From TechSTL Takeover to Mentoring Up with ITEN to free Speed Optimizations for Non-Profits to an AI Workshop with AMA St. Louis to Bourbon Friday, here’s a rundown from our Founder Erik Lutenegger of Events & Opportunities in St. Louis this week coming up the week of January 23-27th, 2023!
ESO, Accelerator, and Funding Opportunities
Are you looking for Accelerators, Incubators or Funding? Here’s an excellent place to start!
Apply Now // Free WordPress Speed Optimizations – 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 – SLUStart I-Corps Application
This program is from the Research Innovation Group in Saint Louis University’s Office of the Vice President for Research. It is designed to help researchers, inventors, and innovators in the St. Louis region extend their focus beyond academia and the lab to create successful products and services that deliver real value through entrepreneurship. (Incubator)
Due January 24 // BALSA Grant
This program helps first-time entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground. It’s a 1kay cash grant, a 10-week entrepreneur training program that includes one-on-one mentoring and up to $20,000 in In-kind professional services.
Due January 29 // Innovation in Philanthropy Awards 2023 | St. Louis Business Journal
Nominations are due for the Innovation in Philanthropy Awards 2023 from St. Louis Business Journal. This is to highlight the contributions St. Louis businesses have made to their communities by recognizing the combination of their cash and in-kind donations in the St. Louis region.
Due January 30 // Skandalaris Venture Competition
This program includes Mentorship and prizes up to $25k, and is for any current WashU students, and all WashU alums within one year of graduation with an early-stage startup are eligible. Teams will develop materials to explain the idea they are working on to a broad audience. (Incubator & Pitch Competition)
Due January 30 // InvestMidwest Pitch
This is for companies to present innovations that contribute to a healthy, secure, and sustainable future in food and agriculture, healthcare and life sciences, and financial services. Both new and scaling companies that operate in the Midwest or aim to improve the well-being of communities in the Midwest are encouraged to apply. (Pitch & Funding)
Due February 1 // Techstars Accelerator Applications
Accelerator applications are due for Build in Tulsa, Industries of the Future, Washington DC, Web3, Audi Denkwerkstatt Founder Innovation Lab (Accelerator)
Due February 8 // Innovation, Development, and Entrepreneurial Advancement (IDEA) Fund – Missouri Technology Corporation
The IDEA Fund makes direct equity-based investments in Missouri’s most promising emerging companies to promote growth and encourage additional future investment. They have 3 programs the TechLaunch for pre-seed, Seed Capital for the Seed stage, and the Venture Capital Program, which supports technology startups through matching equity or convertible debt investments up to $2,000,000. (Funding)
Due February 10 // Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs | Smith College
This is an on-ramp for undergraduate women seeking access to entrepreneurship opportunities, capital, and networks. You can earn $100,000 in equity and interest-free prize money. (Incubator & Pitch Competition)
Due February 15 // MentorUP Program | ITEN
ITEN’s MentorUp is the newest component of its services to support innovation-led startups. MentorUp offers dedicated one-to-one guidance during a critical time in a startup’s growth while providing training and peer connection for mentors in the cohort. After completing the 6-month cohort, mentors will also be eligible for certification through WeLoveMentors. (Mentor Opportunity)
Startup, Tech, and Marketing Events
Events on January 23
January 23-27 // TechSTL Takeover at T-REX (Members Only)
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 Takeover Mixer on Friday. This is a members-only event. (In-Person)
Social Media Marketing for Startup Founders | Founder Institute
This workshop will teach startup founders how to effectively use social media to raise awareness and build their personal brand. Andrew Miller, a startup marketing coach with 16+ years of experience in building growth, will talk about personal branding, creating a solid brand presence on social media, and the different types of social media platforms and how to determine which ones are best for their business. (Virtual)
Events on January 24
January 24-26 // Virtual Conference: The Year Ahead in Marketing | American Marketing Association
This free virtual conference aims to help marketers stay ahead of the trends and remain relevant. And will provide insights, digital tools, and strategic best practices for understanding which trends are here to stay and what shifts are coming in 2023. Highlights include AI and the Race for Intelligent Content Creation, How to Thrive in 2023 with a Recession-Proof ABM Strategy, Putting the “AI” into Email: 10 Expert Predictions to Start 2023 Strong, The Three Trends That Will Make or Break Your (Social Media) Marketing in 2023. (Virtual)
6 Trends to Drive Efficient Growth in 2023 | Insider Intelligence
87% of marketers say their work provides greater value now than it did a year ago. This webinar will focus on the trends and challenges shaping the marketing industry in the upcoming year, including investment in automation, productivity, and real-time intelligence. (Virtual)
Events on January 25
1 Million Cups St. Louis
If you don’t know, this event is for local entrepreneurs to meet and present their startups to the innovation community here in St. Louis. The presenter for that day is Integrated Technology Partners.(In-Person)
The 2023 Social Media Predictions Roundtable | Social Media Club St. Louis
At this event, the Board to discuss their social media predictions for 2023. On the panel are
Matthew Hibbard, Ameren
Eric Pratum, Bigwidesky
Posy Lou Henderson, Spry Digital
Shawna Williams, Pinspiration Chesterfield
(In-Person)
How to Use Positioning Frameworks to Build Powerful Messaging | MarketingProfs
MarketingProfs CEO Allen Weiss will discuss why your positioning is likely missing the mark.
And you’ll learn how positioning is the foundation of an excellent messaging strategy, How to use proper segmentation to target the right audience, and How to use a perceptual map to track if your messaging is working… or not. (Virtual)
Events on January 26
Developing Ads for Stray Rescue Using AI Tools | AMA St. Louis
Join us for AMA, the first-ever AI workshop at Webster University. The workshop will include an introduction to generative AI tools, a discussion of their impact and ethics, and a short AI-assisted ideation session to develop a creative brief. Then the workshop break up into groups so attendees can experiment with these tools to create an advertising campaign for Stray Rescue St. Louis. And the best part is that all proceeds go to help Stray Rescue. (In-Person)
Boots to Business/Reboot | Vetbiz
This is your chance to explore what it takes to be an entrepreneur and stand with the growing number of small business owners! This event is open to anyone interested in starting or growing a small business. Topics will include:
- What is Entrepreneurship?
- Idea vs. Business Opportunity?
- Doing Your Market Research – Customers and Industry
- The Economics of Small Business
- Selecting the Correct Legal Structure
- Financing Your Venture
- Business Planning
- SBA Resources for You
(Virtual)
Venture Cafe St. Louis | Corporate & Community Partnerships
Highlights include: Social Impact Cohort Showcase going on all night, as well as Starting From Square One with The Northside Economic Empowerment Center, a CIC Social Impact Cohort Panel, and even a Non-profit Meet & Greet. And just announced, it’s the first FoundHer panel. They will host a panel of women founders, thought leaders, and change agents at these gatherings to uplift and celebrate their path to success. This week’s panel guests are Michelle Robinson of DEMIblue and Sarah Schlafly of Mighty Cricket. (In-Person)
LinkedIn Like a Pro | Kirkwood Library
When you’re applying for a job, updating your LinkedIn profile or letting people know you’re ready and available for work is essential. Here you’ll get some tips for updating it, making it more searchable, and keeping people in the loop. (In-Person)
Events on January 27
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. Don’t forget to help us select our Featured Bourbon of the Week by following us on Instagram! (In-Person)
What are you excited for 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.