Landmarks in the skyline
- Gateway Arch
- Eads Bridge over the Mississippi
- Old Courthouse
- Downtown along Market Street
- Busch Stadium
- North County brick rowhouses
North County streets we serve
- West Florissant Avenue
- Natural Bridge Road
- Lindbergh Boulevard
- New Halls Ferry Road
- Chambers Road
- Interstate 270
Our own record
What theFORGE has seen
- Business Wellness Assessments completed
- 13
- Founder sittings held
- Shared once we pass 10
Small numbers can point to individual founders, so we only share a total once it reaches 10. Practice records are never counted.
Bottom line
What the research says
Founders are growing the region
The 2025 StartupSTL report found that locally owned businesses were responsible for the net gain of new jobs across the metro in 2023–2024.
Source: techstl.comHelp works best in person
A study of North St. Louis business owners recommends a personal approach and support for owners who have stalled after launch.
Source: hdl.handle.netFinding the right help is hard
North County Inc. describes a gap between the resources that exist and getting them into the hands of smaller businesses.
Source: northstlouiscounty.com
North County founders
What founders here tell researchers
Money and trust
Owners interviewed described a lack of capital that comes from a lack of trust as well as a lack of access.
Source: hdl.handle.netLearning on the fly
Many owners open with little planning and learn as they go.
Source: hdl.handle.netNo time to plan ahead
The daily work of keeping the doors open crowds out time for long-range thinking.
Source: hdl.handle.net
Trends
Where the region is heading
More startups
StartupSTL reports startup growth up 50% and job creation up 34% in one year.
Source: techstl.comGrowing sectors
The same report names Health Care & Social Assistance and Professional & Technical Services as high-impact sectors for new jobs.
Source: techstl.comMetro figures
The U.S. Small Business Administration publishes yearly counts of small businesses and self-employment for each metro area.
Source: data.sba.gov
Local neighbors
Who else serves St. Louis founders
Missouri SBDC, St. Louis region
Free, confidential one-on-one business consulting and low-cost workshops.
Source: stlpartnership.comNorth County Inc.
Small Business Navigator program that connects owners with a guide to regional resources.
Source: northstlouiscounty.comSt. Louis Development Corporation
Business assistance, certification and the Northside Economic Empowerment Center.
Source: developstlouis.orgWEPOWER
A 12-week business accelerator for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs.
Source: wepowerstl.orgWhere theFORGE fits
We walk with one founder at a time over months, forming the person while building the business, and we gladly refer to the groups above.
Our own description