See All the Big Events, Big Names and More at the Startup Missouri Expo

The Startup Missouri Expo, Startup Missouri’s inaugural entrepreneur conference, is swiftly approaching, so mark your calendar for Oct. 30, 2019, and get ready to head to Chesterfield, Mo.

Startup Missouri Expo is a free trade show designed to connect small business owners, serial entrepreneurs as well as young and aspiring startups with resources to help them develop, manage, maintain and improve their businesses. This expo will focus on our state’s exciting and burgeoning startup community and innovative entrepreneurs who are changing the face of Missouri’s economy. There will not only be an exhibition, but a day full of education panels, sessions and a competition for a cash prize.

We’ve outlined the day below, but you can skip ahead and grab your ticket.

The day will begin at 7 a.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel St. Louis – Chesterfield, with the exhibition hall opening then as well.

Breakfast with the first keynote speaker of the day, Tom Schlafly of St. Louis Brewery, will kick off the day at 8 a.m. Be sure to purchase your ticket add-on to attend. And stick around after that keynote because MOSourceLink’s own Alexces Bartley will take the stage and give you the scoop on how you can find the right resources to grow your business, 24/7/365, from inception to exit.

After that, stick around for educational panels and sessions, followed by the second keynote of the day by Gary Wilbers during lunch. After lunch, more sessions and panels will happen until the day’s close.

Get some entrepreneurial education

Confirmed panelists include:

• Charlie Backer, founder of St. Louis-based Hot Charlie’s Hot Sauce. Backer recently signed a deal with Home Goods to distribute his products nationally.

• Cliff Holekamp, co-founder and managing director of Cultivation Capital, a St. Louis-based venture capital firm, and former academic director for entrepreneurship at Washington University.

• Richard Lozano, founder of monikur, a numberless texting app that provides cell phone privacy for professionals. Lozano is an attorney in St. Louis.

• Kimberly Moos, founder of Chesterfield-based Cotton Cuts. Moos, a former biomedical engineer with Mallinckrodt, launched a subscription-box service for quilters.

• Michael Saigh, founder of Equine Smartbits, serial inventor and entrepreneur, former stockbroker and business professor.

• Drew Winship, CEO of Juristat

And confirmed educational sessions include: 

• “The Art of the Side Hustle” with Douglas Villhard, Washington University’s academic director for entrepreneurship

• “Getting Help for Your Startup” with Jake Buxton, legislative liaison for the Missouri Department of Labor, whose extensive knowledge of all divisions and services can help your small business

• “How to Bootstrap Your Startup” with Sarah Schlafly, co-founder of Mighty Cricket

• “How to Save $13,000 (or more) Each Year by Leveraging Your Library’s Resources and Services” with Jennifer Gibson, St. Louis County Library Reference Manager. Gibson is spearheading the small business initiative at the library.

• “Intellectual Property and Relevant Resources” at the St. Louis Public Library with Elanore Chadderdon, librarian at St. Louis Public Library

• “Legal Issues for Entrepreneurs and Nonprofits” with Tracy James, managing attorney for the Microenterprise Program of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, which provides legal advice for low-income entrepreneurs

• “Patents, Trademarks and Copyright” with Kirk Damman, a patent lawyer and partner with Lewis Rice who brings big-firm help to small companies and startups by helping them to protect and market their great ideas

• “Pathway: An Entrepreneurial Road Map, from Idea to Success” with ITEN, the St. Louis-based catalyst for tech innovation

• “Women’s Business Enterprise Certifications and Its Benefits” with Jacinta L. Witherspoon, associate director, WBE Certification/St. Louis

Someone say cash prize?

The Washington University in St. Louis’ Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship are bringing IdeaBounce® to the Startup Missouri Expo. This is a chance for anyone with an idea to apply to give a two-minute elevator pitch, get feedback and meet others interested in helping ideas move forward.

Ten applicants will be picked to present their pitch during the expo to a panel of judges, and one will be selected to win a cash prize, which will precede a networking session. Inventors, founders and startups from across the state are invited to apply, so bring ideas, friends and an excitement for innovation.

To apply, click here and fill out the form. Under “Associated Programs,” select “Startup MO Expo” from the dropdown.

There you have it! The Startup Missouri Expo is going to be a full day built for entrepreneurs, aspiring and established alike, to gain new knowledge, make new connections and find resources to support them on their journeys. To grab your free ticket, click here.