Venture-Ready Missouri designed to help early stage start-ups secure venture funding
It is a pilot effort funded by a grant from the Missouri Technology Corporation to the Cortex Innovation District and Capital Innovators.
Cortex Innovation District, in partnership with Capital Innovators, has received a grant from the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) to stand up Venture-Ready Missouri to help early stage Missouri start-ups improve their ability to secure venture funding.
The program is a two-part pilot course designed to improve Missouri-based entrepreneurs’ potential to attract venture capital and angel investment. In part one, participants will gain an overview of various funding opportunities and detailed instruction on pitching to venture capital firms and the fundraising process. In part two, a select number of companies identified as venture-scalable will participate in a two-month, hands-on segment to develop and refine their verbal pitch and pitch materials, while leveraging one-on-one office hours to formulate a viable fundraising strategy.
Cortex has teamed up with Capital Innovators to manage the lesson design and program execution.
Venture-Ready Missouri is offered at no cost for all entrepreneurs based in Missouri to participate through a $186,966 grant from MTC, the private-public organization that supports innovation and entrepreneurship in Missouri. The specific program of MTC is its Missouri Building Entrepreneurial Capacity grant that is designed to help expand the state’s entrepreneurial capacity and grow its innovation economy.
