The St. Louis entrepreneurial community will be on display at this year's Startup Connection at Saint Louis University on Wednesday.
The business competition and resource fair will highlight 70 startups through its venture showcase, including a session where the entrepreneurs will give elevator pitches to compete for funding.
Nineteen of the startups are vying for three Startup Challenge Awards worth a total of $100,000. The other 51 ventures will be competing for smaller awards.
This is the event's third year and it will include a wide range of industries, including IT/tech, consumer products, manufacturing, FinTech and biosciences. Startup Connection managing director Phyllis Ellison said it’s a good event for those curious about what’s next.
"These are the companies that a year or two from now are going to be the names we’re seeing in the news," Ellison said. "But if you want to see what’s really fresh and what’s coming onto the scene, this is the first glimpse that you can see."
More than 60 vendors -- both commercial service providers and nonprofit support organizations -- are also taking part in an entrepreneur resource fair.
"It’s a great opportunity for people who are thinking of starting a business or recently started a business to connect with other entrepreneurs and also find the resources that they need," Ellison said.
The event takes place from 4 until 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Louis University’s Busch Student Center.
Follow Maria on Twitter: @radioaltman
