The Arch Grants Startup Competition is conducting a global search for innovative and diverse early-stage startups. The program awards scalable, job-creating startups with non-dilutive grants and provides access to a comprehensive ecosystem of resources. In exchange, companies are required to headquarter their business in St. Louis for a minimum of one year. Applications for the 2026 competition are evaluated by a panel of over 400 industry experts from the St. Louis community and across the country.
Funding and Founder Support
• $75,000 in equity-free funding.
• An additional $25,000 for companies relocating to St. Louis.
• Eligibility for additional Growth Grants funding of up to $100,000.
• Fundraising support, and access to the Arch Grants network.
• Exclusive discounts and talent acquisition support.
Ideal Candidate Profile
• Founders with companies ranging from the idea-stage to pre-Series A.
• Companies possessing an innovative and scalable business model.
• Ventures with technology-enabled solutions.
• Diverse founder teams who have a desire to contribute to the growth of the St. Louis ecosystem.
Eligibility and Program Requirements
• Must be a for-profit entity.
• Must have technology-based products, services, or solutions.
• Must have a scalable business model.
• Must be an early-stage company, from a validated idea stage through pre-Series A funding.
• The company must locate its headquarters in the City of St. Louis for at least one year.
• 51% of the founding team, or one founder and 51% of the total team, must live in St. Louis for the program year.
• At least one founder must be working on the company in a primary or full-time professional capacity.
• Companies must be located in Missouri, within 150 miles of St. Louis on the Illinois side, or be willing to relocate to St. Louis, MO for at least one year.
• Companies currently located in the Greater Kansas City Metro are not eligible for this program.
2026 Competition Timeline
• Application Window Opens: February 18
• Application Window Closes: March 31
• Preliminary Judging: Early-to-Mid May
• Finalists Selected: Mid-July
• Finalist Pitch Day: August 5
• 2026 Arch Grants Awardees Notified: End of August
• Programming and Support Begins: Early October
• New Cohort Introduced at neXus Gala: Late Fall
Application Details
• Founders can submit their applications through March 31, 2026.
• Previous Applicants: You are required to update your eligibility to apply for the 2026 Startup Competition. This can be done by navigating to “My Account,” then “Eligibility,” and clicking “Update Your Eligibility Profile.”
• Confidentiality Note: Applications are not broadcast to the public, but a wide array of judges evaluates each company. It is recommended that applicants do not share confidential information, including trade secrets and intellectual property, as confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.
• For questions, email competition@archgrants.org or consult the FAQ page.
Interested parties are encouraged to complete the application in its entirety by the March 31, 2026 deadline to be considered for the program. All applicants will receive notification of their outcome by September 2026. Those selected to advance to the next round of the competition will be provided with specific instructions on the subsequent steps.