St. Louis's 24 Best Startup Accelerators & Incubators [2024]

Updated: January 20th, 2022

Are you looking for an accelerator program in St. Louis city?

Did you know that according to a report from Forbes St. Louis is one of the top 10 cities in the U.S. for start-ups and entrepreneurs?

If you're starting a startup in St. Louis, you might be wondering what startup accelerators or incubators exist in the area. Here's the full list:

Startup Accelerators & Business Incubators In St. Louis

# Accelerator/Incubator Funding Location Apply
1 SixThirty Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
2 BioGenerator Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
3 Capital Innovators $50K St. Louis Apply
4 Pet Care Innovation Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
5 Ameren Accelerator $100K St. Louis... Apply
6 Stadia Ventures $100k St. Louis Apply
7 The Yield Lab $100k St. Louis Apply
8 Square One Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
9 The Balsa Foundation Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
10 Venture Cafe Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
11 WEPOWER Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
12 Greater St.Louis Inc. Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
13 St.Louis Fashion Fund Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
14 STL Foodworks Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
15 St.Louis Game Developer Co-op Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
16 Brick City Makes Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
17 Arch Grants $50K St. Louis Apply
18 St.Louis Small Business Empowerment Center Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
19 Sling Health Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
20 Helix Center Biotech Incubator Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
21 BRDG Park Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
22 UMSL Accelerate Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
23 WashU Entrepreneurship Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply
24 Geospatial Innovation Center Not Disclosed St. Louis Apply

St. Louis's 24 Best Startup Accelerators & Incubators [2024]

1. SixThirty

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: FinTech, InsurTech, and Cybersecurity

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: 8 Weeks

SixThirty is a program that focuses and invests in early-stage FinTech, InsurTech, and Cybersecurity startup businesses. They believe in growth through collaboration and thus connect startups with its go-to-market program, designed for the fast-track growth of startups. They have a deep and curated network of leaders and experienced executives in the niche of financial services, information technology, insurance services, and enterprise technology.

Apply to SixThirty , or learn more ➜

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2. BioGenerator

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Medical and Plant Science

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Not Disclosed

BioGenerator is the startup arm of BioSTL. This program provides aid in the growth of innovative biotechnology, medical, and plant science companies through two approaches; BioGenerator Ventures and BioGenerator Labs. The former provides investments to life-science and biotech companies, whereas the latter brings together talent, technology, coaching, grants, innovative lab space, and investor relations to accelerate the growth of medical ventures.

Apply to BioGenerator, or learn more ➜

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3. Capital Innovators

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Technology Industry

  • Investment Size: $50K

  • Program: 12 Weeks

Capital Innovators is the top-rated venture management firm, corporate innovation firm, an accelerator program in the US, powered by GAN Accelerator. They provide tech startups with the connections and resources that they need to reach the next level. The participating startups are provided with seed funding of $50K, mentorship from experienced technical executives and experts, access to a global network of startups and investors, connections with top strategic partners, and co-working space.

Apply to Capital Innovators, or learn more ➜

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4. Pet Care Innovation

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Pet Care

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Not Disclosed

Pet Care Innovation is an accelerator program designed to take pet care startup businesses to new heights. This program is powered by Purina and helps to convert business visions and ideas into reality. They focus on the future of the pet care industry and introduce entrepreneurs with the mentors, resources, expertise, connections, knowledge, community, and opportunities necessary to grow and scale the pet care business.

Apply to Pet Care Innovation, or learn more ➜

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5. Ameren Accelerator

  • Location: St. Louis, Illinois

  • Industry: Energy Industry

  • Investment Size: $100K

  • Program: 12 Weeks

Ameren Accelerator is a company created by collaboration of CIPSCO Incorporated, Illinois Power Company, CILCO Inc, and Union Electric Company of St. Louis. The name of the company is a combination of two words; American and Energy. The vision of this 12-week accelerator program is to lead the startups towards sustainable future energy and power the quality of life. They provide participants with offline space, a spectrum of mentors, seed funding of $100K, and commitment to excellence.

Apply to Ameren Accelerator, or learn more ➜

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6. Stadia Ventures

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Sports and E-sports

  • Investment Size: $100k

  • Program: 14 Weeks

Stadia Ventures is a unique accelerator program in St. Louis designed to help sports and esports business startups. This global innovation hub for sports brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and industry partners. This 14-week accelerator program creates a sports ecosystem by leveraging innovation, education, investment, and industry and network expertise. They also provide sports startups with a seed funding of $100K, mentoring, and access to top industry executives.

Apply to Stadia Ventures, or learn more ➜

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7. The Yield Lab

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: AgTech

  • Investment Size: $100k

  • Program: 35 Weeks

The Yield Lab is a program that allows entrepreneurs to revolutionize agri-food business startups. They accelerate early-stage startup companies by investing in them and providing them educational resources and ecosystems necessary for support and growth. They invest $100K in the early-stage startups and have invested around $2.5M in its portfolio companies. They help exceptional founders and entrepreneurs who believe in creating transformational companies.

Apply to The Yield Lab, or learn more ➜

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8. Square One

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Bioscience, IT, Advanced Manufacturing and Consumer Products.

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Varies

Square One (SQ 1) is an incubator program under the flagship of CET. This program provides hands-on training and support to first-time and early-stage business owners. They focus on businesses in the niche of information technology, bioscience, advanced manufacturing, and consumer products. SQ 1 hosts two programs; SQ1 Ignite and SQ1 Boot Camp. The former is a 4-week program that emphasizes business model canvas, and the latter is a 10-week program that provides in-depth mentoring, hands-on learning, and networking.

Apply to Square One, or learn more ➜

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9. The Balsa Foundation

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: All Industries

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Not Disclosed

The Balsa Foundation is an incubator program that empowers and supports first-time entrepreneurs to start, grow and scale the startup business. They develop a sense of prosperity and social equity in the founders. Its mission is to provide guidance, grants, donations, mentorship, and feedback from experts to first-time entrepreneurs. They also offer them an entrepreneur’s roadmap, which will guide them to start a business.

Apply to The Balsa Foundation, or learn more ➜

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10. Venture Cafe

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: All Industries

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Not Disclosed

Venture Café is a program that connects the startup community of St. Louis. At Venture Café, founders and participants interact and collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs and collect information through informative sessions held on various topics.

Apply to Venture Cafe , or learn more ➜

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11. WEPOWER

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Economic, Education,Justice and Health

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: 6 Months

WEPOWER host an Elevate/Elevar Accelerator program for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs. This 6-week program helps entrepreneurs who have the power to transform economic, education, justice, and health care systems and make them sustainable and equal for all. Through this program, they support participants with curriculum, community, connections, and capital. The program also offers 1-on-1 coaching with coaches and mentors, cohort learning, professional services, access to capital, and wellness/therapist support to the founders.

Apply to WEPOWER, or learn more ➜

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12. Greater St.Louis Inc.

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: All Industries

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: 12 Weeks

Greater St. Louis Inc. is an incubator program that creates jobs by expanding economic growth. This program brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders to increase global competitiveness. They are dedicated to the growth and prosperity of the St. Louis metropolitan region. They collaborate with founders and leaders to address opportunities and challenges that may create hindrance in business prosperity.

Apply to Greater St.Louis Inc., or learn more ➜

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13. St.Louis Fashion Fund

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Fashion Industry

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: 2 Years

St. Louis Fashion Fund is a 2-year fashion incubator program that provides necessary tools, resources, and guidance to fashion startup businesses. They offer participants with education and mentorship that will help them take their fashion business to new heights. They also provide strategic business support, sales and collaborative opportunities, professional development opportunities, and a 7,500 square-foot designer studio or office space equipped with all the necessary resources.

Apply to St.Louis Fashion Fund, or learn more ➜

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14. STL Foodworks

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Food Industry

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Not Disclosed

STL Foodworks is a culinary incubator program designed to support food-based businesses and help them reach new heights. They provide aid to culinarians who are in search of a supportive community and commercial kitchen. They help food truck owners, restaurateurs, caterers, and food producers to fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams. This cost-effective program provides various resources to the participants necessary to scale up business operations.

Apply to STL Foodworks, or learn more ➜

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15. St.Louis Game Developer Co-op

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Gaming Industry

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Not Disclosed

St. Louis Game Developer Co-op is a gaming business incubator program that provides resources and support for game developers. They help every type of game creators such as; video games, card games, board games, tabletop games, and other unique methods of gameplay. They create a diverse environment for game developers to work in and also provide educational and networking opportunities, and also host various events for them.

Apply to St.Louis Game Developer Co-op, or learn more ➜

16. Brick City Makes

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Manufacturing Industry

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Not Disclosed

Brick City Makes is a manufacturing business incubator program in St. Louis that helps dedicated manufacturers succeed. They provide a collaborative industrial environment for growing craftsmen and manufacturers to thrive. They also provide support and space to small and mid-sized manufacturing businesses and offer them various training programs and networking opportunities.

Apply to Brick City Makes, or learn more ➜

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17. Arch Grants

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: All Industries

  • Investment Size: $50K

  • Program: Not Disclosed

Arch Grants is a program that believes that entrepreneurship is a persistent and brave venture. They attract extraordinary entrepreneurs and provide equity-free grants worth $50K to help grow and scale in the industry. To date, they have nurtured and created 2,306 jobs in St. Louis.

Apply to Arch Grants, or learn more ➜

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18. St.Louis Small Business Empowerment Center

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: All Industries

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Not Disclosed

St. Louis Small Business Empowerment Center is a non-profit organization that empowers and incubates entrepreneurs to start up their business enterprises. The mission of this program is to provide educational workshops, community programming, economic development services, access to capital, and consulting services to entrepreneurs. They help entrepreneurs to the challenges of starting a business and help them to build and grow a sustainable startup business firm.

Apply to St.Louis Small Business Empowerment Center, or learn more ➜

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19. Sling Health

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Healthcare Industry

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: 8 Months

Sling Health is a healthcare accelerator program for students and clinicians of St. Louis. Sling Health provides necessary resources, mentorship, and training to create products and improve the healthcare business.

Apply to Sling Health, or learn more ➜

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20. Helix Center Biotech Incubator

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Biotech Industry

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Not Disclosed

Helix Center Biotech Incubator program is an initiative of STL Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This program helps startups in the field of bioscience, plant science, and agricultural technology. The participants of this program are given access to dry labs, wet labs, offline space, collaboration, and financing. They also provide the necessary resources required for the growth and acceleration of a biotech startup.

Apply to Helix Center Biotech Incubator, or learn more ➜

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21. BRDG Park

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Bio Research, AgTech and Development Growth

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Not Disclosed

BRDG Park is a bioresearch and development growth center that provides resources and research to startup companies to bring their innovative ideas into reality and gain commercial success. This incubation program provides world-class resources to the participants and helps them succeed in the industry. They offer new technology, co-working space, infrastructure, investment capital, and supportive community to accelerate the growth of bioscience and agricultural startups.

Apply to BRDG Park, or learn more ➜

22. UMSL Accelerate

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: All Industries

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Not Disclosed

UMSL Accelerate is a student accelerator program hosted by the University of Missouri- St. Louis. They provide a real-world experience to the student entrepreneurs and help them to move further and faster in the industry. They educate the entrepreneurs through the various courses and collaborate through student internships and student accelerator programs.

Apply to UMSL Accelerate, or learn more ➜

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23. WashU Entrepreneurship

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: All Industries

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Not Disclosed

WashU Entrepreneurship program is an initiative by the Washington University in St. Louis. This program supports and guides students, staff, faculty, and alumni entrepreneurs by providing them with an entrepreneurial mindset and empowering them to execute and explore solutions to the problems. They also help entrepreneurs develop new business methods and gain knowledge and skills to take the idea to the next level.

Apply to WashU Entrepreneurship, or learn more ➜

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24. Geospatial Innovation Center

  • Location: St. Louis

  • Industry: Geospatial Technologies

  • Investment Size: Not Disclosed

  • Program: Not Disclosed

Geospatial Innovation Center powered by Bayer is the nation’s first incubation program that focuses on geospatial innovation. T-Rex is the nickname of this program. It provides a 16,000 square feet collaborative and innovative co-working space for connecting geospatial entrepreneurs, industry leaders, partners, and researchers. They also host an inclusive, active learning program for a specialized and skilled workforce and provides a data and resources lab equipped with necessary tools for early-stage startups.

Apply to Geospatial Innovation Center, or learn more ➜

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.