As the St. Louis region continues to cultivate innovative founders, ideas and companies, the need for additional funding sources grows.

We asked 10 St. Louis-based venture and private equity firms to comment on the gaps they see for our startups, what they consider when making investments and how they view St. Louis’ current funding climate.

Brian Kinman is Chairman of St. Louis Arch Angels.

From your perspective, what gaps do you see in local funding for startups?

There’s an emerging gap between accelerator funding and later-stage seed funding–the next $250,000-$300,000 before the larger rounds.

What are some of your organization’s current focuses or goals?

Identifying and recruiting more accredited investors into our organization and therefore the St. Louis startup ecosystem.

When looking at potential companies in which to invest, what are the top three factors you consider?

The idea, the size of its market and the founder and management team.

What advice do you have for founders seeking capital right now?

Know your story and be able to communicate it succinctly. Your goal should be the growth of your company, not how much you are going to make.

Why should investors invest in St. Louis startups right now?

The quality of the startups is higher than ever, opportunities for growth and success are abundant and deals take time from investment to exit, so get started now!