Digital Sandbox KC: Where Innovators Come to Play (Ongoing)

Digital Sandbox KC brings together people, ideas and resources to build thriving companies. The program provides much needed early-stage funding to rising stars. The region’s longtime leaders including private companies, government agencies and universities have united to help this new wave of entrepreneurs. It’s an unprecedented metro-wide effort to help make KC America’s most entrepreneurial city.

RESULTS SO FAR:
93 proof-of-concept projects funded for area startups
35 new KC-based companies created
53 companies have secured follow-on investment
$38.2 million in follow-on funding
More than 480 new jobs created, with more than $12 million in payroll

Digital Sandbox KC broadly seeks new innovation in information technology.  The Sandbox provides innovators with proof-of-concept resources to support early-stage commercialization processes. The Sandbox may cover expenses for project consultants, market research, legal support, equipment and other market validation, prototyping and beta testing needs.

The Digital Sandbox KC process requires:
– Completion of the Digital Sandbox KC Online Application
– A Meeting/Pitch Evaluation
– A Board Vote

Please keep in mind that this application will be viewed by those evaluating your submission; those participating in your meeting/pitch and by the Sandbox board for voting purposes. Once your application is received, it will be reviewed for completeness and you will be contacted with information regarding next steps. Submission Tip: Thoroughly reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions prior to submission may improve your outcome.

With the financial support of the Local Initiatives Support Commission (LISC), Downtown Shareholders is pleased to announce the launch of the third round of Pop-Up! Downtown KCK, a retail development initiative to enliven Downtown Kansas City, Kansas. Pop-Up! Downtown KCK matches select entrepreneurs with high-visibility, well-sited spaces at free or reduced rent, and provides an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to test a retail concept or determine whether Downtown KCK is a viable long-term location for their business.

To learn more about this program or to download a funding application, check out our website.

SLUStart I-Corps is a program managed by the Research Innovation Group in Saint Louis University’s Office of the Vice President for Research. It is designed to help academic researchers, community inventors and innovators, and aspiring entrepreneurs in the St. Louis region extend their focus beyond academia, the laboratory, and the workshop so that they create successful products and services that deliver real value.

By participating in SLUStart I-Corps you can get help pursuing your innovation or new venture concept and possibly qualify for up to $50,000 in non-dilutive financial support.

SLUStart I-Corps helps participants ensure that their research and innovations will have greater economic and societal benefit. It integrates the original SLUStart program and the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps Site program at Saint Louis University. As such, SLUStart I-Corps projects that qualify as NSF I-Corps Site projects have full access to the NSF I-Corps ecosystem.

SLUStart I-Corps aims to:

• Train participants in the lean startup methodology (i.e., customer development process) popularized by Steve Blank.
• Increase the quality and impact of research conducted at Saint Louis University.
• Advance the commercialization of SLU intellectual properties.
• Increase the effectiveness of inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs in the St. Louis, Missouri region.
• Increase the participation of underrepresented groups, such as women and African-Americans, in entrepreneurship and the technology industry.

SLUStart I-Corps holds cohorts on a rolling basis throughout the year.  It also partners with local community-based organizations to reach target populations and deliver the SLUStart I-Corps curriculum.  SLUStart I-Corps partners include:

• Arch Grants
• Inventors Association of St. Louis
• IT Entrepreneurs Network (ITEN)
• Veterans Business Resource Center

If you have questions about SLUStart I-Corps, contact Malcolm Townes in the Research Innovation Group at malcolm.townes@slu.edu. To participate in the program, submit your application.

To submit your Application

https://www.cognitoforms.com/SaintLouisUniversityResearchInnovationGroup/SLUStartICorpsApplication

For More information:

https://www.slu.edu/research/faculty-resources/research-innovation-group/slustart-icorps.php?utm_campaign=St.%20Louis&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20newsletter

About this Event

This PitchForce will take place virtually using Zoom Webinars. Please see the description on the virtual format for more details.

After signing up for your free ticket you will be given a link to register for the webinar via Zoom.

WHAT?

PitchForce is a weekly event for early stage high-tech startup entrepreneurs to get a chance to deliver a 4-minute elevator pitch to a panel of seasoned angel investors. Please send your deck and executive summary to steven@peopleconnectstaffing.com for approval before signing up.

WHO?

Producing the event is Max Shapiro, CEO of PeopleConnect, a 20 year-old high tech startup recruiting firm. He has been hosting monthly pitch events for the past 8 years. PeopleConnect is the most unique recruiting firm in the world, featuring their Employees Without Paychecks model whereby PeopleConnect places individuals at early stage tech companies who are willing to work for options only for the first three months of their employment

PitchForce Virtual Format

· Each company will deliver a 1-minute elevator to the Investor Panelists. There will be up to two questions from the panel.

· After each company’s elevator pitch the panel will vote on a scale of 1-5 as to how much they like the company.

· The top 5 vote getters will get to do a 4-minute ppt followed by 4 minutes of question and answers followed by 4 minutes of non-rebuttal feedback. The panelists will vote again on the company based on their 4-minute ppt.

· Winners will be announced following the pitches. Companies that do well often get meetings with the investors that result in beginning the process for Angel investment.

Want to pitch?

If you want to present at this PitchForce please send your deck and exec summary to: steven@peopleconnectstaffing.com

Directly aligned with the STL 2030 Jobs Plan priority to create a world-class ecosystem for small businesses and entrepreneurs, the Diverse Business Accelerator is for ethnically, racially, and gender-diverse business owners looking to advance their enterprise’s capacity to grow. In the span of three months, program participants will learn how to develop actionable business expansion goals, market, and communicate their services, make meaningful business connections, and identify the capital and resources required to support growth.

Qualifications :

• Annual revenue of $500k or more

• A business growth plan that demonstrates the business’s capacity to scale (increase revenue, hire employees) within 2 to 5 years
• 51% minority ownership
• Headquartered in the 15-county, bi-state St. Louis MSA

To learn more, please visit https://greaterstlinc.com/our-work/strategic-initiatives/inclusive-business-solutions/diverse-business-accelerator?utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GSL+Newsletter+07-27-22&utm_content=%e2%96%baGET+THE+DETAILS

The Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab is an in-house startup accelerator promoting financial inclusion and providing underrepresented entrepreneurs of tech and tech-enabled startups with much-needed access to capital – along with the tools, resources and connections they need to grow and thrive. Launched in New York in 2017, and expanded to London in 2021 with participants from all over the world, our Lab’s mission is nothing less than to transform the investing landscape.

Click here to get more information on the application process