TechArtista Foundation Awarded Grant from the St. Louis County Port Authority to support local entrepreneurs
We’re excited to share that the TechArtista Foundation has been awarded a LaunchPad 725 grant through the Community Investment Fund administered by the St. Louis County Port Authority.
The Port Authority recently announced nearly $5 million in grants awarded to 38 nonprofit organizations across the St. Louis region, supporting initiatives that advance entrepreneurship, workforce development, and community revitalization. We’re honored to be among this year’s recipients and grateful for the Port Authority’s continued investment in organizations working to expand economic opportunity across St. Louis County.
An Evolution of Our Community Impact Grants
LaunchPad 725 is not a brand-new idea—it’s the next evolution of TechArtista Foundation’s Community Impact Grants, a program we’ve used over the years to directly support founders of color and social entrepreneurs working to build businesses and community-centered ventures.
Those early grants allowed us to pilot a values-driven approach to deploying small amounts of flexible capital to entrepreneurs who are often under-resourced but deeply embedded in their communities. Through that work, we saw firsthand how even modest investments—paired with trust, visibility, and access to networks—could help founders move ideas forward at critical moments.
LaunchPad 725 builds on those lessons by formalizing and scaling that impact. The program deepens our commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship by offering clearer structure, expanded reach, and stronger alignment with regional economic development priorities—while staying rooted in the same community-first philosophy that has guided our work from the start.
What Is LaunchPad 725?
LaunchPad 725 is a cohort-based accelerator program designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative professionals who are building ideas with the potential to create and scale economic opportunity in St. Louis County.
In addition to direct financial support, LaunchPad 725 connects recipients to mentorship, resources, and a broader entrepreneurial ecosystem—helping founders not only launch ideas, but build the capacity needed to sustain and grow them over time.
Why This Investment Matters
The Community Investment Fund exists to strengthen neighborhoods and expand access to opportunity. This investment enables the TechArtista Foundation to advance mission-critical work at the intersection of:
Entrepreneurship and small business development
Workforce development and skill-building
Community revitalization and economic resilience
By investing in people and ideas rooted in local communities, LaunchPad 725 helps ensure that economic growth is more inclusive, durable, and reflective of the region’s full potential.
Looking Ahead
We are proud to partner with the St. Louis County Port Authority and to stand alongside so many nonprofit organizations working to strengthen the St. Louis region. This grant affirms the importance of community-driven approaches to economic development—and reinforces our belief that when local talent is supported, the entire region benefits.
More details about LaunchPad 725, including eligibility criteria and application timelines, can be found on our website. We’re excited to put this funding to work and continue building pathways for entrepreneurs and creatives to thrive.
