2023 Holiday Season With Shopping Ads | Insider Intelligence
Dive into effective ad strategies for the holiday season, learn to align shopping ads with customer journeys, and gain techniques for enhanced ad efficiency, featuring insights from Smartly.io and Brooklinen’s top experts. (Virtual)
Regional Node Planning Grant: Info Session with Q&A | MTC
Remember this from the application section. This is where you get more info about that. (Virtual)
CULTURETAGS Live with Burger809 & Grow With Google | HeyDays HQ
This is a night you don’t want to miss. You’ll learn the basics of online business threats, followed by a few rounds of CULTURETAGS with some of your favorite St. Louisans. Not to mention Burger 809’s all-time faves from sliders to sides. (In-Person)
Events on August 31
Video Marketing Revolution: Steal Our Roadmap to Accelerate Your Success! | Connect Video
Dive into the intricacies of video marketing with expert insights on crafting the perfect strategy, understanding which videos to produce, and learning when to bring in professionals. You’ll gain invaluable knowledge to amplify your brand through impactful video content. (In-Person)
Finding the Right Marketing Strategy | MOSBDC
Not every strategy works for every business – but every company has a winning strategy! Learn how to find the right plan for you! (Virtual)
Upgrade Your Content & Creative Production: How to Streamline Workflows and Automate Production | MarketingProfs
Learn how to enhance your content production using creative automation and technology by refining processes for better efficiency, identifying technology gaps in your team, and optimizing marketing activities with existing resources. (Virtual)
Venture Café St. Louis: #HEALINGSTL: Radical Solutions to Our Wicked Problems
Explore radical solutions for St. Louis’s challenges, with leaders discussing initiatives on crime, immigrant inequity, poverty, education, health, and more, highlighting models for equitable growth and access to resources. (In-Person)
Founders Lounge | MultiPass Venture Community
Entrepreneurs can enjoy an evening fostering relationships, exchanging stories, and gathering insights. It promotes networking, provides opportunities for potential collaborations, and includes inspirational talks from successful entrepreneurs. (In-Person)
Events on September 1
Business Planning for Your Small Business | Wenta
Learn how to prepare a business plan covering research, market analysis, financial projections, and presentation techniques. This is suitable for aspiring entrepreneurs and those transitioning to self-employment. (Virtual)
Bourbon Friday at 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)
Events on September 3
St. Louis Code and Coffee
If you are interested in coding at any level and want a community to connect with and share ideas, this is an informal meet-up for anyone to work or hack on their project. (In-Person)
Further Out
September 18-22 // STL Startup Week
STL Startup Week is back. And there are 5 days of amazing programming; there’s a new Kickoff Party, Startup Connection is back, and of course, we will be hosting another amazing Closing Party and so much more. The Schedule is online right now, it’s all free, and you start registering today. (In-Person)
Join us on Meetup or Tiktok
We’re curious to know what’s inspiring you this week! Do you have any ideas on how we can enhance the St. Louis Startup, Tech, and Marketing Ecosystem?
Drop us a comment with your thoughts, and for those with upcoming events or important dates, feel free to reach out to us at events@bourbonfriday.show.