Steve Epner

Founder, The Startup Within

Steve worked for Union Carbide, Monsanto and Citicorp before starting his own company in 1976. The User Group, Inc. merged with Brown Smith Wallace LLC to form BSW Consulting, Inc in 1992. He retired in 2014.
Steve is a faculty member in the Graduate School of Business at Saint Louis University. He teaches Corporate Entrepreneurship, Lean Canvas, and, working with Washington University, he helped to create and teach “Ideas of Mass Disruption.” In 2011, Steve attended the Babson College Entrepreneurship Educator’s Program with instructors from 14 countries. Steve is an advisor to the R&D Department at Saint Louis University. He was part of the University’s successful application for a National Science Foundation grant to create an I-Corps site.

Steve is a past Chairman and active member in the Gateway Venture Mentoring Service. It provides free team-based mentoring. He teaches the business community how to mentor through Enterprise University. Steve earned a BS Degree in Computer Science from Purdue University in December of 1970. He was awarded the Certified Speaking Professional designation in 2000 from the National Speakers Association. In May of 2007, Steve earned a Master of Science degree from the Purdue University School of Technology. He is the founder and current Executive Director of the St Louis Innovation Roundtable.