Arch Grants will begin accepting applications to its Global Startup Competition on January 1st, 2015. Arch Grants is a nonprofit organization accelerating economic development by providing $50,000 equity-free grants to entrepreneurs willing to locate their businesses in St. Louis. The program is an aggressive effort to inspire the next generation of employers, civic leaders, and philanthropists for the St. Louis region.

Previous Arch Grants Global Startup Competitions have attracted some of the world’s brightest entrepreneurs from a wide array of industries. The organization has awarded $3.1 million in non-dilutive grants to 55 startup businesses since its 2012 launch.

“Arch Grants companies have produced dramatic growth in jobs, revenue, and follow-on capital raised,” said Arch Grants Executive Director Ginger Imster. “We are pleased to begin accepting applications from companies that we know will be additive to our entrepreneur network in St. Louis.”

A community of experts from various backgrounds will evaluate applications in the early rounds of the competition. Finalists will then be invited to St. Louis to pitch their businesses to the newly formed Competition Committee. Recipients will be announced in June.

Pat Doherty of Saturday Capital and Think Big Partners will Chair the Arch Grants Competition Committee, which boasts representation by many of the most active players in venture capital, angel investment, and academic institutions in St. Louis. The Competition Committee will include:

• Dan Broderick of BioSTL
• Dedric Carter of Washington University in St. Louis
• Helen Ciesielski of Ascension Health Ventures
• David Dankmyer of Matter Family Office
• Pat Doherty of Think Big Partners and Saturday Capital
• Jennifer Ehlen of Prosper Women Entrepreneurs and Thompson Street Capital Partners
• Jerry Katz of St. Louis University and the Billiken Angel Network
• Mark Lewis of LockerDome
• Kathryn Elliott Love of Bryan Cave
• Tony Metzner of Advantage Capital Partners
• Ryan Rakestraw of Cultivation Capital
• Thad Simons of The Yield Lab
• Heather Wood formerly of Cequel III

“Over 200 judges from throughout the St. Louis region will assist with the initial evaluation of applicants,” explained Pat Doherty. “The Committee’s role will be to select and interview finalists, then bring our recommendations of Arch Grants Recipients to the Arch Grants Board of Directors, which will then select Recipients.”

The 2015 competition will open January 1st and will accept applications throughout the year. Funding announcements will be made in June and November of 2015.

“We’re excited by the Board’s vision for a more entrepreneur-centric competition schedule, and by the caliber of the volunteers who have joined the Competition Committee under Pat’s leadership,” said Ben Burke, Director of Entrepreneurship for Arch Grants. “Interested applicants can go to our website for more details.”

Funders for the 2015 competition include Advantage Capital Partners, Emerson, Monsanto, the SLDC, and Thompson Coburn. Missouri Technology Corporation, the Economic Development Partnership, and DowntownSTL are also major underwriters of Arch Grants. Arch Grants is actively fundraising for the competition and donors interested in making a commitment can find more information on the Arch Grants website.

Previous Arch Grants Recipients include simMachines, FoodEssentials, and Sparo Labs, all of which have made headlines recently because of their innovative businesses and rapid growth. To learn more about previous Arch Grants recipients, visit www.archgrants.org.

In 2014, eight Wash U-related startups received $50,000 Arch Grants. Read about the companies here.

Click here to apply to the Arch Grants Global Startup Competition.

Important Dates for the Spring 2015 Competition:
Applications Open: January 1st, 2015 at 12:00 AM
Early Application Deadline: February 28th, 2015 at 11:59 PM
Final Application Deadline: March 31st, 2015 at 11:59 PM
Finalist Pitch Days: March 5th, April 2nd, and May 7th, 2015
First Day of Incubation: June 18th, 2015

Editor’s Note: This post replaces and corrects an earlier version that incorrectly stated Jan. 1, 2015 as the deadline for applications.