Metro East Start-Up Challenge

The IL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE is happy to announce the winners of its 12th Annual Metro East Startup Challenge. The 2025 business plan competition attracted around 35 entrepreneurs competing for a share of a $28,000 prize package.

Beyond Creative AI, of Alton, Illinois, was awarded the first-place prize of $10,000. Founder Tyler Duty laid the foundation for Beyond Creative AI in mid-2025. Beyond Creative AI is a video-editing agency helping brands to elevate their content on social m...

Entrepreneurs and new business startups are invited to compete in the 2025 Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's 12th annual regional business plan competition.

The MESC is organized by the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at SIUE. The purpose of the Challenge is to identify, encourage, and support entrepreneurs and business startups across the SBDC’s service area, including Jersey, Calhoun, Madison,...

With networking support provided by the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the startup known as The Waters Institute is a cutting-edge organization revolutionizing the way businesses and professionals engage with artificial intelligence (AI). This company provides accessible education and implementation strategies tailored to non-technical audiences. As AI continues to shape industries and redefine job roles, The Wat...

SoCal Soul Plants & Gifts, a thriving plant shop and community hub in downtown Edwardsville, is celebrating its one-year anniversary March 22-23 with an exciting weekend of giveaways, discounts, and plant-themed fun. Since opening its doors in March 2024, the shop has blossomed into a beloved destination, offering not only a stunning selection of houseplants, succulents, and unique plant-themed gifts but also a welcoming space for plant lovers to learn, connect, and grow together.

What began as...

Honeybee Vintage, a thriving vintage and antique shop in downtown Alton, is celebrating its one-year anniversary this March. The establishment is a winner of the 2023 Metro East Small Business Startup competition, sponsored by the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Since opening its doors, the business has rapidly grown into a beloved shopping destination, offering a unique blend of vintage and antique treasures, clothing, gifts, stationery, and handma...

November 1, 2024 The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE announces the winners of its 11th Annual Metro East Startup Challenge. The 2024 business plan competition attracted around 35 entrepreneurs to compete for a portion of a $28,000 prize package.

Moxie Pelvic Health and Wellness, of Maryville was awarded the first-place prize of $10,000. Dr. Amber D. Da Gama Rose founded Moxie Pelvic Health and Wellness in October 2023 to offer pelvic floor physical therapy to local women, men and child...

Nineteen Southwestern Illinois-based entrepreneurs and their innovative business concepts have been selected to move into the second round of the 11th annual SIUE Metro East SBDC business plan competition.

The Metro East Startup Challenge welcomes entrepreneurs and new businesses from a nine-county area of Southwestern Illinois with further expansion into Fayette, Montgomery and Macoupin counties. Nearly 40 entrepreneurs expressed interest in the regional competition this year, according to Jo ...

Entrepreneurs and new business startups are invited to compete in the 2024 Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's 11th annual regional business plan competition.

The MESC is organized by the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at SIUE. The purpose of the Challenge is to identify, encourage, and support entrepreneurs and business startups across the SBDC’s service area, including Jersey, Calhoun, Madison,...

The second place winner in the 2023 Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC) is Toast & Table, a retail kitchen supply store and educational cooking space. The women-owned business, founded by Stacy Fangmeyer and Amanda Krause in 2022, will host a grand opening at  227 W 1st St, Unit B in O’Fallon on Saturday, April 27.

Fangmeyer and Krause designed Toast & Table...

Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE announced the winners of its 10th Annual Metro East Startup Challenge. The 2023 business plan competition attracted around 40 entrepreneurs to compete for a portion of a $28,000 prize package.

Earth Candy, of Troy Illinois, was awarded the first-place prize of $10,000.  Earth Candy, owned by David Huniak and Joshua Douglas, is a retail operation that creates, manufactures and sells unique acidified foods.

Toast and Table, located in O’Fal...

Entrepreneurs and new business startups are invited to compete in the 2023 Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 10th annual regional business plan competition.

The MESC is organized by the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at SIUE. The purpose of the challenge is to identify, encourage and support entrepreneurs and business startups across the SBDC’s service area, including Jersey, Calhoun, Madison, Bond...

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has announced the winners of its 9^th Annual Metro East Startup Challenge (MESC). The 2022 business plan competition attracted more than 39 entrepreneurs to compete for a $25,000 prize package.   

Highland Emporium in Highland was awarded the first-place prize of $10,000. Highland Emporium, owned by Carol Eckhoff, is a retail store that provides a locale for m...

Nineteen southwestern Illinois-based entrepreneurs and their innovative business concepts have been selected to move into the second round of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC).

The annual business plan competition, now in its ninth year, welcomes entrepreneurs and new businesses from a nine-county area of southwestern Illinois and has been expanded to include Fayette and Montgomery counties.

“We’re extremely pleased with the sustained ...

Entrepreneurs and new business startups are invited to compete in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s ninth annual regional business plan competition: the 2022 Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC).

The MESC is organized by the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at SIUE. The purpose of the Challenge is to identify, encourage, and support entrepreneurs and business startups across the SBDC’s service area, including Jersey, Calhoun, Madison,...

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is happy to announce the winners of its 8^th Annual Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC). The 2021 business plan competition attracted more than 25 entrepreneurs to compete for a $25,000 prize package. 

A2 Creative, Inc--3D Gloop!, of Edwardsville, was awarded the first-place prize of $10,000.  A2 Creative, Inc--3D Gloop! creates unparalleled, specifically-engineered ad...