SQ1 TOOLKIT:
Ecosystem - Funding Sources
The Small Business Empowerment Center
The Small Business Empowerment Center is a Missouri 501c3 Nonprofit Organization sponsored by the Greater St. Louis Empowerment Zone to serve as is a one stop shop to help urban entrepreneurs start and grow their own business enterprise.
Stadia Ventures
Stadia Ventures is a Sports Innovation Hub for entrepreneurs, industry partners and investors. We create an ecosystem for sports innovation growth by leveraging our team’s core strengths – education, investment and industry expertise.
Missouri Venture Forum (MVF)
MVF is a non-profit organization formed in 1985. Originally known as Missouri Venture Forum, we exist to bring together people who are genuinely interested in helping entrepreneurs grow their business.
St. Louis Arch Angels
The mission of the St. Louis Arch Angels is to provide opportunities for our members to obtain outstanding financial returns by investing in early-stage companies with high growth potential in the St. Louis Region and accelerating them to market leadership.
FTL Capital
FTL Capital is a private investment firm representing the interests of its Managing Partner, Thomas Hillman. We focus on partnering with managers and entrepreneurs to execute on their strategic visions and build long term value.
Regional Growth Capital
Regional Growth Capital facilitates business growth through unique financing. While many alternative financing options require the surrender of equity, Regional Growth Capital provides investments without taking an ownership interest.
Yield Lab
Through $100,000 in funding, world class mentoring and support, and the agriculturally solid framework of St. Louis, Missouri, selected companies will participate a 9 month cohort preparing them to penetrate agricultural markets.
Helix Fund
Helix Center Biotech Incubator is owned and operated by St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, which over the past 20 years has helped launch successful businesses through four other incubators located throughout the community.
SixThirty
Our mission is to attract the most innovative and promising FinTech ideas, and work with like-minded corporate partners to mentor and grow them into great businesses.
BioGenerator
BioGenerator is an evergreen investor that creates, grows, and invests in promising companies and entrepreneurs in the St. Louis region. BioGenerator identifies and de-risks commercially promising innovations and services; advises innovators and entrepreneurs; recruits and supports entrepreneurial talent; makes staged investments grounded in rigorous due diligence; and offers access to lab space and capital equipment.
iSelect Fund
Investors in iSelect Fund leverage the combined diligence efforts of our internal team, a 3rd party FINRA broker dealer, and our Selection Committee composed of “been-there, done-that” entrepreneurs and venture capital investors. When added together, iSelect Fund spends between 80-120 man-hours per deal on diligence.
Invest Midwest
InvestMidwest is a venture capital conference that showcases 40-45 companies from throughout the Midwest in the three industry tracks of life sciences, technology and food/ag/bioenergy.
Billiken Angels Network
The Network’s goal is to provide infusions of expertise and capital to firms that show promise to make a difference for our economy and our region. We are willing to look at firms in all industries and we look at firms at all stages, not just start-ups. Our goal as a network is to make a difference through education and advice to all the current and future businesses in the region.
Lewis and Clark Ventures
Lewis and Clark Ventures provides Series A and B Round Venture Capital to high potential innovators throughout the Midwest.We are willing to look at firms in all industries and we look at firms at all stages, not just start-ups. Our goal as a network is to make a difference through education and advice to all the current and future businesses in the region.
Cultivation Capital
Cultivation Capital is a venture capital firm that supports extraordinary entrepreneurs. We are a family of venture funds that invests in technology and life sciences companies. We have backed over 30 technology and life sciences companies since the firm was founded in 2012, making us one of the most active seed investors in the country.
Capital Innovators
The Capital Innovators ® Accelerator Program, based in St. Louis MO, provides tech startups with $50,000 in seed funding, project based mentorship from a seasoned pool of knowledgeable experts, stellar perks, networking, and follow on funding opportunities over the course of 12 weeks.
Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC)
The Missouri Technology Corporation (“MTC”) is a public-private partnership created by the Missouri General Assembly to promote entrepreneurship and foster the growth of new and emerging high-tech companies. MTC focuses on 21st Century bioscience industries that build on Missouri’s rich history in agriculture and technology.
SBIR
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization.
SBA – St. Louis Office
The U.S. Small Business Administration has delivered millions of loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses.
