St. Louis, April 9, 2013-Today, St. Louis' newest and most comprehensive small business resource launches.
http://AccelerateStLouis.org is a dynamic online portal serving entrepreneurs and a virtual epicenter for startup activity in the St. Louis region.
Developed by St. Louis County Economic Council in partnership with Innovate St. Louis,
http://AccelerateStLouis.org is designed to facilitate greater connectivity within the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem, connecting entrepreneurs with resources and investors with startup ventures.
"With so much startup activity in the region, it is challenging to keep track of it all," said Ed Bryant, vice president of the Economic Council's Economic Development Collaborative division. "AccelerateStLouis.org brings everything together in one place ? startups, resources, news and events. If someone wants to find what is happening with entrepreneurship in St. Louis, they just need to go to
AccelerateStLouis.org ."
This valuable tool acts as a showcase for St. Louis, effectively marketing the region as a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity and making the case for St. Louis as the place to start or invest in a new business.
Highlights of
AccelerateStLouis.org: * Directory of local resources -- represents the spectrum of business support services essential for startup ventures to succeed.
* Directory of Investors -- local investors with seed capital for entrepreneurs
* Showcase of startup ventures -- provides increased visibility for startups seeking to promote their businesses. Searchable listings enable potential investors to review the range of investment opportunities in St. Louis.
* Events calendar -- consolidates all of the region's entrepreneurial events in one place.
* Job postings ? free job postings for startups looking to attract top talent.
* Resource library -- contains tools, tips and reference materials on a range of issues startups could encounter.
What makes
AccelerateStLouis.org a national leader in terms of functionality? Marilyn Gannon, president and CEO of Innovate St. Louis said, "AccelerateStLouis.org is not just a leading edge resource directory that helps entrepreneurs connect with the right resources for their business, it also provides a communications platform for St. Louis startups to tell their story to a broader audience.?
"AccelerateStLouis.org communicates the success of the entrepreneurial environment in St. Louis to the broader community and the nation. All we need is for our startups to post their profiles and stand up and be counted," said Gannon.
AccelerateStLouis.org has been a year in the making.
"We conducted extensive research and talked to a lot of people in order to wrap our arms around all that is going on in the market and to identify gaps and needs," said Bryant. "The insight and input guided the development of
AccelerateStLouis.org."
Twitter handle: @AccelerateSTLLinkedIn page: http://www.linkedin.com/company/accelerate-st-louis
About St. Louis County Economic Council Founded in 1984, St. Louis County Economic Council serves as the county's economic development agency, driving growth and prosperity in Missouri. As the only economic development agency in the state to hold the esteemed Accredited Economic Development Organization from the International Economic Development Council, it provides a broad range of services, including entrepreneurial finance and support, business expansion and retention, World Trade Center St. Louis, and real estate and community development.
About Innovate: St. Louis Innovate St. Louis is 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to building and promoting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in St. Louis. Through its flagship programs, Innovate Venture Mentoring (IVMS) and IT Entrepreneur Network (ITEN), Innovate provides no-cost mentoring and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs seeking to start technology-driven, high-growth businesses. |
