Podcast appearances and mentions of arch grants

Michael Calhoun has the latest startup moving to St Louis from Nigeria.

In this week's episode presented by Busey Bank, we're excited to feature one of the city's most impactful new initiatives: the UMSL EIC Entrepreneurship Certificate program, now open to the public for the very first time. Whether you're a brand-new startup or a seasoned business owner looking to scale, this program is designed to give entrepreneurs at every stage the tools, knowledge, and connections to grow. Backed by partners like Arch Grants, WEPOWER, and Schnuck Markets, and tied to the high-stakes Anchor Accelerator PitchFest competition, UMSL EIC is building a vibrant pipeline of opportunity—and they're not slowing down anytime soon. Joining us is Dr. Scott Morris, Executive Director of the UMSL EIC, to walk us through the vision behind the program, how it's changing the game for founders in our region, and what's next for this thriving hub of innovation. Let's roll…  

Michael Calhoun continues his series on the Arch Grants, with Bold Spoon Creamery and asks founder Rachel Burns about growing a consumer business locally.

Michelle Robinson founded Demi-Blue nails after her mother said the chemicals in regular polish burned her sensitive nails. She explains to Michael Calhoun.

New York based AVOL is set to move to St Louis as part of the Arch Grants program. Michael Calhoun talks with Nate Poon about his drone company.

On this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, host Lucas Farrell sits down with Gabe Angieri, the Executive Director of Arch Grants, to talk about the game-changing work they're doing for St. Louis entrepreneurs. Arch Grants isn't just cutting checks—they're building a community of bold thinkers and doers who are shaping the future of our city.Gabe shares stories about the incredible founders they've supported, why St. Louis is the perfect place to grow a business, and what makes this city so special. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a supporter of local businesses, or just love hearing about the people making a difference, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.Hit play and find out how Arch Grants is making St. Louis a startup powerhouse—one big idea at a time.Support the show

It's 'a pot, within a pot, within a pot,' says Kay Wells of her 3-d printed, self-watering planters. Posie Pots was one of 20 businesses to receive seed money from Arch Grants. Saint Louis University's Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship is opening up applications for its second New Venture Accelerator.

In this powerful episode of Circuit of Success, host Brett Gilliland welcomes Maxine Clark, the remarkable founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop and a true pioneer in the retail industry. Maxine shares her journey from a young girl inspired by her family's resilience and her teachers' guidance, to becoming one of the most influential leaders in retail. Since launching Build-A-Bear Workshop in 1997, Maxine transformed a simple idea into a globally loved brand, with nearly 500 stores and over 250 million customized furry friends created. As she recounts the challenges and triumphs of taking the company public on the NYSE and growing it into a household name, Maxine offers listeners rare insights into the visionary mindset that fuels her success.   Beyond her accomplishments with Build-A-Bear, Maxine reveals the next chapters of her life dedicated to giving back. From creating Blueprint4.com, a mobile app designed to help families access educational resources, to developing the Delmar DivINe™, a vibrant multi-use space revitalizing St. Louis neighborhoods, Maxine continues to drive meaningful change. As a mentor, investor, and Managing Partner at Prosper Women's Capital, she supports women and minority entrepreneurs, embodying her belief in the transformative power of education and opportunity. Maxine's influence extends well beyond her career, earning her accolades like induction into the Junior Achievement National Business Hall of Fame and recognition as one of retail's “25 Most Influential People.” Currently serving on boards such as Arch Grants, Nine PBS, and Washington University, Maxine champions initiatives that promote equity and community. In this inspiring episode, Maxine shares the lessons, values, and bold vision that have defined her path, offering a masterclass on leadership, impact, and building a legacy with heart.   Watch the Full Episode Here!

Innovation in the workplace doesn't happen spontaneously; it needs to be encouraged and cultivated for change to truly take place. Before your company can make transformative use of emerging technologies such as AI, you must carefully examine your organization's culture and leadership's reaction to failure to make the jump to the next level not just feasible but inevitable. Missy Kelley and Dave Hartley, hosts of But Who's Counting?, welcomed Stefanie Thelen, Chief Innovation Officer for Object Computing, Inc., to discuss ways businesses can empower inventive new approaches to resolve pain points with real-world use cases of AI and automation. Stefanie urges leadership to “mind the soil” to create a more fruitful environment for workers to take on new initiatives courageously and mindfully. She explains approaching AI by asking “where does it hurt” and thinking big to address it. The conversation also touched on: Where companies should start when implementing AI into business processes How an organization's reaction to failure directly corresponds to its ability to innovate and how she recovered from a $2 million mistake Acknowledging biases and systems that need to change Putting AI in the hands of people before it's needed and how to identify those individuals Tangible examples of AI and automation Stefanie's work with Arch Grants to help build the future economy in St. Louis The impact Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has on innovation and what it means to “innovate from the edges” “AI, in some ways, is unlike any other technology evolution or advancement. In a lot of ways, it's exactly like every other technology evolution or advancement… Continue to ask why and continue to try to pull back and broaden your lens so that you understand that it's a phenomenal tool, but it's just another tool.” - Stefanie ThelenResources to Count On Check out these additional resources for more insight into the conversation:Connect with Stefanie on LinkedIn Learn more about Object Computing, Inc. Check out Arch Grants  Read the transcript of this episodeMake sure to never miss an episode by subscribing on Spotify, Pandora or Apple Podcasts and let us know what you think by rating and reviewing. Keep up with more Anders insights by visiting our website and following us on social media:Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | TwitterSend us a Text Message.

Hundreds of entrepreneurs from St. Louis and beyond apply for the Arch Grants Startup Competition each year, in the hopes of securing a $75,000 grant. The stakes are high, but a free mentorship program at the Olin Business School at Washington University is giving founders valuable feedback to help take their application to the next level.

Join us on this episode for an enlightening episode of the Lion's Den with Seth Podcast. We're thrilled to have Jess Bellomo as our special guest. With her current role as Competition Director at Arch Grants since 2021, Jess has been at the forefront of outreach and marketing for the annual Startup Competition and has played a vital role in steering the competition process.Tune in as we delve into an engaging conversation about the 2024 Arch Grants with Jess Bellomo. Don't miss out on this insightful episode that promises to be a great resource for entrepreneurs at all levels. Stay tuned, and let's learn together in the Lion's Den!"Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6135794960433152 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thelionsdenwithseth/support

This year alone Arch Grants has awarded over $1.8 million to local startups and small businesses. Since 2012, the organization has backed and mentored hundreds of companies to attract and retain promising businesses — and to breathe new life into St. Louis' economy. Arch Grants Executive Director Gabe Angieri and 2023 Arch Grants recipient Pierre Paul, the CEO and founder of We Hear You, share how these investments can benefit the entire region.

Eighth Episode: Systematic Helping Hands: Sarah Spear While parenting her daughter with a developmental disability, Sarah Spear experienced firsthand the difficulty of finding accessible businesses. She learned other families were feeling this pain point, too. Sarah recognized the value in sharing resources and knowledge with one another and Empowered Together was born. Today, Empowered Together's marketplace helps folks discover, connect with, and recommend accessible businesses. Sarah has a history of successfully building ventures, from leading PharmaSecure, a HealthTech company in India, through its Series A funding to being the first Executive Director of the Arch Grants startup competition in St. Louis. Her gift for facilitating community and corporate groups gets people to look at things in a different way, curiously engaging with their world. She brings her experience as an entrepreneur, facilitator, and most important, as a disability advocate to Empowered Together. Please join us for what promises to be a moving conversation. Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/live/TM2n1oVl_jQ?si=IYqG0TL7tM6jhKOj Learn more about Mark here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4cXoftnMYJ7bREYG-K9eng https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-anxious-voyage/about/?viewAsMember=true https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095313165139 https://www.linkedin.com/in/markobrien/ https://www.facebook.com/MarkNelsonOBrien https://www.facebook.com/MartinTheMarlin/ mark@obriencg.com

Akeem Shannon was stressed. In three weeks, his Shark Tank episode would air, the episode where he'd pitch Flipstik—a novel cellphone attachment that doubles as a kickstand and a sticky wall mount.He knew one thing with absolute certainty: Whether or not the “sharks” on the popular ABC-TV show offered him a deal, he was going to sell some Flipstiks. Probably a lot of them. And he didn't have any. Or any money.At the time, in mid-October 2020, Shannon's startup was so young he sometimes sold only one Flipstik a day. One bright spot: He'd recently landed a commitment of $50,000 from Arch Grants, a St. Louis nonprofit that provides capital to startups willing to plant roots in the community.With the Shark Tank air date weeks away, he contacted his manufacturer in China. “I need product. Lots of it. Right now,” he said. He mobilized his team to build a makeshift distribution warehouse. He upgraded his website's software to handle the crush of transactions he expected. He maxed out his credit cards.It wasn't enough. Ultimately, he had to pick up the phone to Arch Grants, which was supposed to pay out its commitment in quarterly installments. “Is there any way I can get some cash up-front—right away?” Shannon pleaded. “I don't have two weeks to wait.”The cash arrived. The episode aired—with one more hitch. Ninety seconds into his segment, ABC broke in with news from the 2020 election. “I just cried when it happened,” Shannon said. But it didn't matter. He'd set the hook. He reeled in Shark Tank fans, with orders totaling more than $100,000 in just a few days. When the episode repeated on January 1, 2021, sales spiked once again. Ultimately, Shannon got an offer from one of the sharks—a deal that later fell apart off-air. Yet for Shannon, the episode was a turning point. The last-minute race to prepare, the 11th-hour request for cash, maxed out cards—it had paid off.RELATED LINKSThe Flipstik websiteAkeem Shannon's segment on Shark Tank (including his rap)Akeem on InstagramMichael Wall's faculty page at WashU Olin Business SchoolThe St. Louis Business Journal on the Inc. rankingsCREDITSThis podcast is a production of Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. Contributors include:Katie Wools, Cathy Myrick, Judy Milanovits and Lesley Liesman, creative assistanceJill Young Miller, fact checking and creative assistanceHayden Molinarolo, original music and sound designMike Martin Media, editingSophia Passantino, social mediaLexie O'Brien and Erik Buschardt, website supportPaula Crews, creative vision and strategic supportSpecial thanks to Ray Irving and his team at WashU Olin's Center for Digital Education, including our audio engineer, Austin Alred.

Emily Lohse-Busch is the former executive director at Arch Grants and is now developing 39 North. She joined us to detail the plan and goals for the region through 39 North District.

Gabe Angieri is the Executive Director at Arch Grants here in St. Louis, Take a listen as we talk to Gabe about his journey to Arch Grants, the mission of Arch Grants and the economy here in St. Louis. We also discuss with Gabe his leadership style and where he learned to be an influential leader. 

Gabe Angieri, the newly appointed Executive Director of Arch Grants, with some insight into their work that has had very positive ripple effects throughout the community. Visit the site for more: https://archgrants.org/competition/

St. Louis start-up mainstay LockerDome is changing its name. Decide Technologies President Ryan Allen discusses the pivot, the firm's focus, and plans to open a new office in Austin, Texas. Lambert Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge updates the latest from the airport, including Lufthansa's upcoming transatlantic flight. Arch Grants Executive Director Emily Loshe-Busch is departing.

Charlie Brennan debates with Sarah Fenske, Alvin Reid, Ray Hartmann and Bill McClellan. The panelists discuss condemned homes, Lambert Airport, the State of the State Address, and more. On Donnybrook Next Up, the panelists talk to Arch Grants founder Jerry Schlichter. They discuss Afghan refugees and the Arch Grants program.

By: David M. Foster, CFP®, CAP®Hello, listeners, and welcome to the 23rd episode of the Gateway Giving Podcast!My guest today is Gabe Angieri. Gabe is the Director of Development & Strategy for Arch Grants, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides $50,000 equity-free grants and access to an ecosystem of resources, helping early-stage startups grow and scale in St. Louis.To be honest, I was somewhat skeptical coming into this interview. Why should an organization that funds for-profit companies be granted nonprofit status? I don't think many people would argue that giving equity-free grants to early-stage startups and then helping those startups to grow and scale is a bad thing for our region, but just because it's a good thing doesn't mean you should get a tax deduction for your donation to an organization that does that.However, Gabe successfully convinced me that Arch Grants is less venture capital fund and more economic development association. Obviously, the grants they give to these companies are good for the companies and their founders, but it's also making a positive impact on the economic environment throughout our region, and economic wellbeing is an essential component of overall wellbeing.As always, if you have any questions, requests, or suggestions for people or organizations for me to interview, you can email me at david@gatewaywealthstl.com. Now, without further ado, here is my interview with Gabe!Gabe Angieri and Arch Grants are not affiliated with or endorsed by LPL Financial, Gateway Wealth Management, or Cornerstone Wealth Management.LinksHomepageDonate2019 IRS Form 9902020 IRS Form 990AboutAnnual Startup CompetitionImpact Report

The Head of the Claim Academy talks about winning the Arch Grant, how the Arch Grant has created jobs in Missouri, and much more! https://www.claimacademystl.com/

Gateway Global American Youth and Business Alliance Academies will open the nation’s first geospatial & IT workforce and apprenticeship campus in North St. Louis near NGA. CEO Zekita Armstrong Asuquo tells us about it. Also, we continue learning about this Arch Grants cohort with Equalizer Games and InfraLytiks.

Today we discuss Roy's Journey from "Goon to Gentleman" and how this journey led him down the path to entering the tech industry with his platform Healthy Hip Hop. "Roy is a battle tested and driven entrepreneur who has a wide range of experience from pitching on Shark Tank to securing over 250K in non-dilutive grants to build a tech company from scratch. Healthy Hip Hop has been highlighted in business journals across the country and most recently selected for the Arch Grants 2019 Cohort in Saint Louis, MO, TechStars 20' Social Impact Accelerator in Atlanta, GA and the Google for Black Founders Fund. Roy is dedicated to his craft, yet more importantly self-improvement, faith and family." Follow Roy Here: https://www.instagram.com/royscott.ceo/ Download Healthy Hip Hop: http://www.healthy.hiphop/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/collisstutzer/message

A new innovation district is taking shape for not-for-profits and other community-oriented organizations. Michael and Travis talk with Jorge Riopedre, the Executive Director of Delmar DivINe. Also, we continue spotlighting the latest class of Arch Grants recipients by talking with ZenHammer and GABA.

35 companies are in the latest class to be boosted by Arch Grants. Executive Director Emily Lohse-Busch tells us about the startups coming to town. The GEOINT Symposium was a huge moment for the local geospatial community. We'll talk with T-REx's Dr. Patty Hagen and GeoFutures' Andy Dearing. Danni Eickenhorst is the new owner of The Fountain on Locust.

This week on #BoldBusinessTime: Bold Co-Founder Danielle Deavens sat down with Rebundle Founder, Ciara May, the U.S.'s first and only plant-based hair braiding company.   The former Venture for America and Arch Grants recipient shared her business journey as a Black female entrepreneur who created a sustainable solution for her own hair by starting Rebundle. Please follow @rebundle.co on social media and shop at www.rebundle.co today.   Max Out Time listeners, don't forget you can visit www.boldxchange.com/ and support its Black-Owned brands today using the promo code “MAXOUTTIME” for 10% off your first purchase.   Want to make sure you don't miss an episode? Sign up to get our email updates at https://linktr.ee/MaxOutTimeWithAJII   You'll get every episode, exclusive bonus content, and free guides straight to your inbox every week.   VISIT MAX OUT TIME ON: Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/MaxOutTime/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/max_out_time_with_aj_ii/ Twitter | https://twitter.com/maxouttime_ajii Website | www.maxouttimewithajii.com   This episode was previously recorded on Tuesday, August 10, 2021   -AJ II

Dave interviews Fully! Fully (AKA Cindy) Teasdale is Executive Director of Prepare.ai. Over her 20+ year tech career, Fully has led product and marketing organizations at both startups and Fortune 50 companies including Snapfish (acquired by HP) and Express Scripts. In 2010 Fully founded Makaboo Personalized  Gifts,  an  online  retailer which she raised angel funding for in 2012  and  sold in 2014. Fully is an active mentor in the St. Louis' entrepreneurial ecosystem and sits on the Board of Arch Grants as well as STLMADE's GeoFutures Advisory Council. In her free time, Fully hones her writing craft at FullyFormed.co and hangs out with her three amazing little people. In this episode Fully and Dave chat about how liberal arts majors build great careers in tech, how side hustles help advance skills and talent, and how the industry needs more great product managers. 

Dave Glover from The Dave Glover Show joins Brennan and Marxkors sharing about his late brother who committed suicide, and why thinks these mass shootings are being done by suicidal. Marilyn Bush, Bank of America Market President and Emily Lohse-Busch, Executive Director of Arch Grants show the show announcing an exciting commitment between Bank of America and Arch Grants to help business lead by Latino's and African Americans entrepreneurs.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2020 Arch Grants cohort included a bold and unprecedented element. Building upon St. Louis' geospatial revolution, 5 of their transformative $50,000 equity-free grants & pro-bono resources were awarded specifically to geospatial startups. Partnering with T-REX's new Geospatial Innovation Center, these 5 geospatial startups have also been awarded incubator space for the duration of their grant, embedding them within our growing geospatial ecosystem. Each month through this virtual event series, you'll get the opportunity to get to know the 2020 geospatial Arch Grants cohort and the newest T-REX community members. This March, T-REX's Mark Tatgenhorst will introduce and host a community conversation with Elango Thevar, Founder & CEO of NEER. About Neer: NEER offers a comprehensive integrated real-time water management platform that leverages Machine Learning to model and assess the risk condition of water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure systems. https://www.neer.ai About Elango: Elango Thevar is the Founder & CEO of NEER. He spent more than 15 years of experience on hydrology and hydraulic modeling, water quality modeling, LID BMP sizing, floodplain mapping, water resources system design, asset management, and project management. His experience has ranged from working on watershed master plan, sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) and combined sewer overflow (CSO) studies to strategic asset management for water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure. About T-REX: T-REX is a non-profit technology innovation & entrepreneur development center in downtown St. Louis. With an emphasis on facilitating groundbreaking ideas from early-stage entrepreneurs, T-REX houses nearly 200 companies within its 160,000-square-foot, 8 Floor facility on Washington Avenue. Founded in 2011, T-REX has graduated more than 100 companies from incubation that remain in the St. Louis region. T-REXers have created 4,457 St. Louis jobs since its inception and are responsible for more than $620.9 million in annual economic output. In 2020, T-REX completed the construction of a revolutionary concept; the nation's first Geospatial Innovation Center, located on the facility's 4th Floor. http://downtowntrex.org​

The 2020 Arch Grants cohort included a bold and unprecedented element. Building upon St. Louis' geospatial revolution, 5 of their transformative $50,000 equity-free grants & pro-bono resources were awarded specifically to geospatial startups. Partnering with T-REX's new Geospatial Innovation Center, these 5 geospatial startups have also been awarded incubator space for the duration of their grant, embedding them within our growing geospatial ecosystem. Each month through this virtual event series, you'll get a chance to get to know the 2020 geospatial Arch Grants cohort and newest T-REX community members. This February, T-REX's Mark Tatgenhorst will introduce and host a community conversation with Whitney McClendon, Co-Founder of Eemerg Roadside Assistance Marketplace. About Eemerg: Eemerg roadside assistance is a revolutionary solution to emergency automotive dilemmas. Eemerg is an on-demand mobile roadside assistance marketplace geared toward customers with limited roadside assistance options. We are uniquely solving roadside assistance emergencies through an open platform where customers have multiple provider options at their fingertips with the press of a button. This app enables customers to decide which provider they want to go with, how much money they want to spend, and how long they want to wait for services. Not only is Eemerg cost-effective, but also offers quicker response times as well. eemerg.com About Arch Grants: Arch Grants disrupted the status quo of economic development in 2012 with a mission to transform the economy of St. Louis by attracting and retaining extraordinary entrepreneurs. Through their unique and groundbreaking Global Startup Competition model, Arch Grants provides $50,000 equity-free grants and access to an ecosystem of resources, helping early-stage startups grow and scale. Arch Grants' program is a beacon for entrepreneurs globally, developing the next generation of employers, civic leaders, and philanthropists for the St. Louis region. Starting in 2020, Arch Grants began awarding 5 grants each year specifically to geospatial startups to help build a pipeline of talent and technology for the quickly expanding geospatial cluster in St. Louis. archgrants.org About T-REX: T-REX is a non-profit technology innovation & entrepreneur development center in downtown St. Louis. With an emphasis on facilitating groundbreaking ideas from early stage entrepreneurs, T-REX houses nearly 200 companies within its 160,000-square-foot, 8 Floor facility on Washington Avenue. Founded in 2011, T-REX has graduated more than 100 companies from incubation that remain in the St. Louis region. T-REXers have created 4,457 St. Louis jobs since its inception and are responsible for more than $620.9 million in annual economic output. In 2020, T-REX completed construction of a revolutionary concept; the nation's first Geospatial Innovation Center, located on the facility's 4th Floor. downtowntrex.org

The 2020 Arch Grants cohort included a strategic and unprecedented element. In an effort to continue to build upon St. Louis' geospatial revolution, 5 of their transformative $50,000 equity-free grants & pro-bono resources were awarded specifically to geospatial startups. Partnering with T-REX's new Geospatial Innovation Center, these 5 geospatial startupshave also been awarded incubator space for the duration of their grant, embedding them within our growing geospatial ecosystem. Each month through this virtual event series, you'll get a chance to get to know the 2020 geospatial Arch Grants cohort and newest T-REX community members. This January, T-REX's Mark Tatgenhorst hosts a community conversation with Byron Porter, CEO of Hum. About Hum: Hum was created to tackle chronic issues of inconsistent and unreliable service that have plagued the rail industry for decades. Inflexible existing data infrastructure frequently loses track of railcars and makes first and last mile delivery unpredictable. Mechanical defect detectors often provide more false alarms than actual alerts. Both systems have been unable to adapt to the needs of an increasingly dynamic supply chain, leaving railroads and rail shippers frustrated. Now, with advances in low power, wireless communication, geospatial tracking, and advanced analytics, Hum has developed a set of cost-effective wireless sensors for railcars that allows railroads the ability to not only deliver transparent, reliable service to rail shippers but also the insight to anticipate their ever-changing needs. Welcome to the modern supply chain that just … Hums. humindustrial.com About Arch Grants: Arch Grants disrupted the status quo of economic development in 2012 with a mission to transform the economy of St. Louis by attracting and retaining extraordinary entrepreneurs. Through their unique and groundbreaking Global Startup Competition model, Arch Grants provides $50,000 equity-free grants and access to an ecosystem of resources, helping early-stage startups grow and scale. Arch Grants' program is a beacon for entrepreneurs globally, developing the next generation of employers, civic leaders, and philanthropists for the St. Louis region. Starting in 2020, Arch Grants began awarding 5 grants each year specifically to geospatial startups to help build a pipeline of talent and technology for the quickly expanding geospatial cluster in St. Louis. archgrants.org About T-REX: T-REX is a non-profit technology innovation & entrepreneur development center in downtown St. Louis. With an emphasis on facilitating groundbreaking ideas from early stage entrepreneurs, T-REX houses nearly 200 companies within its 160,000-square-foot, 8 Floor facility on Washington Avenue. Founded in 2011, T-REX has graduated more than 100 companies from incubation that remain in the St. Louis region. T-REXers have created 4,457 St. Louis jobs since its inception and are responsible for more than $620.9 million in annual economic output. In 2020, T-REX completed construction of a revolutionary concept; the nation's first Geospatial Innovation Center, located on the facility's 4th Floor. downtowntrex.org

The 2020 Arch Grants cohort included a strategic and unprecedented element. In an effort to continue to build upon St. Louis' geospatial revolution, 5 of their transformative $50,000 equity-free grants & pro-bono resources were awarded specifically to geospatial startups. Partnering with T-REX's new Geospatial Innovation Center, these 5 geospatial startups have also been awarded incubator space for the duration of their grant, embedding them within our growing geospatial ecosystem. Each month through this virtual event series, you'll get a chance to get to know the 2020 geospatial Arch Grants cohort and newest T-REX community members. This month, T-REX's Mark Tatgenhorst will introduce and host a community conversation with Ali Al-Jabry, CEO of Kwema. About Kwema: Each workday, 7,000 U.S. employees experience an emergency at work and unfortunately some of them result in a death. The time it takes for them to notify they are in danger and for them to get the right help is the biggest factor in these life threatening situations. Kwema bridges this gap and saves lives. Kwema mitigates the safety risks that employees face by providing no behavior change wearables that effectively addresses with three main use cases: 1.Quick notification to the right emergency personnel in life-threatening situations buying time. 2.Seamless Contact Tracing at the workplace respecting GDPR & HIPAA Laws to mitigate Covid-19 Spread. 3.Easily track employee location and automate Safe Zone Roll Call during Mass Evacuations at facilities. Kwema's technology is designed to avoid adoption hurdles and training costs by being placed in something employees already wear. For example, Kwema's Patent Pending smart employee badge holder. kwema.co About Arch Grants: Arch Grants disrupted the status quo of economic development in 2012 with a mission to transform the economy of St. Louis by attracting and retaining extraordinary entrepreneurs. Through their unique and groundbreaking Global Startup Competition model, Arch Grants provides $50,000 equity-free grants and access to an ecosystem of resources, helping early-stage startups grow and scale. Arch Grants' program is a beacon for entrepreneurs globally, developing the next generation of employers, civic leaders, and philanthropists for the St. Louis region. Starting in 2020, Arch Grants began awarding 5 grants each year specifically to geospatial startups to help build a pipeline of talent and technology for the quickly expanding geospatial cluster in St. Louis. archgrants.org About T-REX: T-REX is a non-profit technology innovation & entrepreneur development center in downtown St. Louis. With an emphasis on facilitating groundbreaking ideas from early stage entrepreneurs, T-REX houses nearly 200 companies within its 160,000-square-foot, 8 Floor facility on Washington Avenue. Founded in 2011, T-REX has graduated more than 100 companies from incubation that remain in the St. Louis region. T-REXers have created 4,457 St. Louis jobs since its inception and are responsible for more than $620.9 million in annual economic output. In 2020, T-REX completed construction of a revolutionary concept; the nation's first Geospatial Innovation Center, located on the facility's 4th Floor. downtowntrex.org

Joining us today is Whitney McClendon-Gregory, CEO and Founder of Eemerg.com, a local company that is reinventing how drivers request roadside services. Whitney is ambitious and dedicated to providing an open marketplace platform and has pledged to build a service where her customers can choose a suitable price option for their needs. In this episode: Whitney explains that roadside assistance and businesses of the like, have always been in her blood by way of family entrepreneurs. Whitney says that entrepreneurial thinking to her means having the ability to see differently than the rest of the world and having the inherent trait to make it easier to develop items and innovation. Whitney talks about how the Eemerg app was developed and how it works. Whitney talks about the importance to her of providing a fair marketplace to consumers and says that before Eemerg there really wasn't a fair marketplace. Whitney talks about building a phenomenal customer acquisition strategy. Whitney says she used connections from her family and says attending tow conventions helped her build her company's provider database. Whitney tells us about making the shift from an LLC to a Corporation AND all of the different programs she utilized while working on developing Eemerg.com. She explains that she used Square1, Arch Grants and WEPOWER and talks about the different inputs she received from each program. Whitney shares with us what she has learned on her entrepreneurial journey and gives us some advice to share with our listeners. Learn More: Email: whitney@eemerg.com Website: Company Facebook: Company Twitter:  

The St. Louis Regional Data Alliance is building a shared data infrastructure to improve lives in the region. Paul Sorenson explains to Michael and Travis. Biogenerator's Charlie Bolten tells us about the exit of Canopy. Arch Grants executive director Emily Loshe-Busch on their new Growth Grant program.

Arch Grants awards $50,000 equity-free grants and pro bono support services to entrepreneurs who locate their startups in St. Louis. This program is an aggressive effort to build a new economy and inspire the next generation of employers, civic leaders, and philanthropists for our region. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's competition will look a little different. We talk with Gabe Angieri, Director of Development & Operations at Arch Grants, about this year's application process, the addition of 5 bonus $50K grants to be awarded specifically to early-stage geospatial technology companies, and tips for aspiring applicants. 2020 Arch Grants applications open May 15th. Apply at https://archgrants.org --Credits-- Episode written, directed, and edited by T-REX Staff / Music: HappyNES by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com / Cover Art: Jocelyn Edwards *This episode was produced with the tools our team members had available in their homes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.*

My now annual conversation with Jerry Schlichter, plaintiffs attorney with Schlichter Bogard & Denton has been one of the more popular episodes on the 401(k) Fridays podcast. This year was one of our best and most forward looking. In case you are not familiar with Jerry and his work in successfully brining 401(k) or ERISA litigation against employers, he has a pretty impressive track record. He burst onto the scene with a flurry of litigation in 2006 and to date he has secured settlements of over $300 million and what he would call significant improvements in their plans. In total, this relief is valued at more the $1.5 billion. In Jerry’s prior appearances on the podcast we have talked about how the modern era of 401(k) litigation started, his unanimous victory in the Supreme Court and several other of his thoughts and observations. This time, we briefly touch on the current state of litigation and spend most of our time talking about how he thinks litigation will evolve in the coming decade. This is a great listen, be sure to stick around for the end when I ask him about his third act in retirement plan litigation.  If you want to check out my prior conversations with Jerry you can either search or scroll through your podcast app and look for titles with "Boogey Man" in it. Those are not required listening to follow along in this episode, but are good none the less. Also, please share your thoughts on this episode on social media. Be sure to tag me, Rick Unser or the 401(k) Fridays Podcast. Or, if you would prefer send me a private message or an email to feedback@401kfridays.com.  For the episode transcript, bonus question and more information go to https://www.401kfridays.com/schlichter2020 Guest Bio Jerry is founding and managing partner of the firm. He has been repeatedly elected by his peers for inclusion in "Best Lawyers in America” and “Lawyer of the Year” and is listed in the 2019 edition. Jerry has been featured in numerous national publications, including the New York Times, Reuters, Bloomberg, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal, for his and the firm’s success in pioneering claims of excessive fees in 401(K) plans and obtaining precedent-setting results involving claims of excessive fees against large employers, and for the reduction in fees his cases have caused throughout the 401(k) industry. He and the firm have obtained settlements in these 401(k) excessive fee cases of more than $300 million for employees and retirees, in addition to significant improvements in their 401(k) plans; in total, this relief has been valued at more than $1.5 billion. He also was lead attorney for the firm in the first and only full trial of an excessive fee case in the country, resulting in a verdict of $36 million. In recent rankings of the most influential people in the 401(k) industry by 401kWire.com, Jerry has repeatedly ranked in the top 5. According to a recent article published in Reuters, the CEO of Brightscope, an independent company which evaluates 401(k) plans, stated, speaking of Mr. Schlichter’s national impact on 401(k) plan fees, that “[h]is impact has been humongous." The New York Times has referred to Jerry as “a Lone Ranger of the 401(k)’s,” and he has been referred to by Investment News as “public enemy no. 1 for 401(k) profiteers” and by Chief Investment Officer as “the industry’s most feared attorney.” In describing the effect of his work on behalf of employees in 401(k) plans, the Wall Street Journal referred to it as being “Schlicterized”. In 2014 and 2015, Mr. Schlichter’s firm obtained the two largest 401(k) excessive fee settlements in history. The first was a settlement for $62 million against Lockheed Martin on behalf of Lockheed Martin employees, which included significant changes to the Lockheed Martin 401(k) plan. The second was a settlement for $57 million from Boeing, which likewise included significant non-monetary relief. Also in 2015, Mr. Schlichter won a unanimous 9-0 decision in the U.S. Supreme Court in Tibble v. Edison, the first U.S. Supreme Court case to consider fees in 401(k) plans. In an order in the case of Nolte v. Cigna Corporation in 2013, the U.S. District Court judge stated: “As the preeminent firm in 401(k) fee litigation, Schlichter, Bogard & Denton has achieved unparalleled results on behalf of its clients. Jerome Schlichter and Schlichter, Bogard & Denton’s work throughout this litigation stands as yet another example of the firm’s acting as a private attorney general, risking breathtaking amounts of time and money while overcoming many obstacles for the benefit of employees and retirees. . . . Mr. Schlichter and the Schlichter, Bogard & Denton firm’s actions have led to dramatic changes in the 401(k) industry, which have benefited employees and retirees throughout the country by bringing sweeping changes to fiduciary practices.” The U.S. District Court in Tussey v. ABB similarly found of “special importance . . . the significant, national contribution” made by the team led by Mr. Schlichter, which has “educated plan administrators, the Department of Labor, the courts and retirement plan participants” about the fiduciary obligations of 401(k) plan administrators. Jerry has received numerous awards, such as the Levee Stone Award and "What's Right with the Region Award" for his contributions to revitalization of the city of St. Louis and the state of Missouri. In December 2013, Jerry was honored with the prestigious St. Louis Award, given to the person who has accomplished the most in the prior years for the development of St. Louis. Jerry spearheaded the founding and development of another St. Louis not for profit, Arch Grants, which is a global competition for startup businesses in which winning entrepreneurs come to St. Louis, receive $50,000.00 and a broad package of support services including business mentoring, discounts on office space, and free legal, accounting, and marketing services. Arch Grants has provided grants of $50,000.00 to 114 startups since its founding in 2012, and has been the subject of numerous national articles describing its building of entrepreneurial businesses in St. Louis. Education: University of Illinois, B.S., Business Administration, 1969, (in 3 years) with honors; James Scholar. University of California at Los Angeles, J.D. 1972; Associate Editor, UCLA Law Review. Admitted: California (1972); Illinois (1973); Missouri (1982). 401(k) Fridays Podcast Overview Struggling with a fiduciary issue, looking for strategies to improve employee retirement outcomes or curious about the impact of current events on your retirement plan? We've had conversations with retirement industry leaders to address these and other relevant topics! You can easily explore over 175 prior on-demand audio interviews here. Don't forget to subscribe as we release a new episode each Friday!

Sheridan’s container house has an update to the exterior. Could JP Morgan Chase be moving to St. Louis? CEO of St. Louis Regional Economic Development Alliance, Steve Johnson, joins the show with insight on how we pitch to large companies. Phyllis Ellison of Cortex is the organizer of STL Startup Week, and breaks down the event. Emily Lohse Busch of Arch Grants discusses a recent gala and how much money they have raised for helping new startups. Kevin Killeen gets an inside scoop on the design for St. Louis’ future soccer stadium.

Kevin Kelly, of the local small business Snake Bite, is just back from exhibiting at a White House event. Commerce Bank is opening a new tech-heavy branch in the Central West End. We'll get an exclusive preview from Darryl Collins. Finally, Arch Grants Executive Director Emily Loshe-Busch checks in.

“What if instead of a company coming in and giving support, an entire city came in and supported entrepreneurs?” — Emily Lohse-Busch Today’s guest is Emily Lohse-Busch, Executive Director at Arch Grants. Arch Grants is a nonprofit organization that is building a new economy by providing $50K equity-free grants and pro bono support services to entrepreneurs who locate their early-stage businesses in St. Louis. Emily sits down with the team to talk about Arch Grants' goal for the St. Louis economy, providing support and resources to startups, the process of receiving a grant, the struggle of raising capital in the Midwest, the future of Arch Grants, and more!

Smartphones are the new way of entry for Busch Stadium. Also, glass is now going up at Ballpark Village Phase Two. Kerry Emerson and Bill DeWitt III of the St. Louis Cardinals join us. Mary Louise Helbig, Executive Director of ITEN, discusses the friendly tech rivalry between St. Louis and Kansas City. Emily Lohse-Busch, the Executive Director of Arch Grants, updates on efforts to lure start-ups to St. Louis.

Joining us today is Jonathan Allen, President of Longneck & Thunderfoot, a 2016 Arch Grant recipient company. Jonathan discusses his passion for sharing the journey and best practices of start-ups and entrepreneurship. London born, Jonathan jumped the pond in 9 years ago and acquired a local publication titled EQ in 2017. EQ Magazine focuses on St. Louis' entrepreneurial scene. In this episode: Jonathan tells us about how a special girl landed him here in St. Louis. What is takes to become an Arch Grant recipient. Why Jonathan feels networking is so important? What it means to build a Brand-Ads company. Jonathan talks about time management for serial entrepreneurs. Traditional advertising models verses new advertising models. Email: jonathan@eqstl.com Website: https://eqstl.com/

Joining us today is Jonathan Allen, President of Longneck & Thunderfoot, a 2016 Arch Grant recipient company. Jonathan discusses his passion for sharing the journey and best practices of start-ups and entrepreneurship. London born, Jonathan jumped the pond in 9 years ago and acquired a local publication titled EQ in 2017. EQ Magazine focuses on St. Louis' entrepreneurial scene. In this episode: Jonathan tells us about how a special girl landed him here in St. Louis. What is takes to become an Arch Grant recipient. Why Jonathan feels networking is so important? What it means to build a Brand-Ads company. Jonathan talks about time management for serial entrepreneurs. Traditional advertising models verses new advertising models. Email: jonathan@eqstl.com Website: https://eqstl.com/

The mere thought of a 401(k) lawsuit can send shivers down the spine of even the most experienced retirement plan fiduciary.  However, when you have a grasp on why workplace retirement plans are being sued, how the economics of a lawsuit work and what you can do to make the job of a plaintiff’s attorney harder, the risk can be a little easier to manage.  For answers to these and more questions, I thought it was time to invite Jerry Schlichter, the plaintiff’s attorney who has sued numerous 401(k) and 403(b) plans around the country and even successfully argued a 401(k) case before the US Supreme Court back to the podcast to share his thoughts.  I was also able to work in several questions from our listeners into the episode.  If you missed your opportunity to submit a question be sure are one of our email subscribers, we often send announcements out about future guests and give you the opportunity to share your questions in advance.  Go to 401kfridays.com/subscribe today to take care of that.  If after listening to this episode you feel like you need a little fiduciary refresher, check out last week’s episode with Jason Roberts.  Some good points there to help you sleep better and keep the boogeyman away.   Guest Bio Jerry is founding and managing partner of the firm. He has been repeatedly elected by his peers for inclusion in "Best Lawyers in America” and “Lawyer of the Year” and is listed in the 2019 edition. Jerry has been designated legal counsel for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers for many years and is currently designated legal counsel for the United Transportation Union and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He has represented railroad workers in trials in many states and has had record-setting jury verdicts in numerous jurisdictions. He obtained a verdict of $27 million for the widow and children of a St. Louis firefighter for a defective breathing apparatus which caused the firefighter's death. This verdict, which was increased to $40.4 million with pre and post judgment interest, was the highest jury verdict in Missouri in 2007 and one of the highest in the United States. The entire amount was collected after appeal. He has also obtained multiple precedent-setting judgments against railroads, including successfully requiring a railroad and the Federal Railroad Administration to modify rules on certification of railroad engineers; successfully obtaining a permanent injunction against the Union Pacific Railroad on behalf of all of its employees, which stopped the railroad's practice of interfering with employees' ability to pursue injury claims; and obtaining the first and only jury verdict in the United States in which a jury determined that a locomotive was not crashworthy, resulting in a jury verdict of $4.75 million, which was the highest verdict against that railroad by an injured employee in its history. Throughout his career, he has also handled major precedent-setting class action and mass tort cases on behalf of individuals. Jerry has been featured in numerous national publications, including the New York Times, Reuters, Bloomberg, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal, for his and the firm’s success in pioneering claims of excessive fees in 401(K) plans and obtaining precedent-setting results involving claims of excessive fees against large employers, and for the reduction in fees his cases have caused throughout the 401(k) industry. He and the firm have obtained settlements in these 401(k) excessive fee cases of more than $300 million for employees and retirees, in addition to significant improvements in their 401(k) plans; in total, this relief has been valued at more than $1.5 billion. He also was lead attorney for the firm in the first and only full trial of an excessive fee case in the country, resulting in a verdict of $36 million. In recent rankings of the most influential people in the 401(k) industry by 401kWire.com, Jerry has repeatedly ranked in the top 5. According to a recent article published in Reuters, the CEO of Brightscope, an independent company which evaluates 401(k) plans, stated, speaking of Mr. Schlichter’s national impact on 401(k) plan fees, that “[h]is impact has been humongous." The New York Times has referred to Jerry as “a Lone Ranger of the 401(k)’s,” and he has been referred to by Investment News as “public enemy no. 1 for 401(k) profiteers” and by Chief Investment Officer as “the industry’s most feared attorney.” In describing the effect of his work on behalf of employees in 401(k) plans, the Wall Street Journal referred to it as being “Schlicterized”. In 2014 and 2015, Mr. Schlichter’s firm obtained the two largest 401(k) excessive fee settlements in history. The first was a settlement for $62 million against Lockheed Martin on behalf of Lockheed Martin employees, which included significant changes to the Lockheed Martin 401(k) plan. The second was a settlement for $57 million from Boeing, which likewise included significant non-monetary relief. Also in 2015, Mr. Schlichter won a unanimous 9-0 decision in the U.S. Supreme Court in Tibble v. Edison, the first U.S. Supreme Court case to consider fees in 401(k) plans. In an order in the case of Nolte v. Cigna Corporation in 2013, the U.S. District Court judge stated: “As the preeminent firm in 401(k) fee litigation, Schlichter, Bogard & Denton has achieved unparalleled results on behalf of its clients. Jerome Schlichter and Schlichter, Bogard & Denton’s work throughout this litigation stands as yet another example of the firm’s acting as a private attorney general, risking breathtaking amounts of time and money while overcoming many obstacles for the benefit of employees and retirees. . . . Mr. Schlichter and the Schlichter, Bogard & Denton firm’s actions have led to dramatic changes in the 401(k) industry, which have benefited employees and retirees throughout the country by bringing sweeping changes to fiduciary practices.” The U.S. District Court in Tussey v. ABB similarly found of “special importance . . . the significant, national contribution” made by the team led by Mr. Schlichter, which has “educated plan administrators, the Department of Labor, the courts and retirement plan participants” about the fiduciary obligations of 401(k) plan administrators. Another example of his work on behalf of individuals is his representation of a class of African-American employment applicants in the case of Mister v. Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, a case in which he obtained an extraordinary Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decision in which the court stated: "One could not imagine a stronger case of discrimination short of an announcement of it." This resulted in a $10 million settlement. In the Mister case, the U.S. District Court judge described his work stating: "The Court is unaware of any comparable achievement of public good by a private lawyer in the face of such obstacles and enormous demand of resources and finances." The judge also stated: "This Court finds that Mr. Schlichter's experience, reputation, and ability are of the highest caliber." Jerry handled the nationally-recognized Times Beach dioxin case in which he represented a group of people in the community of Times Beach, Missouri who were exposed to dioxin when their streets were sprayed with the chemical. He obtained a record setting $19 million settlement on behalf of the residents against a chemical company in that case. Jerry handled a national employment discrimination class action case on behalf of all women employees of Rent-a-Center. In that case, he confronted for the first time in a national employment discrimination class action a "reverse auction" in which the defendant attempted to destroy the case by an inadequate settlement with others. Jerry successfully defeated this attempt and obtained a $47 million settlement for the class as well as a complete revamping of company policies. This is one of the largest class action settlements for women in the United States and the U.S. District Court judge stated: "In essence, it is an example of advocacy at its highest and noblest purpose, and Class Counsel accomplished a great public good." The judge further stated: "I have never seen an effort like that effort put forth by the plaintiffs' counsel' – it's beyond an extraordinary effort." Jerry is a past national President of the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates. He has authored articles in the field of personal injury litigation and has spoken at numerous seminars on trial techniques, mass torts, class actions, and complex litigation. He has taught trial techniques as an adjunct professor at Washington University School of Law. Jerry has also been recognized for his involvement in community initiatives. He and his wife founded Mentor St. Louis, Inc., a not-for-profit organization which obtains adult mentors for disadvantaged elementary students in the St. Louis Public Schools, which has become the largest volunteer program in the St. Louis Public Schools and has been nationally recognized. He also successfully initiated and spearheaded the passage of a law, "The Missouri State Historic Tax Credit," which has been widely acknowledged for its role in revitalizing St. Louis and the State of Missouri, and which is the national model for legislation aimed at revitalizing older communities. He has also spearheaded and led the effort to pass the Missouri "Rebuilding Communities Act" designed to attract businesses to distressed communities and the "Neighborhood Preservation Act" to develop housing in distressed communities. Jerry has received numerous awards, such as the Levee Stone Award and "What's Right with the Region Award" for his contributions to revitalization of the city of St. Louis and the state of Missouri. In December 2013, Jerry was honored with the prestigious St. Louis Award, given to the person who has accomplished the most in the prior years for the development of St. Louis. Jerry spearheaded the founding and development of another St. Louis not for profit, Arch Grants, which is a global competition for startup businesses in which winning entrepreneurs come to St. Louis, receive $50,000.00 and a broad package of support services including business mentoring, discounts on office space, and free legal, accounting, and marketing services. Arch Grants has provided grants of $50,000.00 to 114 startups since its founding in 2012, and has been the subject of numerous national articles describing its building of entrepreneurial businesses in St. Louis. Education: University of Illinois, B.S., Business Administration, 1969, (in 3 years) with honors; James Scholar. University of California at Los Angeles, J.D. 1972; Associate Editor, UCLA Law Review. Admitted: California (1972); Illinois (1973); Missouri (1982). 401(k) Fridays Podcast Overview Struggling with a fiduciary issue, looking for strategies to improve employee retirement outcomes or curious about the impact of current events on your retirement plan? We've had conversations with retirement industry leaders to address these and other relevant topics! You can easily explore over one hundred prior on-demand audio interviews here. Don't forget to subscribe as we release a new episode each Friday!

Missouri Business Alert’s Speaking Startup podcast explores news and issues important to the state’s entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode: • 1:00 - Techstars Kansas City released the lineup of their newest cohort, what does it mean for the startups who were selected? • 2:12 - Scooter startups are sweeping the nation! We'll look at one companies impact on Kansas City and St. Louis • 4:55 - Annika Merrilees speaks with the executive director of Arch Grants, a nonprofit that’s looking to build up St. Louis’ startup community • 10:43- Missouri Business Alert reporter Kristoffer Tigue joins us in the studio to talk about an entrepreneurship project we'll be releasing soon • 14:40 - A look at important numbers from the week in entrepreneurship news Check out our website for more: www.missouribusinessalert.com/sections/m…/podcasts/ Credit to Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com) for this episode's music.

Arch Grants executive director Emily Lohse-Busch says let's build the next Amazon in St. Louis. We'll hear about the Purina Pet Care Innovation Prize and one of their start-ups, Animal Biome. Donn Rubin of BioSTL calls from Tel Aviv talks about their trip to Israel to talk digital health.

Ben Burke; Arch Grants Director of Entrepreneurship by Andrew Davis

The new executive director of Arch Grants, Emily Lohse-Busch, introduces herself and talks about the importance of attracting start-ups and talent. Also, Tom Ray, First Vice President at CBRE, takes us through their 2017 Tech Talent Report and where St. Louis stands. Plus, the Ameren Accelerator has chosen its first set of companies to invest in. Brian Dixon of Capital Innovators gives us the update.