This is your week to connect, learn, and grow in St. Louis! The September 29 – October 5 calendar is full of opportunities for entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, and marketing professionals. Erik Lutenegger, our Founder, has rounded up the events you can’t afford to miss.
ESO, Accelerator, and Funding Opportunities
Applications Open // TechSTL Mentoring Program
These two mentoring programs support St. Louis’s tech and startup community. One connects professionals with experienced mentors for career development, while the other pairs startup founders with seasoned entrepreneurs in a cohort model to accelerate business growth and foster innovation across the region. Applications are required for both tracks. (Mentorship)
Applications Open // 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. Application Deadline: November 4, 2025 (Funding)
Applications Open // TechStars Accelerator
This global network of three-month accelerator programs supports early-stage startups with seed capital, world-class mentorship, curated workshops, and access to a vast investor and alumni ecosystem. Founders receive strategic resources, Demo Day exposure, and lifetime access to Techstars’ network. Applications are now open for: Northwestern Medicine & Techstars Healthcare, AI Health Baltimore, Anywhere, London, and New York City. Application Deadline: November 19, 2025 (Accelerator).
Due September 30 // Amber Grant | WomensNet
This grant program is exclusively for women entrepreneurs (18+) in the U.S. or Canada. It awards three $10,000 monthly grants (including a startup option), plus three $25,000 annual grants to past monthly winners. A straightforward application makes you eligible for all open grants. (Funding)
Startup, Tech, and Marketing Events
September 29
Business Fundraising – Using AI To Raise Investment | Digital Boost
Join an insightful online event where you’ll learn strategies for raising funds and navigating business investments, complemented by practical tips on leveraging AI to streamline and boost your funding journey. (Virtual)
Leverage Tax Deductions & Credits | Aviatra Accelerators
Share in this free live webinar focused on helping small business owners leverage tax deductions and credits to reduce tax liability and increase savings, covering topics like common deductions, available credits, eligibility, and documentation essentials for optimal financial health. (Virtual)
Storytelling for Product Leaders in the Age of AI | TED Head of Product | Product School
Immerse yourself in a concise online session with TED’s Head of Product, exploring the crucial role of storytelling in guiding product teams through AI challenges. Learn techniques to clarify strategy and foster human-centered innovation in just 30 minutes. (Virtual)
Public Relations for Entrepreneurs | NY Public Library, Thomas Yoseloff Business Center
Participate in an insightful online session with PR consultant Amanda Coffee, exploring ways to polish your LinkedIn profile, gain earned media opportunities, and leverage AI search improvements to help customers discover your business easily. (Virtual)
A Nervous System–Informed Approach to Tech Trust | CreativeMornings
Connect with a supportive community as you engage with body-centered exercises targeting the roots of burnout and frustration in technology use, fostering a culture of self-care and sustainable creativity within your professional life. (Virtual)
September 30
Navigating the Adoption of AI Agents | Google Cloud
Dive into an insightful event focusing on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI agents, where experts discuss strategies for successful adoption and integration in diverse environments. (Virtual)
Start Achieving Your Vision With Better Weekly Meetings and Scorecards | Enterprise University
Busy businesses don’t need more meetings, just better ones. This workshop teaches you how EOS® principles power two essential practices: disciplined weekly meetings and scorecards. Discover how these tools bring clarity, spotlight issues early, and help your team make decisions based on real data. (Virtual)
Application Technical Professionals: Get to the Next Level With Multimodal GenAI | Gartner
Elevate your GenAI strategy by going beyond text. In this session targeted to technical professionals, you’ll explore multimodal generative AI’s infrastructure, data management, and data science challenges, and walk away with concrete governance and development paths to power next‑level enterprise applications. (Virtual)
The Public Sector AI Security Playbook: Securing AI End-to-End | Government Technology
Explore how public sector organizations can secure generative AI adoption by uncovering shadow AI, enforcing real-time data protections, and managing risks without compromising innovation. This webinar offers a comprehensive playbook for responsible and compliant AI use. (Virtual)
Generative AI Basics | General Assembly
Uncover the essentials of generative AI in this free, one-hour online session featuring practical insights from an industry expert. Learn best practices for prompt writing, ethical considerations, and see a live ChatGPT demo showcasing real-world applications at work and home. (Virtual)
ValueUX Conference 2025 | ValueUX
Enhance your professional journey during dynamic workshops and panel talks led by renowned UX leaders within an engaging platform that embraces inclusivity. Experience education free of cost barriers while gaining practical knowledge applicable to real-world challenges. (Virtual)
Get Clients on Instagram – How to Build a Community That Buys | SCORE
Take part in a dynamic online workshop that equips you with techniques to grow an engaged Instagram following. Explore ways to cultivate trust via DMs, enhance visibility through hashtags, and maintain steady content output for lasting client relationships. (Virtual)
AI Frontier: Practical Generative AI for the Acquisition Mission | Defense Acquisition University
Bridge the gap between AI hype and mission impact. This session shows Defense Acquisition Workforce practitioners how to embed generative AI and LLMs into real, day‑to‑day acquisition work, market research, requirements drafting, evaluation traceability, or collaboration. Learn to stay in control with data governance, explainability, and responsible AI practices in DoD contexts. (Virtual)
How to Use an S Corp to Save Big and Stay Audit-Proof | Freelancers Union
Experience a detailed online session revealing the benefits of forming an S Corp for freelancers looking to reduce self-employment taxes and safeguard against IRS audits. This webinar provides practical steps with an expert instructor backed by decades of tax law expertise. (Virtual)
The Real Growth Levers for Online Marketing in 2025 | Search Engine Land
Discover key strategies in online marketing by learning how to identify valuable platform innovations, understand the role of AI-generated creative, and evaluate agency solutions. This webinar offers a no-nonsense approach to growth that cuts through hype and focuses on what truly drives results. (Virtual)
2026 NavalX Crucible Ignitor Applicant Info Sessions | FedTech
Participate in comprehensive online sessions to uncover how the third-year Crucible Ignitor startup studio supports diverse entrepreneur teams in developing dual-use tech ventures supported by expert guidance and networking. (Virtual)
Secondaries Decoded: What GPs and LPs Need to Know | Venture Forward
Ignite your understanding of secondary strategies with firsthand accounts and analysis shared by industry professionals at this must-attend webinar, highlighting critical considerations for active participants in the private equity ecosystem. (Virtual)
Sustainability Lab – Drive Electric Month | OneSTL
Turn your curiosity about EVs into insight: this Sustainability Lab session brings together experts shaping the region’s electric mobility future. You’ll learn about infrastructure challenges, strategies underway, and where the next opportunities lie. Plus, there’s one hour of networking to connect with other stakeholders. (In-Person | T-REX)
Innovation Conversation: Bland AI | Skandalaris Center
This engaging session offers a behind-the-scenes look at startup life with Isaiah Granet and Noah Kravitz. Explore topics such as fundraising successes, product strategies, customer acquisition, and the role of AI in transforming business landscapes. (In-Person | Skandalaris Center)
Spark Your Curiosity: Open House Celebration | Spark Coworking
Attend a dynamic Open House where you can tour innovative office and event spaces, meet vibrant community members, and enjoy networking with entrepreneurs and local vendors. Experience giveaways, complimentary refreshments, and inspiring collaborative opportunities at Spark. (In-Person | Spark Coworking St. Louis)
AI Summit Live with Cortez | The 89th Collective
Take part in a focused session to empower business owners with essential AI techniques for marketing enhancement, system optimization, and replicable growth tactics tailored for immediate application. (In-Person | The 89th Collective)
October 1
How to create a digital product from idea to prototype | Enterprise Nation
Enjoy insights on developing scalable user-centric software solutions with an emphasis on sustainability. Gain knowledge of a step-by-step roadmap for prototyping ideas effectively while leveraging no-code tools in this practical and online Lunch and Learn session. (Virtual)
PitchSTL | Presenters: Burger 809 & MomMoment
Take part in an inspiring environment where St. Louis entrepreneurs present their innovations every Wednesday morning. This free community event facilitates networking, learning, and development with focused presentations and interactive feedback sessions. (In-Person | Cortex’s Square One)
Morning Hatch | T-REX
Uncover essential tactics for scaling without stress at this engaging session led by an experienced consultant. The event invites entrepreneurs interested in expanding their ventures while minimizing typical growth pains. (In-Person | T-REX)
Building and Deploying your First Agent with Tools on ADK | ODSC
Venture into the future of autonomous AI development with hands-on guidance from a senior engineer at Google. Learn how to harness the power of tools within agents to perform complex operations like API communication and data management using ADK. (Virtual)
Startup Grind AI Summit 2025 | Startup Grind
Gain valuable knowledge from top venture capitalists and successful founders through interactive AMA sessions, roundtables, and live workshops focused on fundraising strategies, alongside unveiling an exclusive list celebrating pioneering early-stage AI startups. (Virtual)
Lunchtime Live | Food Trucks: Moobile, Wok-o-Taco
Enjoy the blend of cuisine and culture at Lunchtime Live, where you’ll experience live local music paired with various food truck offerings each Wednesday lunchtime in the bustling center of downtown. (In-Person | Old Post Office Plaza)
AI Exchange Series: AI Adoption in Healthcare | Confluence Tech Hub
Indulge in a focused discussion on AI adoption in the healthcare sector featuring expert panels and Q&A sessions. This event offers opportunities to learn about breakthroughs, connect with peers, and engage with emerging tech innovations over lunch. (In-Person | SSM Health Outpatient Center)
Dermalogica’s formula for a scalable website testing program | Webflow
Absorb key insights from Dermalogica’s formula for running a scalable, impactful website testing program that prioritizes high-impact tests and overcomes common pitfalls in experimentation. (Virtual)
Exploring Bluesky with Hootsuite: Strategy, Growth, and Authentic Engagement | Hootsuite
Witness a comprehensive session offering strategic insights and actionable steps to navigate Bluesky confidently. Learn about its open architecture benefits, authentic engagement tactics, and scaling growth from initial experiments to ongoing programs. (Virtual)
The Modern Audit Playbook: Roles, Valuations, and Platform Power | Carta
Pumpkin spice season aside, there’s no reason your 2025 audit should be haunting. Join us for a tech‑driven, practical guide to audit readiness. Experts will demystify roles, valuation challenges, documentation flows, and platform leverage, giving you a clear playbook to confidently navigate your next audit. (Virtual)
AI Executive Lab: Transform Billable Hours into AI-Powered Products | MeclabsAI
Engage with cutting-edge research from MeclabsAI while prototyping AI-enabled client service models alongside peers in this live online lab featuring real-time Q&A and exclusive access to shared marketing research. (Virtual)
Fiesta @ Cortex, Small Business Marketplace for Hispanic Heritage Month | Cortex
Discover an evening filled with lively celebration, cultural traditions, and local Hispanic small businesses showcasing their offerings. This event brings the community together in a vibrant atmosphere, honoring Hispanic Heritage Month with engaging displays and supportive connections. (In-Person | Cortex Commons)
Grow Your Online Sales with AI | Prosperna
Explore how AI can transform your online sales in a free two-hour webinar designed for entrepreneurs and small sellers. Learn to automate content creation, ads, and customer service while saving costs on freelancers and agencies. (Virtual)
October 2
Coffee & Conversations at the Living Room | AMA Saint Louis
Engage with fellow marketing enthusiasts during a relaxed morning meet-up, where you can share ideas, network, and gather insights over coffee and treats in a cozy setting. This event fosters collaboration within the St. Louis marketing community. (In-Person | Living Room Coffee & Kitchen)
Inside a Techstars Accelerator | TechStars
Immerse yourself in an exclusive virtual event that reveals the accelerator journey with direct insights from the Techstars team. Experience sessions focused on boosting your application success, mastering fundraising techniques, and learning key lessons from Techstars founders. (Virtual)
How to Build Sustainable Business Models in Emerging Markets | Founder Institute
Share knowledge and experience at this structured online forum dedicated to founding sustainable startups globally. Explore impactful business models that emphasize balancing market realities with scalability, supported by the renowned Founder Institute’s resources. (Virtual)
S.M.A.R.T. Business Exit | Small Business University
Venture into the complexities of business exits as this session provides practical tools and insights from a seasoned professional to navigate high-stakes sales effectively. (Virtual)
Bringing Your Webinars Back From the Dead | ON24
Participate in a compelling webinar experience where you’ll discover how to reactivate old webinars and enhance your pipeline with proven digital strategies. (Virtual)
Quarterly Taxes for Small Businesses: File & Stay Compliant | Start Small Think Big
Filing quarterly tax estimates doesn’t have to be a headache. Join Start Small Think Big and tax specialist Miguel Mattos for a one‑hour session that breaks down deadlines, deductions, payroll effects, and self‑employment tax calculations. Leave better equipped to file on time—and avoid penalties. (Virtual)
Inno Under 25 | St. Louis Business Journal
Step into an evening of dynamism where we honor the boldest young voices in St. Louis entrepreneurship. Attendees will get to hear from, mingle with, and get inspired by the 2025 Inno Under 25 honorees, all while enjoying drinks, light bites, and energizing conversations. (In-Person | Spark Coworking – St. Louis)
Founders Lounge Global | Powered by Metis Analytics
Immerse yourself in a dynamic community where driven entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators connect, learn, and grow. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling your business, Founders Lounge offers weekly events, deep conversations, and curated workshops to elevate your journey. (In-Person | Spark Coworking St. Louis)
The Wedge + SIUE: Partner Showcase & Networking Event
Take in an informative session introducing a transformative partnership between The Wedge and SIUE that fosters innovation in green building. Afterwards, attendees can network extensively with contractors, entrepreneurs, and local leaders committed to sustainable development. (In-Person | The Wedge)
Social Thursdays | KRe8 Spaces
Gain new social experiences every Thursday evening by joining Social Club Thursdays — an ideal setting for unwinding after work while building bonds and enjoying a casual yet stimulating atmosphere designed for all. (In-Person | The KRe8 Place)
October 3
New Skills for Work/SuperCollider: Decision Making & Accountability | Filament
Join an interactive workshop to strengthen your ability to make informed decisions and take accountability, fostering a more responsible and effective approach in various work environments. (In-Person | Filament)
Messaging That Sells: How to Talk About What You Do | Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center
Take this hour-long workshop on helping early-stage entrepreneurs fix common messaging mistakes. Explore actionable techniques for creating memorable hooks that resonate deeply with your audience, increasing conversations and conversions. (Virtual)
Prompting with Purpose: Best Practices and Techniques for ChatGPT | OpenAI
Experience a structured deep dive into prompting: begin with core principles, move into refinement cycles, then tackle higher‑level techniques. Throughout, you’ll see examples, apply the practices, and gain a dependable toolkit for getting higher‑quality, more predictable output from ChatGPT in all your projects. (Virtual)
Bourbon Friday // Networking & Bourbon Tasting
Kick off your weekend by joining others at TechArtista for a social blend of bourbon tastings and networking aimed at startups. Share struggles, successes, and ideas in an inviting environment that fosters connection over shared interests. (In-Person | TechArtista Downtown)
October 4
HackAura Global Virtual Hackathon (24h) | Girls Leading Tech
Elevate your skills during an intense online hackathon lasting a whole day. Participants from diverse backgrounds collaborate on fresh ideas with expert mentors’ guidance across multiple tech tracks while competing for substantial rewards and showcasing their projects. (Virtual)
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.
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What’s inspiring you this week? Leave a comment and help us spotlight what matters most in the St. Louis startup, tech, and marketing world. Got an event or deadline? Email [email protected].
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