Inaugural Year · 2026

Sponsor a newSt. Louis tradition.

The inaugural sponsors of the Dr. Aleta Grimes Mitchell Entrepreneur of the Year Award are not advertisers. They are co-founders of a tradition — named in every program, every retrospective, and the institutional memory of the Award.

The Package

Every document, downloadable.

The Tiers

Seven ways to stand with the inaugural year.

1 available

Title — Presenting Sponsor

$100,000

Co-billed with the Award itself. The defining partner of the inaugural year.

  • Presenting billing across every event, print, and digital asset
  • Premier on-stage, program-cover, and homepage placement
  • Two reserved tables of ten + private pre-reception with the honoree
  • Five-minute address from the CEO or designee
  • Co-branded press release with the Award Committee
  • Permanent recognition on the Founding Partners wall
  • First right of refusal on Title sponsorship for the following year
2 available

Founder's Circle — Platinum

$50,000

The inner ring of partners who make the ceremony possible.

  • Prominent logo placement on stage, program, signage, and website
  • One reserved table of ten + pre-reception with the honoree
  • On-stage acknowledgment by the master of ceremonies
  • Co-branding on Reception, Dinner, or After-Program
  • Full-page ad in the printed program
  • Permanent listing on the Founding Partners page
4 available

Visionary — Gold

$25,000

For firms whose work embodies the Award's pillars of vision and growth.

  • Gold-tier logo placement on program, signage, and website
  • Eight reserved seats at a sponsor table
  • On-stage acknowledgment
  • Half-page ad in the printed program
  • Recognition in the post-event press release
8 available

Cornerstone — Silver

$10,000

Underwriters of the foundational elements of the ceremony.

  • Silver-tier logo placement
  • Four reserved seats
  • Quarter-page ad in the printed program
  • Recognition in pre-event communications
Open

Patron — Bronze

$5,000

For supporters who wish to be named in the inaugural roll.

  • Logo or wordmark on printed program and website
  • Two reserved seats
  • Listing in the digital program
Open

Friend of the Award

$1,500

An accessible way for smaller firms and individuals to participate.

  • Name listing in the printed program
  • One seat at the ceremony
  • Acknowledgment on the Award website
Limited

In-Kind Partner

By agreement

Venue, hospitality, floral, A/V, print, and beverage partners.

  • Recognition equivalent to the cash-tier value of the contribution
  • Logo placement on relevant program and signage materials
  • Listing on the Award website under In-Kind Partners
  • Subject to category exclusivity

Outreach

A St. Louis sponsor map.

A working list of more than thirty companies, foundations, and institutions to approach across the greater St. Louis area — grouped by sector, ordered by likelihood to anchor, and matched to a recommended tier. The full list, with public contact information for each, is in the downloadable PDF.

Download the full outreach list (PDF)

Technology & Services

  • World Wide Technology (WWT)Title — PresentingRecommended first call. Largest Black-owned business in the U.S., St. Louis HQ, founder story (David Steward).
  • Square / Block, Inc.Founder's CircleMajor downtown St. Louis employer with founder narrative.
  • Daugherty Business SolutionsVisionaryFounder-led St. Louis consulting firm.
  • Bryan Cave Leighton PaisnerVisionarySt. Louis-founded global law firm.

Financial Services & Banking

  • Edward JonesFounder's CircleLargest financial-services employer in the region.
  • Stifel Financial Corp.VisionaryDowntown HQ; active civic sponsorships.
  • Commerce BancsharesVisionaryRegional banking leader, consistent civic giving.
  • Enterprise Bank & TrustCornerstoneFocused on privately-held businesses.
  • First BankCornerstonePrivately held, family-led St. Louis bank.

Mobility, Hospitality & Consumer

  • Enterprise Mobility (Taylor family)Title / Founder's CircleIconic founder story; foremost St. Louis philanthropic family.
  • Anheuser-Busch / AB InBevFounder's CircleDefining St. Louis brand; established giving program.
  • Schnuck MarketsVisionaryFamily-owned regional grocer, deep civic ties.
  • Panera BreadVisionarySt. Louis roots, founder narrative (Ron Shaich).
  • Build-A-Bear WorkshopCornerstoneFemale-founder story (Maxine Clark) aligned with mission.
  • Bunge Limited (N.A.)CornerstoneGlobal agribusiness with regional presence.

Healthcare & Life Sciences

  • Centene CorporationFounder's CircleFortune 500 St. Louis HQ; large giving footprint.
  • Express Scripts (Evernorth)VisionaryMajor St. Louis employer.
  • BJC HealthCareVisionaryAnchor St. Louis health system.
  • SSM HealthCornerstoneMission-driven regional health system.

Industrial, Defense & Real Estate

  • Emerson ElectricFounder's CircleIconic St. Louis industrial.
  • Boeing — Defense, Space & SecurityFounder's CircleLargest regional manufacturing employer.
  • Ameren CorporationVisionaryAnchor regional utility, civic-minded.
  • Spire Inc.CornerstoneDowntown-headquartered utility.
  • Graybar ElectricCornerstoneEmployee-owned, strong civic posture.
  • Peabody EnergyCornerstoneDowntown St. Louis HQ.
  • Olin CorporationCornerstoneLong-standing Clayton-based industrial.

Foundations, Civic & Universities

  • Greater Saint Louis, Inc.Visionary / In-KindRegional civic alliance, natural co-host.
  • St. Louis Community FoundationCornerstoneChannel for donor-advised funds.
  • Cortex Innovation CommunityIn-KindInnovation district; possible venue & audience partner.
  • Washington University — Olin SchoolVisionary / In-KindPotential academic co-host.
  • Harris-Stowe State UniversityIn-KindMeaningful institutional partner for the inaugural year.
  • Saint Louis University — ChaifetzCornerstoneEntrepreneurship center; civic engagement.
  • University of Missouri–St. LouisCornerstoneAnchor regional public university.

First Call

The letter to World Wide Technology.

We begin with WWT by design. No St. Louis company more clearly embodies the four virtues this Award is built around — vision, determination, perseverance, and success. The Title-sponsor invitation is ready for committee signature.

Excerpt
"We write to invite World Wide Technology to serve as the Title — Presenting Sponsor of the inaugural Dr. Aleta Grimes Mitchell Entrepreneur of the Year Award… There is no St. Louis company whose story more clearly embodies the four virtues this Award is built around."
— Sponsorship Committee, to Mr. James P. Kavanaugh, CEO & Co-Founder

Contact

The Sponsorship Committee

For tier availability, custom packages, or to schedule an introductory call: