ITEN mentors gathered in person and online for training, an event that was quarterly… but got bumped to semi-annual during the pandemic. The in person component took place in the ITEN offices, downtown St. Louis, in the Old Post Office building.
“It’s especially important for our mentors to use the same playbook as founders navigate the pandemic and post-pandemic world,” Entrepreneur in Residence Emily Breedlove told the 4thEst8. “It’s never been more vital to help founders find and develop their value proposition and plan, as well as to pivot to meet the changing world we’ll see this upcoming year.”
ITEN became part of Lindenwood University a couple years ago, but it remains institution agnostic, meaning startup founders do not have to be enrolled at the school.
Executive Director Quentin Ortega says his goal is to be the open end of the funnel for any startup entrepreneur in the region, to provide or connect them to resources to fuel their business. At ITEN that starts with being paired with a mentor for coaching through ideation, validation, customer engagement and perhaps investor readiness.
Caught Schmoozing are:
- Paul Heirendt, serial entrepreneur (BLOCK id), George Hicker, Alliance Advisors
- Anjie Sanford, BioGenerator; Melissa Grizzle, ITEN Entrepreneur Development
- Burl Stamp, Stamp&Chase; Bob Franceschelli, Riiisults
- David Weaver, Transitions Law Group; Gv Freeman, ITEN EIR
- Quentin Ortega, ITEN Exec. Dir.; Connie Gallagher, ITEN Business Development Mgr.