Applications open January 1st.
Applications for the BALSA Grant and the Follow-On Grant will open on January 1st. Check back here for updates.
All applicants will be notified of decisions by end of March 2025.
Application deadline is January 24, 2025.
Eligibility requirements for the BALSA Grant
First time entrepreneur. You must not have started a successful business before
No significant outside investment
Live in the St. Louis metropolitan area
At least 18 years of age
Eligibility requirements for the Follow-on Grant
The Follow-on Grant is available only to past BALSA Grant winners.
For a paper copy of the applications or to see the questions ahead of time to prepare them, a PDF is available here: BALSA Grant Application, Follow-On Grant Application.
The BALSA Grant is free help to start a business
We offer the BALSA Grant to help first time entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground.
BALSA Grant recipients receive:
Free (non-dilutive) cash grant of $1,500
Participation the Learning Series
One-on-one mentoring
Eligible to apply for the $5,000 Follow-on Grant
The BALSA Grant is designed for first-time St. Louis entrepreneurs wanting to start or grow their early stage business in St. Louis. We welcome applications from all business sectors, and from non-profit as well as for-profit organizations.
The Learning Series is a 10 week comprehensive entrepreneur training program that introduces them to the St. Louis business ecosystem, brings them industry experts, and provides one on one time with each presenter after the session. Sessions take place 6-8pm Thursdays, and we ask that BALSA Grant winners commit to participating in at least 80% of the sessions offered.
You can apply to The BALSA Grant twice a year, starting January 1 and July 1.
Before applying, be sure to download and read the Entrepreneur's Roadmap.
More details about the BALSA Grant:
We welcome applications from all business sectors, whether for-profit or non-profit, and from everyone regardless of US citizenship. We reserve the right to adjust our eligibility criteria, however.
Please contact us if you have questions or are unsure if you are eligible. Special consideration can be made in exceptional circumstances.
