Founder Framework: Apply by Sept 3!
2026-09-03 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | MO
Founder Framework | Fall 2026 Cohort — Program Overview for Applicants
➡️ Apply now through Sept 3 (Please use laptop or computer to fill out this form)
Held in person at T-REX and led by Venture Capitalist Vikram Lakhwara, this 11-week program is invaluable for early-stage founders. Alongside a cohort of peers, founders will sharpen their thinking and strategy so they can take their start-up to the next level.
This course is FREE and is offered in the spring and fall. But please note – spots are limited and admission is competitive! Don’t miss your chance to join our Fall Cohort.
Each week focuses on one foundational topic — from customer discovery and value proposition design to business models, market sizing, go-to-market strategy, and financial storytelling. Founders leave every session with practical, usable outputs they can apply immediately. The program also integrates investor-readiness throughout, helping founders develop a clear and compelling narrative for grant opportunities, pitch competitions, and future fundraising.
FF Cohort 1 | Spring 2026
Who Should Apply?

First-time builders seeking structure
Early-stage founders looking to validate their MVP
Entrepreneurs preparing for future grant, pitch, or investment opportunities
Start-ups looking for product-market fit and refining their go-to-market

What You Will Gain:

A clarified problem, customer segment, and value proposition
Customer insights from real conversations
A product roadmap tied to milestones
Simple and defendable TAM/SAM/SOM model
Working business model and early unit economics
A polished, investor-ready narrative and pitch outline
Practical go-to-market plan and early experiments
A straightforward financial story and model

➡️ APPLY NOW
Details:

Format: In-person workshops at T-REX (911 Washington Ave)
Cost: Free
Duration: 11 weeks, starting mid-September
Application deadline: September 3, 2026

FF is led by Venture Capitalist Vikram Lakhwara
About Vik
Vik brings nearly 20 years of experience as an investor, advisor, and venture ecosystem builder. Throughout his career, Vik has backed early-stage founders – first as co-founder of Green Cow Venture Capital, and before that as the first external hire at SK Telecom Ventures. He is now Founder and Managing Member of Stakehouse Fund, which invests in breakout founders from Midwest universities
A Silicon Valley native now fully planted in St. Louis, he’s become a fixture in the Midwest startup ecosystem as an advisor, investor-in-residence (at T-REX and Washington University’s Skandalaris Center), speaker, judge, and guest lecturer. Vik holds a BA in Economics from Vassar College.

Lawyer Office Hours - 1st Thursdays
2026-09-03 10:00 - 12:00 | MO
Lawyer Office Hours with Hannah Ji! First Thursday of every month, 10 am – noon at T-REX.
Growing a start-up comes with big legal questions—and getting answers early can save time, money, and headaches down the road. Join Hannah Ji, Partner at Quarles, for monthly office hours at T-REX. Whether you have questions about data privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, software licensing, technology transactions, intellectual property, or information governance and compliance, this is an opportunity to get practical legal insights tailored to your business.
Every growing technology company eventually faces key legal milestones:

Acquiring or licensing technology
Building products and teams
Scaling customers and operations
Protecting data, intellectual property, and the business

Drop in, bring your questions, and leave with a clearer path forward. No appointment necessary.

EVOLVE: An Evening at T-REX
2026-09-17 17:00 - 21:00 | T-REX 5th Floor, 911 Washington Ave. Suite 500, St. Louis, MO, 63101, United States
Join us on Thursday, Sept 17, for EVOLVE, T-REX’s inaugural fundraiser—a celebration of the bold ideas, visionary founders, and collaborative community driving innovation in St. Louis.
Over the last 15 years, T-REX has been the center of gravity for entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration in the St. Louis region. As a nonprofit, our mission-focused efforts have led to the success of hundreds of startups, creating over 6,000 local jobs and an annual economic output of about $700M… but we did not accomplish this alone. Our success was forged through partnerships, sponsorships, and most importantly our community. We’re excited to invite you to an evening of celebrating the past, present, and future of T-REX, as well as the community (YOU) who made it possible!

BUY SINGLE TICKET ($500 each)
BUY VIP SINGLE TICKET ($750 each)

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WANT TO BE AN EVOLVE SPONSOR? We have sponsor packages that are accessible for any size company/organization! If you’re interested in supporting the future of the St. Louis region, FILL OUT THIS FORM and we’ll get back to you ASAP about sponsorship opportunities.
