TechSTL

A Grand Challenge for Generative AI and Geospatial Technology - Join Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the Taylor Geospatial Institute (TGI) on October 29th in St. Louis to kick off a $1M #GenerativeAI for #Geospatial Challenge. AWS and TGI are sponsoring a Generative AI for Geospatial Challenge that will bring together scientists, innovators, industry leaders, and the largest cloud resources to explore and expand the art of the possible for big-impact applications using geospatial data. Learn about the challenge, and join us for this first of its kind event focusing on the power of cloud computing and geospatial information. 📅 October 29th | 9 AM - 4:30 PM 🏢 SoMa House - CITY Point, 326 S 21st St., St. Louis, Mo.  🎫 https://lnkd.in/gv7hzc_V

"Launched in early August, the new 5-year economic growth plan is a bold declaration of Illinois’ intent to dominate in AI, microelectronics, and quantum computing. This initiative fortifies the state’s position as a leading innovator, as well as a brilliant (and practical) choice for businesses seeking accelerated growth in the tech industry. Our mission is clear: to build an Illinois that serves as a thriving, dynamic leader in technology. “Today, Illinois is open for business,” and this plan is a blueprint for building that exceptional future." With the Wedge opening up this winter in Alton, Illinois, the new 55,000 sqft innovation center is coming at a great time to unlock access to the incredible resources in the state of Illinois. See the new 5 year Economic Growth Plan for the state: https://lnkd.in/g7CjFZDX

$708m #AI RFP from National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency "Sequoia is a single-award indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract with an up to $708 million ceiling over an up to 7-year ordering period. The Sequoia IDIQ is intended to include data labeling activities to support GEOINT AI/ML capabilities across multiple programs and directorates within the NGA enterprise, the National System for GEOINT and the Department of Defense."

While the St. Louis 2024 Tech Jobs Report won't be released until December, CompTIA has shared their annual Cyberstates Report which shares the projected 2024 data for the St. Louis Metro Tech Workforce. And the trends are confirming that employment is on the rise! (See the 2022, 2023 & 2024 dashboards) The past two years have been a complicated time for the tech industry with dramatic fluctuations due to the widespread layoffs, a return to office, and the internal restructuring impact of AI / ML. The St. Louis Metro has definitely mirrored the national trends and fortunately we are now entering an upswing, along with our sister cities. Several of the notable trends will be explored further in our 2024 Jobs Report, including the shift towards skills-based learning and tracking advanced digital fluency vs. basic fluency, in addition to how the region is navigating the impact of Artificial Intelligence and employee burnout. In the meantime, the full CompTIA 2024 Cyberstates Report can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gucEVW9C

This weekend, we had the pleasure of supporting the Echoes of Africa event at The Post Building to celebrate African innovation in art, music, food, fashion, and technology. What an incredible experience it was, reflecting a beautiful community of cultural heritage, amazing people, and big ideas. Thank you Njideka Ezenwa Eke for partnering with us to pull this inaugural event together! St. Louis diversity is one of our greatest assets and we are so proud to be part of this region 💥 {Thank you to Kevin Kennedy, Suzanne Sierra, and Charity Ikpe for joining our Executive Director, Emily Hemingway, on the African Innovation Panel)

As the St. Louis delegation of founders prepare for the Startup World Cup this week, we want to rally around Lu Alleruzzo, CEO of Immunophotonics, Inc.! We know that all of our companies will represent #StLouis well and the whole community is cheering on Lu as he competes against 70 other startups for the $1 Million prize in Silicon Valley. Congrats again to Immunophotonics, Inc., Capacity, AirSeal CardioVascular, TimeBolt.io, TransitChat, Bold Spoon Creamery, King of the Curve (KOTC), SimpleRose, SAYeTECH, Muia Materials who all were invited to participate in this week's Startup World Cup in San Francisco!

This week we hosted our inaugural #CapTable Dinner at the Husch Blackwell Clayton Offices to celebrate the 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winning companies from the Startup World Cup! It was a gorgeous evening in a breathtaking venue, with Founders and Investors connecting over dinner. Catering was provided by top St. Louis Chef, Juwan Rice, and it was the perfect start to a great event series! Thank you to the STL Capital Network for joining us with leaders from Cultivation Capital, FINTOP Capital, Stakehouse, SixThirty, RiverVest Venture Partners, Capital Innovators, St. Louis Arch Angels, Missouri Technology Corporation, Lewis & Clark Ventures, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and more.

Congratulations to Immunophotonics, Inc.! You're on a roll this month 👏👏👏

Unlock the Gateway to Intelligent Ecommerce at the Midwest Ecommerce Summit 📆 September 20th ⏱ 11am-5pm 🦖 T-REX (5th Floor) 🎫https://lnkd.in/gqeUAphD Come on out this Friday for the 2024 Midwest #Ecommerce Summit, where you’ll unlock the Gateway to Intelligent Ecommerce. Learn from industry leaders about leveraging data, AI, and automation to boost your online sales. This one-day conference offers insightful speakers, success stories, demos, and networking opportunities, plus food, drinks, and entertainment! At this event you will: 💥 Gain proven strategies to grow and optimize your ecommerce business. 💥 Explore emerging trends shaping the future of online retail and customer experience. 💥 Discover tactics for driving sales, from SEO and digital marketing to conversion optimization. 💥 Learn best practices for scaling your operations and handling logistics efficiently. 💥 Enjoy networking opportunities with ecommerce experts, industry leaders, and peers. Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gqeUAphD

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is hosting a free virtual conference on October 15 to help you modernize your tech stack! "Spend the day learning from the ones who've been there, done that. Join this free online conference to discover the opportunities AWS brings to your business, allowing you to optimize existing and new applications so you can build better and faster." TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024 11 AM - 2:45 PM CST https://lnkd.in/gM535srP