Arch Grants

Arch Grants

Arch Grants was founded in 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri, by a group of local philanthropists and business leaders including Jerry Schlichter. The organization runs an annual global startup competition, awarding $50,000 to $100,000 in non-dilutive grants per winner. Unlike traditional venture capital, Arch Grants takes no equity and imposes no repayment. The strategy targets early-stage technology companies across sectors including enterprise software, health technology, climate solutions, and agricultural innovation. Winners commit to basing operations in St. Louis for at least one year. Portfolio companies include Perch (accounting automation), Sequoia-backed Trax, and Qoherent (manufacturing analytics). The geographic footprint is primarily North America, with grant recipients drawn from global applications and required to relocate to the U.S. Midwest. The organization reports awarding over $20 million across roughly 150 startups since inception (per Arch Grants, 2025). Team size is approximately 12 professionals. Adjacent structures include the Arch Grants Alumni Network and corporate partnerships with local institutions such as Washington University in St. Louis and St. Louis Regional Chamber. In 2024, the organization announced a partnership with the State of Missouri to provide additional support for grant recipients. A structural differentiator is the non-dilutive, no-equity model — rare among startup funding vehicles. The requirement that founders relocate to St. Louis creates a concentrated startup ecosystem rather than a geographically dispersed portfolio. Governance rests with a board of directors rather than investment committee, as the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity.