InnovateVMS
 
 
InnovateVMS, the Venture Mentoring Service of Innovate St. Louis, was started in May 2007 to focus on educating and mentoring entrepreneurs in the St. Louis area.  Innovate St. Louis and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation worked together to model InnovateVMS after MIT's highly successful mentoring program.  Our program matches teams of experienced mentors with each entrepreneur to provide coaching and advise for developing that venture's product or concept.  It is a free service for qualified start-up companies that could benefit from the advice and counsel of business veterans.
 
Mentors:
Our mentors bring a wealth of experience and knowledge from many industries, as well as the desire to assist ventures in their early stages.  We strive to provide unbiased, objective advice, thus InnovateVMS mentors may not invest in, or have an operational interest in, the companies they mentor.  Mentors meet monthly as a group for networking and updates on the ventures, as well as volunteering their time for mentoring sessions.
 
Ventures:
Our services support start-up and early-stage ventures in the St. Louis region, covering a range of technologies, services and industries.  Interested candidates are interviewed to determine compatibility with the program.
 
Support:
InnovateVMS is honored to be working closely with the academic community of St. Louis.  We appreciate the guidance, support, and collaboration of these institutions in working with InnovateVMS to grow the entrepreneurial culture of our region:
 
Harris Stowe State University
Saint Louis University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Webster University
Washington University in St. Louis
 
Additionally, InnovateVMS has received generous funding from the AT&T Foundation and the Ameren Community Development Corporation.  
 
If you are interested in becoming a mentor, or having your company mentored, please contact us at: info@innovatevms.org