UMSL Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center

Know someone ready to scale?

We all know that local founder who is pouring their heart into a business, dreaming of the next big leap. Maybe it’s a neighbor, a friend, or a colleague. The UMSL Anchor Accelerator 2027 is looking for those ready to take that step. We offer a community of mentors and student talent to help them navigate the journey, not just grow a bottom line.

Let's help our local talent reach their next chapter together. Submit your nomination via the link in our bio.

You asked, We Answered: Providing answers to your community questions

Bring the next local founder forward!

The UMSL Anchor Accelerator is here to help founders thrive through personalized mentorship, a transformative 12-week journey, and a team of dedicated student interns. Let’s build the future of our community together!

Submit your nomination through the link in our bio.

What does it take to build a business that’s ready to grow?

St. Louis Magazine recently featured the UMSL Anchor Accelerator, highlighting how the program helps entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses through mentorship, strategic guidance, and hands-on support. The story also shares how founders have used the experience to expand their teams, refine their operations, and reach new milestones.

Read the full feature through the link in our bio!

Who is St. Louis' best-kept secret?

If you're building a revenue-generating business in St. Louis and feel ready to turn that momentum into something bigger, we've designed our process specifically for your reality. Through our 12-week Anchor Accelerator, we pair your vision with a focused squad of student talent to drive ex*****on, high-level mentorship to sharpen your strategy, and direct access to investor feedback that cuts through the noise. We aren't here to coach you on the basics—we're here to help you scale the business you've already proven.

Let’s celebrate the quiet builders in our backyard. Tag a local founder who is doing incredible work under the radar so we can make sure they know about the resources available to them.

Empowering New Entrepreneurs: Apply for the BALSA Foundation Grant! 🚀

Are you a first-time entrepreneur looking to take your business to the next level? The BALSA Foundation is offering a non-dilutive $1,500 grant designed to support early-stage founders like you.

The program includes:
A 10-week learning series starting in October.
Access to 6 months of dedicated coworking space at TechArtista.
Awards Ceremony on September 23.

This is a fantastic opportunity to gain both capital and community support. Applications are open to first-time entrepreneurs across all industries, including non-profits.

Learn more and apply here: http://www.balsafoundation.org/

Do you know a St. Louis founder ready to scale?

The nomination window for the UMSL EIC Anchor Accelerator is open. We are looking for founders based in St. Louis who have proven market fit and are already generating $100,000+ in annual revenue.

If you are a financial partner, advisor, or ecosystem player, you can help connect us with the entrepreneurs who have the grit to grow into St. Louis’ next great employer.

Don't wait—the deadline to submit your nominations is September 1.

Nominate here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=vv3-4-n3G0ClGjVeAbBaiYubaW-AWMZOj6-JJ7YyHnpUOERVVVNHVjlCVjc0VUNOTVFHT0VPUEYzUC4u&route=shorturl

Applications for Cortex’s SQ1 Bootcamp are open!

If you are an early-stage business owner ready to grow, Cortex’s 10-week Square One (SQ1) Bootcamp is the perfect place to build a strong foundation. This program provides expert mentorship, hands-on training, and industry-specific support to help you gain the confidence to take your business further.

Program Highlights:
Dates: September 14 – November 17, 2026.

Who it’s for: Owners of registered, growing businesses.
Industry Tracks: Food & Beverage, Information Technology, Manufacturing & Product-Based, and Service-Based businesses.
Space is limited by industry and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't wait to submit your application!

Apply today: https://www.cortexstl.org/learn/entrepreneur-training/sq1-bootcamp

The UMSL Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center serves as the engine room for the St. Louis economy. Our mission is impact. We work with local companies to generate revenue and create jobs in our region. When we provide education and resources to these founders, we strengthen the entire local business community.

Stronger local companies mean more opportunities for UMSL students to gain real world experience. Workforce ready students then go on to strengthen those same local businesses. This cycle drives our region forward.

To continue this work for the upcoming academic year, we must raise $35,000. We are asking our community to help us close this budget gap. Your contribution funds the programs that train our students and support our entrepreneurs. Help us build a stronger St. Louis by investing in the work we do every day.

Donate to support the UMSL EIC here: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/58016/donations/new