St. Louis innovation awaits! The week of June 30 – July 6, 2025, is designed to inspire entrepreneurs, tech pioneers, and marketing strategists. Our Founder, Erik Lutenegger, presents a carefully selected guide to events connecting you with the heart of our thriving ecosystem.
tornado response resources
For those affected by the storm, St. Louis is coming together to provide much needed resources. Here are few and ways to find even more.
Tornado Recovery Information | City of St. Louis
The main resource center for the region that provides links to city services, utilities, volunteering, donations, and more.City of St. Louis Tornado Response Fund
This fund supports the City of St. Louis’ efforts to provide immediate relief and long-term rebuilding of areas impacted by the tornado. This fund will be supported by charitable dollars only.Volunteer for Storm Recovery | Action St. Louis
Volunteers are needed to help sort and distribute items to individuals affected by the storm. Volunteers will also help with debris removal.Preliminary Business Assessment | SLDC
This survey will be used to determine the extent of the damage done in the business community in order to determine solutions and needs going forward.WeBuild Initiative | TechSTL
This is a rapid-response effort to connect volunteer tech talent to support the work addressing urgent community needs after the recent tornadoes. Get support or volunteer.Free Coworking | TechartistA, Spark Coworking, and ThriveCo
If you are someone you know was impacted by the storm, free cowork available at the TA UCity & Downtown, Spark St. Louis, and ThriveCo Locations Locations. No Signup Necessary.
Please stay safe. help if can, when you can. Together, we will rebuild and emerge stronger than before.
Accelerator, ESO, and Funding Opportunities
Due July 7 // CO—100: America’s Top 100 Small Businesses | US Chamber of Commerce
A national awards program from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce celebrates America’s top 100 small-to-midsize businesses demonstrating innovation, growth, and community impact. Honorees gain media exposure, networking, a Chamber membership, and cash awards up to $25,000. One business wins the top prize. (Award)
Due July 21 // Call for Speakers | St.Louis Startup Week
St. Louis Startup Week 2025 invites innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry experts to apply as speakers for its November 10–14 event. Ideal sessions offer actionable insights, diverse perspectives, and engaging formats like workshops, panels, or fireside chats. First-time speakers are encouraged to apply. (Speaking Opportunities)
Due July 25 // Allstate Main Street Grants Program
A national program supports 250 small business owners through a 12-week virtual accelerator focused on marketing, finance, operations, and strategic growth. Of those, 63 will receive $20,000 grants to invest in tools and resources enhancing business operations and resilience (Bootcamp)
Due August 3 // 40 Under 40: Class of 2025 | St. Louis Business Journal
This annual recognition highlights 40 young professionals under 40 who are making significant contributions to business and the St. Louis community. Honorees are selected through an editorial review based on career achievements and community impact, and are featured in a special publication by a local business outlet. (Community Award)
Due August 4 // Y Combinator
A premier Silicon Valley accelerator provides $500K seed funding in exchange for about 7% equity, intensive three-month cohorts, weekly mentorship and talks, investor introductions, and alumni community support, culminating in Demo Day presentations to top-tier investors. (Accelerator)
Due August 5 // 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 4 programs: Proof of Concept for early-stage entrepreneurs, 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 August 8 // THINKSGIVING | Filament
Filament’s award-winning initiative pairs creative teams from our region’s smartest organizations with nonprofits for a day of collaborative innovation and problem-solving. (Non-Profit Help)
Tech, Startup, and Marketing Events
June 30
Strategies for thriving as a solopreneur | Enterprise Nation
Attend this online webinar where Lisa-Nicole Dunne shares practical strategies for solopreneurs to thrive. Learn how a clear mantra and purpose can build resilience, focus, and cultivate a positive solo work culture in just 30 minutes. (Virtual)
AI Workforce Readiness: What Every C-Suite Leader Must Know | Launch Mid-Valley
Learn how entrepreneurs and business executives can leverage artificial intelligence to stay competitive through a concise online event. The series offers real-world examples and tools to help businesses scale with innovation and purpose. (Virtual)
Financial Foundations: Business Loan Drop-In | Women’s Business Development Council (CT)
Take part in an interactive online meeting designed to demystify business loans. With seasoned advisors at your disposal, this session provides guidance on application processes and available funding options, empowering entrepreneurs with valuable financial insights. (Virtual)
Confident Visibility at Work For Introverted Women | Building Her Dream
Venture into a supportive session where introverted career women discover how to shift their mindset around visibility. This hour-long event offers tools to reframe self-promotion as leadership and helps participants grow professionally with renewed confidence. (Virtual)
July 1
How to protect your small business from scammers | Digital Boost
Share the experience of an informative hour-long session where you’ll uncover crucial insights into various scams, learn about proper reporting channels, and discover how to build strong defenses against scammers. (Virtual)
Shaping the Next Wave of Technology | ODSC
Absorb insights from a senior Google DeepMind engineer who shaped major AI technologies impacting millions daily. This webinar covers the development journey of Bard extensions and the Google Assistant, offering a unique full-stack perspective on AI engineering. (Virtual)
Ecommerce Strategy: When to Focus on Traffic or Tactics? | CreativeMornings
Dive into an insightful virtual event led by a seasoned ecommerce founder, covering key indicators for shifting strategies in your online business growth. This session offers valuable advice on maximizing both site visitors and sales efficiency at the right times. (Virtual)
Price Considerations for a Product Launch | Microsoft Principal Group PM | Product School
Join a focused online discussion led by an experienced Microsoft product manager exploring why pricing is vital for product success. Gain practical approaches on evaluating customer value and calculating costs tailored to SaaS products in this brief but impactful event. (Virtual)
From Creating Personas to Using Them (pt. 1 of 4: Understanding Your Audience) | Verizon Small Business Digital Ready
Understand the first steps in persona creation with a strategic dive into audience analysis—highlighting real-world applications, key insight-gathering tools, and the motivations driving consumer behavior, all led by branding veterans with high-profile client experience. (Virtual)
Recession-Proofing Your Strategy in a Shifting Economy | Emarketer
Be part of an engaging session offering timely analysis on how changing global trade dynamics and economic signals affect marketing and commerce. Gain valuable perspectives that enable faster adaptation and strategic planning in challenging markets. (Virtual)
How to Start a Business | Small Business Center Network
Discover essential strategies for launching your online business, focusing on financing options, marketing fundamentals, and legal/licensing considerations—all designed to turn your idea into a viable opportunity in just two hours of expert-led guidance. (Virtual)
Simple Steps for Starting Your Business – Basics | SCORE
Ignite your entrepreneurial spirit by joining a vibrant weekly event where St. Louis startups pitch ideas and receive valuable feedback in a supportive community at Cortex. Presenters share insights in engaging six-minute slots followed by 20 minutes of Q&A. (Virtual)
St. Louis Black Tech Mixer | TechSTL
Ignite your evening at this mixer that gathers St. Louis Black tech professionals, founders, and innovators for insightful networking and community building at an inviting downtown cocktail bar with drinks available for purchase. (In-Person | Trust)
July 2
PitchSTL | Presenter: Zax Tech
Enjoy a weekly showcase dedicated to empowering early-stage companies through succinct pitching opportunities at Cortex, combined with audience engagement and constructive critique designed to help startups refine their business models and grow effectively. (In-Person | Cortex @ 20 S. Sarah)
Communicating Your Brand with Intention | Massachusetts SBDC
Gain valuable insights from Julie Cornoni’s expertise in transforming small business brands through strategic design. Participate in a no-cost event to help you confidently articulate your brand’s intention and attract loyal customers. (Virtual)
The Art of the 1-Page Strategy – 4 Simple Steps for Success | Gartner
Learn the value of distilling complex strategies into a single, visual page, exploring how this approach boosts enterprise engagement and understanding, while equipping leaders with actionable insights and a replicable planning method. (Virtual)
AI Fluency at Work: Prompt Better, Work Smarter | Talaera
Attend this concise yet impactful webinar offering practical AI training, including real-time exercises, insightful tips, and valuable materials for professionals managing communication, projects, or teams. (Virtual)
Using AI in Your Business | U.S. Small Business Administration
Take in a focused session on using AI to streamline operations and elevate productivity, uncovering how automation and innovative tools can transform daily tasks into efficient, data-driven business practices. (Virtual)
Wait, Is That AI? | AARP
Uncover the secrets to distinguishing real photographs from those generated by AI. The session provides guidance on using online tools and strategies that help you verify whether an image was artificially created or manipulated. (Virtual)
Founder’s Guide to AI: Creating Effective Content with AI | Founder Institute
Engage with expert-led instruction on utilizing AI for effective startup content creation. The session covers crafting meaningful messages, scaling video posts rapidly via popular platforms, and understanding how to maintain originality while benefiting from cutting-edge technology. (Virtual)
Outcomes Technical Interview Prep Essentials | General Assembly
Engage with a guided session focused on demystifying the technical interview process, covering preparation techniques, mock scenarios, and insight into effectively showcasing depth and clarity in algorithmic and coding discussions. (Virtual)
Agentic AI for Security: Transforming Threat Detection & Response with Gemini | Google Cloud
Discover how the integration of Agentic AI enhances security measures, delivering exceptional improvements to threat detection and response through Google’s specialized security teams. (Virtual)
Payment Processing: A Pain or a Gain? | NY Public Library, Thomas Yoseloff Business
Explore key insights on merchant services providers and strategies to reduce credit card acceptance costs in this focused online session. Michael Schor covers payment processing control, surcharges, equipment needs, and marketing integration over the course of an hour. (Virtual)
July 3
July 3-4 // Celebrate St. Louis
Celebrate two vibrant nights with lively performances from national headliners and local artists, culminating in spectacular fireworks and a unique Superman drone show over the St. Louis Riverfront to honor community and patriotism. (In-Person | Gateway Arch)
Precision Pitch Practice | Boston New Technology
Understand the art of crafting compelling pitches through regular practice sessions featuring expert advice and strategic guidance designed to help entrepreneurs navigate their startup journeys effectively. (Virtual)
Downtown Summer Nights | DowntownSTL
Enjoy vibrant outdoor lunches with energetic musical acts and a rotating selection of food truck favorites, making for enjoyable spring and autumn community gatherings. Movie Night: “Independence Day”. (Virtual)
The Wedge + SIUE: Partner Showcase & Networking Event | The Wedge
Engage in a vibrant Partner Showcase & Networking Event at The Wedge Innovation Center, where attendees explore multiple floors featuring SIUE partners and regional resources supporting innovation, education, and entrepreneurship, fostering connections among entrepreneurs, educators, and community leaders. (In-Person | The Wedge)
The Digital Revolution – STL | FIRE INVESTING, LLC
Kick off your Thursday evenings by joining driven individuals at a professional venue offering content creation amenities, WiFi access, and engaging discussions on innovative investment strategies to advance your entrepreneurial path. (In-Person | Cortex @ 20 S. Sarah)
July 4
From Idea to Market – How 3D Printing Allows Faster Product Development | Invent 3D
In this engaging online event, discover how 3D printing accelerates the product development journey, from initial concept to market launch. Learn from industry experts how this technology optimizes manufacturing processes and fosters innovation for entrepreneurs and SMEs. (Virtual)
NO BOURBON FRIDAY THIS WEEK. ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY!
July 6
St. Louis Code & Coffee
Join an inclusive, informal co-working session where tech enthusiasts of all skill levels gather to work on projects or socialize. The event features introductions, announcements, and potentially a member-led workshop, creating a collaborative environment for learning and networking. (In-Person | Techartista UCity)
Join us on Meetup or Tiktok.
We’re all ears! What has you enthusiastic about the days ahead? Your feedback shapes our vision for the St. Louis startup, tech, and marketing community. To share events or critical deadlines, email us at [email protected].
© Tenacity, LLC. This content was curated and compiled by hand, requiring hours of work each week. You may not copy, repost, or reproduce this content without permission. However, we welcome and appreciate links to the original post if you’d like to share it with your community. Thanks!