This week — April 25th/26th/27th and 28th – is a big week for a group of budding entrepreneurs whose businesses could become cornerstones of a new St. Louis economy.
Individuals representing 40 startup companies – some from St. Louis, others from out of town — will gather downtown. Their companies are the finalists in the 2013 Arch Grants competition. Arch Grants is a program that, this year, will provide 50 thousand dollar grants to each of 20 innovative startup companies that are in St. Louis, or are willing to relocate here. More than 700 budding startups applied for Arch Grants this year.
In addition to the 50 thousand dollars…the 20 winners will receive pro bono services from other local companies, and they’ll get help with accounting, legal services and other add on’s such as office space.
On the weekend of April 26, the finalists in the competition will take a tour of St. Louis…..to get a feel for the community…visiting places like the U. City Loop…the Central West End and the AB Brewery. They’ll also meet with a panel of judges for about ten minutes of questions and answers….where they’ll be able to make their final pitch for one of the coveted grants.
St.Louis attorney and Arch Grants President/Co-Founder Jerry Schlichter appeared on KMOX Radio’s Innovation Tuesday segment April 23 to talk about the week ahead. Audio of the interview can be found here.
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