Are you an entrepreneur, techie, or marketer in the St. Louis region? Well, there are lots of opportunities in our ecosystem. Whether looking to network, learn new skills, get help with your business, or just have a great time, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a rundown from our Founder, Erik Lutenegger of Events & Opportunities in St. Louis this week, coming up the week of March 6-10, 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)
Open Now // TechWeek St. Louis Sign-ups | TechSTL
Techweek St. Louis is just around the corner, and if you want to be part of the action? There are three ways to get involved Partner or Sponsor, apply to Speak or Host, or Join the Planning Committee.
Sponsorship Kit
Apply to Speak
Volunteer
(Community Opportunity)
Due March 7 // Inno Madness | St. Louis Inno
This annual bracket challenge aims to create awareness and excitement for a city’s startup ecosystem. These companies will compete in six rounds, with readers voting to determine the winners. The winning company is announced at the end of the challenge. So nominate your favorite local tech-enabled startups or innovative companies. (Community Awards)
Due March 8 // Techstars Accelerator Applications
Accelerator applications are due for TechStars Sports Accelerator Powered by Indy (Accelerator)
Due March 20 // Washington University Innovation & Entrepreneurship Award Nominations
These awards recognize outstanding achievements and contributions. Nominations are open to students, faculty, staff, and community members. They can be made in four categories: Excellence in Innovation – Student, Excellence in Entrepreneurship – Venture, Outstanding Mentorship – Faculty or Staff, and Outstanding Mentorship – Community. (Community Awards)
Due March 24 // Inc. 5000 (Early Rate)
This is a yearly list of the fastest-growing private companies in the US based on their revenue growth over a three-year period. This prestigious recognition compiled by Inc. Magazine of entrepreneurial success has helped to launch many companies into the national spotlight. (National Awards)
Due March 12 // Business of Pride Awards 2023 | St. Louis Business Journal
The St. Louis Business Journal is seeking nominations to honor LGBTQIA+ business leaders and companies who are successful in their careers, active in their communities, and are advocates for inclusion and equality. (Community Awards)
Due March 31 // 2023 Arch Grants Startup Competition
It’s that time of year again, and Arch Grants is now a $75,000 non-dilutive grant with tons of resources, and all you have to do is get selected and agree to headquarter your business in St. Louis for at least one year. They also provide $25k in moving expenses if you are moving here. (Pitch Competition)
Startup, Tech, and Marketing Events
Events on March 6
Sales Skills to Power up Your Start-up! | Enterprise Toronto
Join this webinar with Jacquie Dixon, an expert sales trainer with over 25 years of experience, to learn how to increase your closing ratio on qualified prospects by identifying the 7 points to a qualified lead and mastering the best practices for closing deals. (Virtual)
Events on March 7
How AI will affect product management | Tesseract Academy
At this event, Greg Prickril, a strategic product management consultant with 20 years of experience, will explore how AI will impact product management, including automating market research, personalizing products, and assisting with demand forecasting. The event is aimed at product managers and will examine AI adoption’s potential benefits and challenges. (Virtual)
Using ML to Protect Customer Privacy by fmr Amazon Sr PM | Product School
Join this informal chat with Pushpak Pujari, a Senior Product Manager on the Alexa AI Platform, to learn about implementing ML within an organization and the misconceptions around it. The main takeaways include thinking proactively about customer privacy, bootstrapping an ML workflow, avoiding common pitfalls, and managing leadership expectations. (Virtual)
Spring 2023 Virtual Startup Job + Internship Fair | The Skandalaris Center, the Career Center, the Weston Career Center, and the McKelvey School of Engineering
Whether you’re a company looking for help, or a student looking for an opportunity, this event connects startups to WashU students and recent alums for interns and full-time hires. This fair is open to all class levels. (Virtual)
Tech on Tap @ TREX
This is for anyone from software developers to server admins, entrepreneurs to industry newbies, so if you work in tech and like beer, this would be an excellent event for you. There will be two presenters that night: Jim Hill, Disrupting with AI Cloud Dev, and Emily Hemingway, STL Techweek. (In-Person)
Events on March 8
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. The presenters are Innovisionation & Grove OZ Biz. Presenters: Innovisionation & Grove OZ Biz
(In-Person)
The Results are In: 7 Ways to Drive Customer Loyalty in Volatile Times | American Marketing Association
Here you’ll learn tactics to increase your investments in customer segmentation, suggestions on developing a balanced approach to physical and digital customer engagement, and methods to activate a data-driven personalization strategy that drives meaningful relationship building. (Virtual)
Create a Strong and Authentic Brand for Your Business presented by the SBDC | Kirkwood Public Library
At this event, they review GrowthWheel’s “Branding Opportunities” Framework, which shows 4 areas that form the brand of a business: The visual identity, the physical appearance, the tone of voice, and the company values. (In-Person)
A Bright Future Beyond DMPs: How HP’s First-Party Data Is Driving Customer Acquisition | Insider Intelligence
Here you’ll learn how brands can future-proof their acquisition strategies against changes in the ad landscape. Leaning into first-party data can enable growth. What’s needed for successful activation and how to couple customer data platforms with identity solutions can improve media performance and streamline tech investments. (Virtual)
Connections & Confections: Celebrating Female Entrepreneurship | Skandalaris Center
Join us for a panel discussion with local female entrepreneurs impacting the St. Louis community and beyond. The panel includes Rachel Burns, Bold Spoon Creamery
Murielle Gaither, Venku
Michelle Robinson, DEMIblue™ Clean, and Vegan Nail Polish
Then stick around after the panel for networking and sweet treats.
(In-Person)
Leadership Perspectives: 2023 She Suite | WashU Olin Business School
This event celebrates the successes of professional women who have faced challenges and made an impact. This year’s impressive panel includes:
Darci Darnell, Bain & Company
Laurie Hiler, CGB Women’s Leadership Development and Mentoring Program
Ann Marr, World Wide Technology
Lakesha Mathis, Greater St. Louis, Inc.
Moderator is Staci Thomas from Olin Business School
This event is both in-person and virtual.
Attend Virtually (Hybrid)
Events on March 9
March 9-10 – Be Heard – Women in Leadership Conference
This two-day event features keynote speakers, interactive workshops, a research symposium, and opportunities to support women in leadership. With the theme “Be Heard,” the conference will focus on personal effectiveness, communication, emerging research, and amplifying female voices. (In-Person)
Got R&D Money? Top Tips for Funding R&D with Grants | Missouri SBDC
This 90-minute online program introduces technology startups and businesses to funding R&D through SBIR Grants. This course is just an intro, not a “how to apply” course. (Virtual)
Annual Supply Chain & Analytics Speed Networking Event | UMSL Supply Chain & Analytics
This event allows students and professionals to network and explore future career paths. Participants visit for 10 minutes and rotate to the next table. A networking reception with food and drinks follows. Quick note registration for this ends on the 6th. (In-Person)
Info Session/Open House | Claim Academy
This is an opportunity to learn more about classes and have your questions answered by the staff. And learn more about scholarships and financial aid opportunities. (In-Person)
Arch Grants Application Workshop
If you would like help filling that out, your Arch Grants applications. This final session will include an overview of best practices when applying for funding as a startup, as well as small group work led by Arch Grants awardees.(In-Person)
Venture Cafe St. Louis: Community Activations – The Missouri Botanical Garden’s Green Business Challenge
This gathering will feature a Green Biz Showcase of 20 Challenge companies, short programs focused on tips for successful Green Teams and launching sustainability in a new business enterprise, networking, and free happy hour refreshments. There will also be a Utopia VR Demo that night. (In-Person)
Events on March 10
March 10-12 // Missouri Startup Weekend
This 3-day event helps participants develop business ideas and compete for investment and mentorship. It has birthed billion-dollar startups and fostered a supportive community of founders. 1st place in this competition is a $2,500 cash prize and a guaranteed place in Scale’s next cohort with a potential $50k+ investment. (In-Person)
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)
Join us on Meetup or Tiktok
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.