St. Louis entrepreneurs can access free business training

St. Louis entrepreneurs can receive free business training and compete for up to $50,000 in funding through a new program offered by Urban Strategies Inc.

The Community Development Financial Institution Bootcamp & Challenge, funded by Wells Fargo, will provide training and resources for aspiring small-business owners.

“This isn’t a debt, this isn’t any loans. So, yeah, this is a wonderful opportunity,” said Julian Wyatt, director of Urban Strategies.

Wyatt said the initiative is part of USI’s broader economic mobility strategy in the cities it serves.

“This initiative feeds up into our broader economic mobility strategy in each of these cities, just to ensure that we’re building community wealth and creating jobs,” he said.

The bootcamp will consist of five 60- to 90-minute virtual sessions held over about two and a half months. Participants will receive expert-led training, one-on-one coaching, peer collaboration and business-planning support. Topics will include business tools, customer discovery, business strategy, financial management, funding and pitch development.

Participants can compete in the pitch challenge regardless of whether they participate in the bootcamp. The winner can receive up to $50,000 to support the business, based on the pitch presented during the challenge.

To participate, applicants must be at least 18 years old, live in St. Louis and own a registered for-profit business or be willing to work with USI staff to complete the registration process before the pitch competition. Participants who need assistance obtaining a business license will be responsible for any permit or other required fees.

Those who successfully complete the bootcamp will receive a small-business certificate from USI. Graduates with perfect attendance also will receive additional points toward their pitch challenge score.

St. Louis is one of four cities selected for the initiative, along with Baltimore, Sacramento and Norfolk.

Larry Johnson, owner of Deezl Distributing LLC and Pull Up Supply Store, said support from USI has helped his business grow.

Johnson became a USI client in 2024 and secured a $20,000 loan. He used the funding to increase his staff from two employees to four, purchase larger amounts of inventory and establish a storefront.

“People who run businesses know it takes money to make money,” Johnson said. “… Since I’ve started, I’ve always kind of had more business than I can handle. So it’s a good thing to be able to bring in more people or get the inventory that they need so I won’t be missing sales.”

Johnson described USI’s intake and approval process as straightforward and encouraged other local entrepreneurs seeking support to explore the organization’s resources.

“Everybody doesn’t have the same options. Just knowing that a company like this is here to give options to people to make what they do more realistic — I recommend it to anybody,” Johnson said.

Founded in St. Louis in 1978, USI has since expanded its work to 19 states and says it has served more than 100,000 individuals and 30,000 families.

“We are more than just a lender. We’re going to be a partner in the community and connect the dots,” Wyatt said.

For additional information or to apply, visit USI’s Bootcamp & Pitch Challenge webpage:  https://usi-cdfi.org/bootcamp-pitch-challenge/. 

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