2025 Startup Competition
The 2025 Application Window is Open Through March 31!
We’re on a worldwide search for our 14th cohort, comprised of early-stage startups looking to take their businesses to the next level. The Arch Grants Startup Competition awards innovative, scalable, job-creating startups with $75,000 non-dilutive grants (plus an additional $25,000 for companies relocating to St. Louis) and provides access to an ecosystem of resources in exchange for headquartering their businesses in St. Louis for at least one year. Competition applications are evaluated by over 400 industry experts from the St. Louis community and around the country.
Note to previous applicants: When logging in to our application site, you may see your previous applications but not the 2025 application. In order to access the 2025 application, you need to update your eligibility by answering a few questions. To do this, log in, go to “My Account”, navigate to “Eligibility,” and click “Update Your Eligibility Profile.” If your responses indicate that you are eligible to apply, the 2025 application will then be available on your home screen.
In order to qualify, a startup must be:
- Developing an innovative and scalable business
- Building a technology-enabled solution
- In the validated-idea, bootstrapped, pre-seed, or seed stage
- Interested in locating in or relocating to St. Louis, MO for at least one year
- Operating as a for-profit business
- Led by at least one founder working on the company as their primary or full-time professional role. This requirement must be met by the time funding is provided.
Not ready to apply, but wish to receive reminders and updates regarding the Startup Competition? Complete the signup form here.
We Champion…
- Founders with idea-stage to pre-Series A companies
- Companies with an innovative and scalable business model
- Technology-enabled solutions
- Diverse Founder teams who have a desire to help the St. Louis ecosystem grow
By Supporting Founders With…
- $75,000 equity-free funding + $25,000 for relocation + eligibility for additional Growth Grants funding of up to $100,000
- Ala carte programming, fundraising support, and access to the Arch Grants network
- Exclusive discounts and talent acquisition support
And All We Require Is…
- The Company locate their headquarters in the City of St. Louis for at least one year
- 51% of the founding team or one founder and 51% of the team need to live in St. Louis for the program year
- At least one founder is working on the company as their primary or full-time professional role
If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, you may request an accommodation at any time. Please contact competition@archgrants.org.
2025 Timeline
February 19
Application Window Opens
March 31
Application Window Closes
Early-to-Mid May
Preliminary Judging
Mid-July
Finalists Selected
August 5
Finalist Pitch Day
End of August
2025 Arch Grants Awardees Notified
Early October
Programming and Support Begins
Late Fall
New Cohort Introduced at neXus Gala
Be a Part of the Movement
We champion extraordinary entrepreneurs to create positive change – for St. Louis and for the world. Join us by becoming a financial supporter, volunteering your time, or amplifying our message.
Without the Arch Grant, we wouldn’t have been able to file the provisional patents, which allowed us to obtain [crucial] data. We also received a lot of amazing feedback about our business model, which was honestly more valuable than the funding.
Erica Barnell
CSO and Co-Founder
Geneoscopy