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 Clevinger is co-founder & managing director of Prolog Ventures.

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

Growth capital (Series A and B).

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

Successful exits from current investments.

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

Management, traction with business model and market size.

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

Get as much help from experienced entrepreneurs, lawyers and specialists as you can.

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

Area accelerators are doing a fantastic job advancing startups with seed funding and providing valuable mentoring.