Key facts
- Type
- Competition
- Deadline
- 2/20/2027
In short
Arch Grants offers $75,000 non-dilutive grants, plus up to an additional $125,000 for relocation and growth, and a network of resources to innovative, scalable, job-creating early-stage startups willing to headquarter in St. Louis for at least one year.
Arch Grants
CompetitionAccepting applications nowApply by 2/20/2027204 days left
$75,000
Non-dilutive grant
$25,000
Relocation incentive
Up to $100,000
Additional Growth Grants
St. Louis, MO
Required headquarters location
1+ year
Minimum residency requirement
Overview
The Arch Grants Startup Competition is a worldwide search for innovative, diverse early-stage startups ready to scale their businesses. The program provides non-dilutive grants and access to a comprehensive ecosystem of resources for companies that agree to headquarter their operations in St. Louis for a minimum of one year. Applications are rigorously evaluated by over 400 industry experts from the St. Louis community and beyond. The competition champions founders with idea-stage to pre-Series A companies, focusing on those with innovative and scalable business models, technology-enabled solutions, and diverse founder teams dedicated to contributing to the growth of the St. Louis ecosystem. Arch Grants aims to support founders with substantial equity-free funding, including relocation incentives and potential growth grants. Beyond financial support, the program offers a la carte programming, fundraising assistance, and exclusive access to the Arch Grants network, alongside valuable discounts and talent acquisition support.
Prizes
Awardee
Non-dilutive grant, plus access to a la carte programming, fundraising support, the Arch Grants network, exclusive discounts, and talent acquisition support.
$75,000
Relocation incentive (for awardees)
Additional funding for companies relocating to St. Louis.
$25,000
Growth Grants (for awardees)
Eligibility for additional funding after initial grant.
Up to $100,000
Key dates
- Application Window OpensFebruary 18, 2026
- Application Window ClosesMarch 31, 2026
- Preliminary JudgingEarly-to-Mid May 2026
- Finalists SelectedMid-July 2026
- Finalist Pitch DayAugust 5, 2026
- 2026 Arch Grants Awardees NotifiedEnd of August 2026
- Programming and Support BeginsEarly October 2026
- New Cohort Introduced at neXus GalaLate Fall 2026
Eligibility
Arch Grants champions founders with idea-stage to pre-Series A companies that possess an innovative and scalable business model, ideally with technology-enabled solutions. Diverse founder teams who desire to contribute to the growth of the St. Louis ecosystem are encouraged. A key requirement is for the company to locate its headquarters in the City of St. Louis for at least one year. Additionally, 51% of the founding team or one founder and 51% of the overall team must reside in St. Louis for the program year, and at least one founder must be working on the company as their primary or full-time professional role.
Submission requirements
- 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 overall team must live in St. Louis for the program year.
- At least one founder must be working on the company as their primary or full-time professional role.