WE ARE SUPPORTING ST. LOUIS' NEXT GREAT ENTREPRENEURS
UMSL Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center is looking for the next wave of founders who are ready to scale.
This year, the UMSL EIC Anchor Accelerator powered by CommunityAmerica Credit Union is building its cohort through community referrals. We accept nominations for high-potential entrepreneurs who are quietly building strong, revenue-generating businesses and are ready to take things to the next level. These are the heads-down builders. The ones not always on the pitch circuit. The ones whose growth could reshape our local economy with the right support.
Selected entrepreneurs will receive:
- A $10,000 grant
- A five-module, 12-week entrepreneurship program to develop an investment-ready business plan to achieve Seed or A-Round funding
- Business plan feedback from local banks and angel, VC, and PE investors
- A dedicated mentor
- Two student interns
- A certificate from UMSL’s nationally recognized Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center
We’re looking for founders who:
- Are fully focused on their business (no side hustles)
- Employs at least 2 full time employees (founder can be included as one)
- Are based in St. Louis, with long-term commitment to the region
- Have proven market fit and are already generating revenue of at least $100,000 annually
- Are ready—and willing—to scale
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- Can this business and founder grow to generate > $10 million in annual revenue and employ dozens of local St. Louisans?
Applicant Eligibility:
The most competitive applicants will be:
- Based in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area,
- Able to demonstrate the scalability of their business
- Beyond proof of concept and generating revenue
Program Grant Award:
Each grant recipient will be awarded $10,000 upon completing the program, along with an official Certificate in Entrepreneurship from the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
Responsibilities for Winning Founders:
- Complete submission of initial application and subsequent due-diligence documentation;
- Submit semi-annual reporting of business progress post-program;
- Sign a founder commitment letter; and
- Grow their company in Greater St. Louis.
Pitch Deck Template:
Whether or not you applied to the accelerator and/or were invited to participate in the accelerator pitch competition, we wanted to share with you a PowerPoint template you are welcome to modify and use during your next "live" pitch presentation about your startup. With just eight slides, the template provides a framework for efficiently discussing some of the most critical questions that potential accelerators (or potential investors or other stakeholders) may have about your company:
- To what extent do you understand the problem facing your customers?
- How viable is your team's solution?
- How much traction do you have?
- How much plausible impact is there for Greater St. Louis based on your startup?
- How well-developed is your plan to take full advantage of the accelerator?
- To what extent do you have the ability and commitment to execute your vision?
