Don’t miss out on these exciting opportunities to advance your career or grow your startup. Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, network with like-minded individuals, or pitch your startup, there’s something for everyone on this list in the tech industry. Here’s a rundown from our Founder Erik Lutenegger of Events & Opportunities in St. Louis this week, coming up the week of January 30 – February 3, 2023!
Accelerator, ESO, and Funding 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)
Apply Now // NEXTGEN Memberships | TechSTL
This is a complimentary 12-month individual membership for 18-24-year-olds in the St. Louis region. NextGen offers emerging tech leaders and innovators the opportunity to connect with opportunities in Greater St. Louis! You’ll have access to TechSTL Calendar and exclusive NextGen opportunities like Job Fairs, Workshops, Internships, and Mentors. (Young Professionals)
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 30
How to Turn Your Startup Idea into an MVP with Aram Melkoumov | Founder Institute
The webinar will teach attendees the fundamentals of creating an MVP for their business or startup. The webinar will be led by Aram Melkoumov, a serial tech entrepreneur and investor, who will provide guidance and insights on researching, validating, and testing an MVP concept. (Virtual)
Events on January 31
Cybersecurity and Ops Preview Course | Savvy Coders
Whether young or old, a newbie or an experienced veteran, Cyber Security is a field with a place for everyone. And at this Free Preview course, you’ll learn how their program can jumpstart your journey. (Virtual)
Grow with Google: Sell Online with E-Commerce Tools | Keisha Mabry Haymore
Here you’ll learn how to sell your products online and walk through listing your products for free with a Google Business Profile and Merchant Center. As well as get an intro to a store built with Shopify. (Virtual)
Market Research for Tech Startups | Missouri SBDC
This webinar is designed to introduce startups to the basics of market research, including the initial steps that tech startups can take to understand the market and how to conduct customer research to determine product market fit. (Virtual)
Events on February 1
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 John Wicks, Commercial Language Solutions. (In-Person)
Innovation Conversations: Founders Panel | Skandalaris Center
This is an opportunity to meet recent Arch Grants winners and learn about their entrepreneurial journey. Panelists include:
- Brittany Dwyer, Disco!
- Kwamane Liddell, Nutrible
- Michelle Madaras, WingXpand
- Gavin Pringle, JAKAPA
(In-Person)
Events on February 2
Demystifying AI: Tools, Tips, and Tricks | AMA & Rasa.io
This session will cover low-cost AI tools for marketing, including SEO optimization, email tools, content generation, and audio editing. Participants will learn how to use these tools to improve their marketing strategy, optimize processes, and automate workflows. (In-Person)
Making the Most of Your Digital Ad Budget With Contextual Advertising and Audience Insights | Insider Intelligence
This webinar will discuss how to use contextual advertising and audience insights to connect with targets and maintain a connection with existing customers in light of changes to user privacy and targeting. The panel will share insights and recommendations for planning marketing strategies in 2023. (In-Person)
Real-World Examples of How AI Writing Tech Is Helping Marketers Create Content | MarketingProfs
Here you’ll learn how to help your writers increase their productivity tenfold without sacrificing quality, empower everyone in your organization to write on-brand and instantly utilize pre-approved content, and align your terminology and custom editorial guidelines to create a consistent brand experience. (In-Person)
Venture Cafe St. Louis | Serendipitous Collisions!
Highlights include Community Connections: Break the Ice, Share Your Adventure With Venture Café, What Do YOU Think?, Venture Café 101, and TechEXP on AWS Trends | TechSTL. TechEXP is a monthly event that hosts the top regional thought leaders and tech experts for a candid look at emerging opportunities. This week’s panel is Brian Loyal, Amazon Web Services, Ryan Gass, Justin Debo, and Ryan Price, from Slalom. Moderated is Emily Hemingway, TechSTL (In-Person)
V15Able Happy Hour
This event will raise awareness of V15Able and the barriers of access people with disabilities experience when looking to be placed in career positions. (In-Person)
Events on February 3
Marketing Your Craft | SCORE St. Louis
At this webinar, presenter Brittany Raji Alberty will show you the basics of building an amazing brand with ease. You will learn how to define the problem you solve, how you are the difference maker and strategies to market your business globally. (Virtual)
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)
Events on February 5
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 or hack on their project. (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.