This list caters to a broad audience, including technology lovers, entrepreneurs, marketers, or anyone passionate about the latest trends and groundbreaking innovations. Seize the opportunity to uncover the next significant development or create essential connections. Take a look at this week’s lineup from our Founder, Erik Lutenegger, spotlighting events and opportunities in St. Louis for the week of September 11-15!
Accelerator, ESO & Funding Opportunities
Looking for funding, business acceleration, or entrepreneur support opportunities.
Applications Open | STL Startup Week
If you didn’t see, the new STL Startup Week Week website has launched. And if you want to be part of the action beyond just attending, there are 2 ways to get involved. You become a last minute Sponsor the week or volunteer to help at the events. Those applications are open now.
Volunteers
Sponsors
(Ecosystem Opportunities)
Applications Open | Keep It Local Business Fund
The Nextdoor Kind Foundation and NAACP are offering $5,000 grants and valuable resources to support entrepreneurs of color nationwide. Eligible businesses must be majority-owned/operated by people of color. Apply before September 4, 2023. (Funding)
Due October 2 | Enthuse Foundation 5th Annual Pitch Competition
This NYC competition celebrates women in the food, beverage, and CPG sectors. Five entrepreneurs will present to industry experts. Prizes include up to $10,000 cash and business services. Eligible participants are female-majority-owned businesses, operational for under 4 years, earning under $500,000. (Pitch Competition)
Due October 4 // Techstars
Accelerator applications are due for Impact Powered by Cox Enterprises & Payments Powered by Stellar and MoneyGram. (Accelerator)
Due October 31 | North St. Louis Small Business and Non-Profit Grant Program
The City of St. Louis has allocated $37 million for a grant program to assist small businesses and non-profits in North St. Louis. Aimed at reversing decades of disinvestment, the program targets entities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, within specified geographic areas for economic development and empowerment. (Funding)
Apply Now // Free WordPress Speed Optimizations for Non-Profits
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)
Marketing, Startup & Tech
Events on September 11
Insider secrets for brand growth and retail success | Enterprise Nation
At this event, Desiree Parker of The Foraging Fox shares strategies for getting stocked in major retailers and building a thriving business. You’ll learn from her journey, glean insights on long-term success, and tips for making your brand stand out on supermarket shelves. (Virtual)
Events on September 12
Champions for Diversity & Inclusion Awards | St. Louis Business Journal
Diversity & inclusion are essential in maintaining a business’ competitive advantage. Here, they’ll honor leaders, from high-ranking executives to fast-moving entrepreneurs, who are making their mark. (In-Person)
UX Crunch: What does it mean to be strategic in UX?
Offering an unforgettable product experience is on every brand’s wish list. Learn how to make that happen as designers while exploring the positive impact of designing on-brand products that deliver an experience that aligns with the company’s vision. (Virtual)
VOICES – Inclusive Entrepreneurship Affinity Tour of Skandalaris Center
If you are a woman, person of color, foreign-born, or LGBTQ+ in the St. Louis Startup Ecosystem, this is a chance to share your voice, connect to peers and resources in the entrepreneur ecosystem, and lead change within your community and organization. (In-Person)
Vetworking STL September 2023
Join them at T-REX for a night of networking with fellow veterans, organizations, and employers. So, if you are a transitioning service member or a job-seeking veteran, this is a fantastic opportunity to meet with fellow veterans and companies around St. Louis. (In-Person)
SLU eMentor September Event | Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship
At this event, you can connect with local entrepreneurs and SLU students for a night of networking, table topics, and entrepreneurship. (In-Person)
Events on September 13
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. Presenters: Memory Keepers and Juntosadelante.com (In-Person)
Quickfire Pitching: Get Instant Feedback on Your Startup Idea | Founder Institute
Learn the art of crafting a compelling elevator pitch and receive immediate feedback from seasoned entrepreneurs, advisors, and investors in a virtual setting. (Virtual)
New Skills for Work (N.S.F.W.): AI as Your Meeting Muse | Filament
Explore the potential of AI in enhancing meetings, from setting agendas and capturing real-time insights to promoting inclusive discussions. Learn to merge human intuition with algorithmic insights for productive sessions. (In-Person)
Do You Have a Mid-Funnel Content Strategy? Conversions Don’t Happen in a Vacuum | AdWeek
Dive into mid-funnel content strategies with Erin Tye from Nativo, exploring optimization for conversion, production tactics, and strategies to identify conversion drivers within content. (Virtual)
Flow & Grow: A Marketing & Movement Experience | HeyDays HQ
Immerse yourself in an innovative blend of marketing wisdom and wellness routines with Grow With Google and Heydays. Learn new marketing tools while engaging in yoga, dance, sound bowls, meditation, reiki, and aerobics. This week features Gardening with Charmein, Zumba with Danisha, and Customer Reach. (In-Person)
Geosaurus Unleashed @ T-REX
This month’s event will feature a conversation with the new Geospatial Director, Kevin Golinghorst, a recently retired St. Louis District commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As always, there will be beers, light bites, and maybe some bourbon to share. (In-Person)
TechSTL High Tech Happy Hour – Geospatial @ T-REX
Meet and network with St. Louis’s top tech professionals and dive into Geospatial, discussing all things GIS, Digital Twins, Spatial Analysis, Data Security, Remote Sensing, and Drones while enjoying cold beers and appetizers. (In-Person)
Events on September 14
AWS GenAI Day
Experience how startups harness Generative AI on AWS, gaining insights from industry leaders and experts on the latest trends, best practices, and powerful AI application tools like Amazon Bedrock. (Virtual)
Exploring the State of Higher Ed Marketing in 2023: A Virtual Roundtable | AMA
Dive into the current landscape of higher education marketing, addressing pressing decisions and potential outcomes with community members and DEI experts. (Virtual)
Introducing INP: The Business Imperative of Responsiveness Optimization | NitroPack & Google
Explore the significance of responsiveness optimization in business, delve into fresh data on Interaction to Next Paint a new Core Web Vital, and grasp strategies to ace INP ahead of the curve. (Virtual)
The 3 As of Advertising: Addressability, Attention Metrics, and AI | Insider Intelligence
Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf leads a panel discussion on addressability challenges, attention metrics’ impact on sales, and AI’s role in optimizing programmatic advertising, featuring experts from InMobi, UM, and the Interactive Advertising Bureau. (Virtual)
Selling Through Tough Times | Enterprise University
At the webinar, navigate economic downturns with strategies to boost profits, understand buyer value perception, and master seven key persuasion techniques while fostering mental resilience. (Virtual)
generative AI Demo Day | Slalom St. Louis
Experience generative AI through captivating demos with AWS, Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce at a dynamic science fair-style event. Engage directly with partners and enjoy complimentary refreshments while gaining insights from Slalom St. Louis leadership. (In-Person)
Venture Café St. Louis | Growth Capital: Contracts, Grants & Private Equity
Have you considered government contracts to grow your organization? The Federal Government is the largest employer in the United States, and it offers contracts to almost every type of organization, from large to small. You’ll be able to find out all about it here. (In-Person)
Founders Lounge | MultiPass Venture Community
Entrepreneurs can enjoy an evening fostering relationships, exchanging stories, and gathering insights. It promotes networking, provides opportunities for potential collaborations, and includes inspirational talks from successful entrepreneurs. (In-Person)
Events on September 15
Leveraging ChatGPT for Marketing Strategy Part 2: Apply Your Learning | Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center
Hannah Nieves of This Hudson Studio returns to guide early-stage entrepreneurs on using ChatGPT to enhance their marketing, covering research assistance, brand book creation, and content strategies. Boost branding without a hefty budget! (Virtual)
Demand Generation Friday Forum | MarketingProfs
Dive into top-notch demand gen strategies, learning the blend of empathy and AI for B2B marketing, leveraging event engagement for demand, and uncovering the core pillars for successful whitepaper lead generation. (Virtual)
Startups, Self-care, & You, hosted by Devon Moody-Graham, MBA
Come out to connect with great people and our speaker, Ebony Pollard to learn some systems that will help save you time and improve your life. Light Snacks and drinks will be served. (In-Person)
Bourbon Friday at 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. (In-Person)
September 15-16 // The Great Forest Park Balloon Race & Glow
One of the longest-running hot air balloon races in the country and one of the only that takes place in a large metropolitan city. Now an internationally renowned event, GFPBR welcomes over 60 of the nation’s best hot-air balloon pilots and thousands of spectators annually. (In-Person)
Events on September 17
St. Louis Code and Coffee
If you are interested in coding at any level and want a community to connect with and share ideas, this is an informal meet-up for anyone to work or hack on their project. (In-Person)
Ginworld Gin Festival St. Louis
Meet gin makers, explore over 100 global gins, and enjoy tastings, music, and food trucks at Majorette in Maplewood. Indoor and outdoor venues will be available, as well as botanical activities and a Gin Tonic Bar. (In-Person)
Next Week!
September 18-22 // STL Startup Week
STL Startup Week is back. And there are 5 days of amazing programming; there’s a new Kickoff Party, Startup Connection is back, and of course, we will be hosting another amazing Closing Party and so much more. The Schedule is online right now, it’s all free, and you start registering today. (In-Person)
Join us on Meetup or Tiktok
What’s making your heart race with anticipation this week? We’re all ears! Your thoughts and ideas are crucial in refining the St. Louis Startup, Tech, and Marketing Ecosystem.
Got an event or an important date? Please let us know via email at events@bourbonfriday.show.