Ready to tap into St. Louis’s entrepreneurial energy? The week of December 1-7, 2025, delivers a powerhouse lineup of events for startup founders, tech innovators, and marketing strategists. Our Founder, Erik Lutenegger, has identified the key opportunities to accelerate your growth.
Funding, ESO, and Accelerator Opportunities
Due December 10 // Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant
Fifty small businesses will be granted $10,000 each as part of a broader digital-skills initiative. To qualify, U.S. for-profit businesses must complete two online courses or events on the platform before applying. The program offers free training, coaching, and resources to help companies grow in the digital economy.(Grant)
Due December 15 // Hiring Our Heroes’ Small Business Grant
Veteran- and military-spouse-owned small businesses can apply for a one-time cash grant program. Five winners will be selected: four receive $10,000, and one receives $25,000 to invest in growth, jobs, and community impact. Eligibility includes 51% ownership, 3-20 employees, and annual revenue under $5 million. (Grant)
Startup, Tech, and Marketing Events
December 1
AWS re:Invent 2025 | Amazon Web Services
Dive into a dynamic virtual experience featuring live keynotes and innovation talks where AWS leaders unveil groundbreaking cloud technologies and AI advancements, empowering developers and businesses to innovate, scale, and transform their operations with cutting-edge tools and insights. (Virtual)
The Solopreneur Code: Building a Bold Business of One | NY Public Library, Thomas Yoseloff Business Center
This online event reveals how one person can outsmart industry giants by turning limitations into advantages. Discover strategies for creating magnetic visibility and using tools and tactics to confidently build a $1M business from behind your laptop. (Virtual)
Pitch Practice | Startup CPG Community Events
Explore the opportunity to sharpen your pitching skills with guidance from Startup CPG leaders. This online event features quick, verbal pitches where you can showcase your product live on camera and receive insightful feedback from all participants. (Virtual)
Build Your 2026 Startup Operations Plan | Founder Institute
Discover how to set your startup up for success in 2026 during an online session led by Adam Spector, who shares a practical 100-item checklist covering compliance, payroll, taxes, and contractor payments to streamline operations and reduce headaches. (Virtual)
AWS AI Product Leader on Agentic AI & Autonomous Agents: The Next Frontier | Product School
Be part of a dynamic discussion with an expert in AI product management who has extensive experience at Microsoft. Discover how agentic AI and autonomous agents are poised to transform technologies and industries, with practical insights shared from frontline leadership. (Virtual)
Endgame of Entrepreneurship Expo | Skandalaris Center
Venture into a dynamic expo where emerging entrepreneurs reveal their latest ventures and prototypes. The event culminates with award announcements, providing an inspiring conclusion to a semester of innovation. (In-Person | Umrath Hall, Danforth Campus @ WashU)
December 2
How to identify where AI can help your business | Enterprise Nation
Unite with industry leaders in a focused online event where you’ll discover how AI can transform everyday work into smarter, more efficient processes. Gain insights from real-life examples and innovative tools designed to enhance small business operations effectively. (Virtual)
State of the Word 2025 | WordPress
Celebrate a pivotal moment in open-source innovation as WordPress unveils version 6.9 during this year’s keynote. With demos, future previews, and a live Q&A, the event spotlights collaboration, evolution, and the global spirit of the WordPress community. (Virtual)
Introverted Women Entrepreneurs & Professionals Connecting | Building Her Dream
Ignite connections in a gentle, authentic environment designed specifically for introverted women entrepreneurs and professionals seeking meaningful networking. Engage in small-group chats with thoughtful prompts that foster genuine dialogue and supportive community bonds. (Virtual)
Build What’s Next: AI for PMs | General Assembly
Uncover how AI can transform your product management role with this hands-on class. Gain confidence in prompting AI, evaluate its outputs effectively, and apply frameworks to leverage AI in decision-making processes that boost your product’s efficiency and impact. (Virtual)
3 Insider Strategies to Give You the Edge in 2026 | Freelancers Union
Engage in a practical online session that unveils three key strategies to help you navigate health insurance confidently in the coming year. This event offers valuable insights tailored for self-employed individuals preparing for 2026 enrollment. (Virtual)
St. Louis Black Tech Mixer | TechSTL
Dive into engaging panel conversations that address how to build strategic partnerships, innovate effectively, and grow tech careers amidst a rapidly changing landscape, all while networking with Black tech professionals eager to shape the next year. (In-Person | Trust)
December 3
Building agents with Anthropic’s Claude on Vertex AI | Google Cloud
Join a detailed exploration into crafting intelligent agents using Anthropic’s Claude, hosted on Vertex AI, offering participants hands-on insights into advanced AI tools and their implementation for innovative development. (Virtual)
PitchSTL | Presenters: Nuro Apparel & Third Eye Technology
Kickstart your week with lively pitch events offering six-minute presentations followed by Q&A, designed for startups seeking feedback and connections. Network in a friendly setting at Cortex, leveraging shared expertise and sponsorship opportunities. (In-Person | Cortex @ 20 S. Sarah)
The AI Future of CIO Leadership and Management | Gartner
Explore a unique digital experience that requires JavaScript and cookies to unlock dynamic content, ensuring a seamless user experience and a personalized browsing environment for visitors. (Virtual)
The Future of SEO: Winning with AI Search, Overviews & GEO in 2026 | SEO Training Courses by BSM
Enjoy a comprehensive 60-minute online event led by international experts Chris Raulf and Daniel Burns focused on future-proofing your SEO. Discover methods to optimize for agentic AI, master Micro SEO Strategies™, and boost presence in AI-generated responses across multiple platforms. (Virtual)
Morning Hatch | T-REX
Learn from industry leaders Vik and Jesse as they unveil details about the innovative Founder Framework, an 11-week program at T-REX designed to help founders navigate challenges and accelerate their startup growth. (In-Person | T-REX)
Top Plays from 100+ Events That Generated $18M in Pipeline | Goldcast & Martech
Connect with Goldcast experts who will share their blueprint for driving record attendance and activating sales workflows during live events. Discover actionable insights and innovative engagement techniques to accelerate pipeline growth consistently. (Virtual)
Building AI Agents with the AI Toolkit & Microsoft Foundry | Microsoft Reactor
Experience an immersive coding workshop where developers explore prototyping agents with the latest AI Toolkit. Gain insights into adding tools from MCP servers, generating agent code automatically, and evaluating results under expert guidance. (Virtual)
Finding Grants and Sponsorships | SCORE
Attend a comprehensive training focusing on the essentials of finding small business grants and sponsorships. Learn how to use databases effectively, understand eligibility criteria, and access low-cost resources that support growth and funding readiness. (Virtual)
The Age of Relevance: Redefining Hyper-Personalization with Agentic & Edge AI | Emarketer
Discover how agentic AI combined with edge AI transforms marketing by enabling real-time, hyper-personalized customer interactions that feel fresh and intuitive. This live webinar explores leveraging behavioral signals in real time for more thoughtful engagement while ensuring privacy and measurable ROI. (Virtual)
LaunchCode Software Development Demo Day
Be part of a dynamic virtual conference highlighting full-stack training achievements as LaunchCode students demonstrate their software development skills through diverse projects. The event encourages direct communication through breakout rooms and supports career opportunities for new developers. (Virtual)
December 4
AI Healthcare: AI in Drug Discovery and Clinical Trials | Digital Leadership Forum
Kickstart your understanding of AI’s influence on medicine with this virtual event highlighting breakthroughs in using AI for drug discovery and enhancing clinical trial efficiencies to improve patient outcomes. (Virtual)
Overwhelm to Simple: Email Automations & AI Prompts | Digital Boost
Indulge in a free online webinar that breaks down email automations into three simple strategies to keep your communication clear and manageable, empowering small businesses and marketers with effective AI prompts. (Virtual)
How To Develop Content Using AI and Gain More Customers | Business & IP Centre Liverpool City Region
Marvel at how this online session reveals the transformative power of AI in content creation, guiding businesses to enhance creativity and gain more customers through efficient, automated workflows and ethical AI applications. (Virtual)
December Coffee Club | AMA Saint Louis
Take in the vibrant energy of marketers, communicators, and brand leaders exchanging insights and inspiration at an informal networking event hosted by the AMA-STL Coffee Club, amid the welcoming ambiance of Kaldi’s Coffee. (In-Person | Kaldi’s Coffee on Skinker)
Cyber Survivability: The Age of Persistent Threats | DefenseScoop
Attend this webinar to explore the shift from reactive security measures to proactive cyber resilience, highlighting innovations in system design, testing, and operations addressing evolving threat scenarios in defense sectors. (Virtual)
Boosting Your Bottom Line – Strategies to Improve Profit Margins | Start Small Think Big
Kick off your journey towards more innovative business planning by joining a session that breaks down key profit and pricing strategies. Discover how to steer growth effectively while maintaining healthy margins and sidestepping costly mistakes common in small business settings. (Virtual)
The Art of Repurposing Your Best Work | CreativeMornings
Explore a dynamic workshop where you’ll learn how to capture, refine, and creatively repurpose your best ideas across multiple formats. This virtual experience guides you through hands-on processes that transform one concept into diverse outputs without starting over. (Virtual)
Finish Strong, Start Smart: Building Momentum for the Year Ahead | Nonprofit Marketers Network-STL
Gain momentum as the year closes with a guided exploration of past successes and a clear, simple framework to energize 2026 planning. Through hands-on exercises and practical tools, attendees will walk away with both confidence and a strategic roadmap. (In-Person | Network for Strong Communities)
The 3-Step System to Build a Fully Trained AI Team Member | Network After Work
Discover a three-step system designed to transform AI into a dependable team member that plans, creates, and completes tasks just like a human colleague. This live training reveals the method behind building fully trained AI assistants tailored to your work style. (Virtual)
Decoding AI’s Org-Wide Marketing Impact | MarketingProfs
Venture into a transformative webinar featuring Scott Brinker and Florian Delval as they unpack AI’s profound impact on B2B marketing strategy and execution. Gain insights on how AI reshapes responsibilities across executives, martech leaders, and practitioners to stay ahead. (Virtual)
AI in Healthcare: From Compliance Foundations to IT Innovations | Tech Transformation Hub
This event highlights practical uses of AI in healthcare settings, emphasizing compliance-based foundations that lead to innovative IT architecture design, thereby enhancing safety and utility for daily health services. (Virtual)
Small Business Jam: Online Skill Lab | OpenAI Academy
Unite with other small business leaders in an accessible online session that teaches how to create effective AI workflows for daily tasks like social media posting and client follow-ups. The workshop requires no coding expertise and offers real-time guidance. (Virtual)
Every Startup’s Holiday Party – Benefiting Arch Grants | Spark St. Louis
Enjoy a joyful holiday gathering that brings the community together to support Arch Grants, featuring exciting raffle prizes and an opportunity to celebrate the season with fellow supporters of local entrepreneurship. ($ | Spark St. Louis)
December 5
Cloud Fridays with Red Hat OpenShift Cloud Service | TechStrong
Embrace an in-depth session led by Red Hat experts that reveals strategies for consolidating hybrid cloud platforms using managed OpenShift services such as ROSA and ARO. Gain knowledge on running legacy VMs alongside modern applications seamlessly in the cloud. (Virtual)
New Skills for Work/SuperCollider: Reflection & Resilience | Filament
Participate in the New Skills for Work SuperCollider series with a focus on Reflection and Resilience, exploring techniques to build personal and professional strength through thoughtful practices. (In-Person | Filament)
Using The Hero’s Journey in Data and AI | DataCamp
Embark on an interactive journey where technology blends seamlessly with social interaction, offering opportunities to explore innovative ideas and engage in dynamic conversations among participants. (Virtual)
Bourbon Friday
Immerse yourself in a vibrant social gathering celebrating St. Louis’ entrepreneurial energy, featuring bourbon tastings and networking opportunities to build connections within the startup scene. (In-Person | TechArtista CWE)
December 6
FrizzMas | Frizzy by Nature
Participate in a joyful holiday celebration that promotes shopping small with local vendors, offers fun activities like free Santa photos, cozy refreshments for purchase, creative crafts for children, festive live music, and support for community causes. (In-Person | Cortex @ 4240 Duncan)
18th Annual Print Bazaar on Cherokee | Cherokee Street
Bask in the creativity flowing through Cherokee Street as more than 180 local artists present woodcuts, screen prints, lithography, and other original art forms at this annual festive event. (In-Person | Cherokee Street)
Tinsel Town: An Interactive Holiday Shopping Experience | City Foundry STL
Witness a vibrant outdoor holiday market on Foundry Way, featuring a diverse selection of local vendors and engaging entertainment. Attendees can enjoy themed drinks and participate in fun seasonal activities amidst a festive atmosphere. (In-Person | City Foundry STL)
CWE Window Walk | Central West End Scene
Delight in a festive atmosphere where visitors can explore elegantly adorned storefronts, enjoy live music, trolley rides, carolers, and savor treats like s’mores and kettle corn during this seasonal celebration. (In-Person | Central West End)
December 7
St. Louis Code and Coffee
This event offers an inclusive co-working session for tech enthusiasts of all levels, creating a welcoming space to collaborate, learn, and connect over coffee. Participants can code while enjoying community support and expert guidance throughout the afternoon. (In-Person | TechArtista UCity)
The Community Rooted Innovation Awards | The Biz Spot Community
Discover an inspiring evening celebrating entrepreneurs, educators, and advocates driving community transformation with dinner, creative activations, and awards recognizing local changemakers making an impact in business and education. (In-Person | 519 Venue)
Join us on Meetup or Tiktok.
Let’s talk about the week ahead! What are you most excited about? Your feedback is also crucial for the growth of the St. Louis Startup, Tech, and Marketing Ecosystem, so please comment below. For events and important dates, contact us at [email protected].
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