A national nonprofit organization that places young professionals into entrepreneurship-focused fellowships plans to host its annual alumni reunion in St. Louis in 2024, an event it expects to draw several hundred attendees.
Detroit-based Venture For America (VFA) announced this week it has partnered with local nonprofit startup funder Arch Grants and business group Greater St. Louis Inc. to host its alumni reunion here in 2024. It said the event will provide its past fellows an opportunity to “network with subject matter experts, probe the local startup landscape and foster meaningful connections.”
Founded in 2011, VFA places young professionals in two-year paid fellowships focused on entrepreneurship and innovation. It places fellows in cities with “up and coming” entrepreneurial sectors, with its roster of cities including Baltimore, Cleveland and Philadelphia, among others. VFA has placed fellows in St. Louis since 2014 and said it has brought more than 70 fellows here. It said its fellows have founded or co-founded 11 companies based in the St. Louis region.
VFA CEO Eric Somerville said St. Louis has “produced a lot of wins” for the nonprofit organization, mentioning several St. Louis startups founded by VFA alumni, including software firm Balto, e-commerce startup Bold Xchange and hair extension company Rebundle.
“We have just a lot of respect for the ecosystem and it’s really been supportive for us,” he said.
Somerville said he expects the 2024 reunion event in St. Louis to include about 200 VFA alumni coming to St. Louis for the programming. VFA has 1,600-plus current fellows and alumni, per its website. The alumni event will run multiple days and include a range of programming focused on networking, career development and showcasing St. Louis, Somerville said. Dates and locations for the event are still to be determined.
“We really want them to experience and get under the hood of St. Louis and the innovation space in the city,” he said.
VFA held its 2023 alumni reunion in Baltimore.
Somerville said key to the decision to host the 2024 reunion in St. Louis is its partners in Arch Grants and Greater St. Louis Inc. He noted that several of its fellows have moved to St. Louis over the years after winning funding from Arch Grants.
“They rally behind big ideas and people and so have we,” he said.
"Venture For America's decision to host its annual reunion program in St. Louis underscores the city's vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and its growing reputation as a hub for innovation and opportunity,” said Gabe Angieri, Arch Grants’ Executive Director in a statement. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Venture For America and Greater St. Louis Inc. in showcasing the tremendous potential of this region, and further investing in a startup ecosystem that not only attracts top talent but also empowers emerging entrepreneurs to make a lasting impact.”
VFA reported revenue in 2021 of $6.9 million and expenses of $5.4 million, according to its most recent tax filing. Its assets totaled $3.5 million and liabilities $373,206.
