About Arch Grants

arch grants entrepreneur competition

We Champion the Bold.

Arch Grants disrupted the status quo of economic development in 2012 with a mission to transform the economy – in St. Louis and throughout the world – by attracting and retaining extraordinary entrepreneurs. Through our unique and groundbreaking annual Startup Competition model, we provide up to $100,000 in equity-free grants and access to an ecosystem of resources, helping early-stage startups grow and scale. Our program is a beacon for entrepreneurs globally, developing the next generation of employers, civic leaders, and philanthropists for the St. Louis region. Join us. 

Entrepreneurship is a relentless pursuit. Those who risk it all to start something truly original are some of the bravest and the boldest among us.

These believers and builders are at the core of what Arch Grants stands for: the unwavering spirit of big ideas and a community that rallies behind the entrepreneurs who pursue them. We champion the bold because we believe that together, we can create the future that we can now only imagine.  

accelerating economic development

Arch Grants Companies have gone on to create more than 3,500 jobs in Missouri, generate over $907 million in revenue, and attract more than $728 million in follow-on capital.

st louis business incubator community

BUILDING A “DYNAMIC NESTING ENVIRONMENT”

The St. Louis community welcomes Arch Grants Founders into a robust ecosystem of support, resources, and talent that nurtures and empowers these leaders to thrive as their companies grow and scale.

arch grants founder stories

CULTIVATING EXTRAORDINARY COMPANIES

Over the past 11 years, we have funded more than 250 unique companies. Each one has a vision to change the world, and Arch Grants is committed to helping them to succeed. 

arch grants team

Pursuing Lasting Change at arch grants

Our job is to create and build momentum. To knock down walls. To bring people together. Because when we do, we can mobilize an entire region to rally behind the visionaries who will take us all to new heights.

Even when Balto was just two guys in a room, we were getting an outsize amount of support from the community. Whenever anyone asks me, “Where do entrepreneurs in the St. Louis metro area come together to build for the future?” It’s an easy answer: Arch Grants.  

marc bernstein

Co-Founder and CEO

Balto