A student-run hacker house for people building startups in St. Louis. Space to work, mentors who've done it, and a community that makes building fun.
Open to WashU students and builders across St. Louis.
A physical and cultural space in the heart of St. Louis where builders come together. Disruptio is a student-run initiative that helps WashU talent and the broader St. Louis community build ventures locally:
You have a side project, a startup, or a research idea you want to turn into a company, and you want people around you who take it as seriously as you do.
You haven't built anything yet, but you want to. You'll find teammates, ideas, and people a few steps ahead who will help you get going.
We're early, and some details aren't settled yet. Here's where things stand.
The founding cohort is planned for Fall 2027. The exact opening date is still being finalized.
We're securing a space in St. Louis now. Once it's confirmed, we'll share the location and how to get there, including without a car.
Whether that's live-in, drop-in coworking, or a mix, building alongside other people is the core of it, and events are part of it either way.
We'll share costs before anyone is asked to commit to anything.
Signing up is the first step. It puts you on the list for the founding cohort. We'll share how members are selected once that's set.
Signing up doesn't commit you to anything. We'll be clear about what membership expects before you join.
In 1904, St. Louis was booming. The World's Fair brought global attention. Washington University built Francis Field and the Brookings Quadrangle to host the Olympics. The city was at the center of the old economy, thriving with industry, culture, and ambition.
Today looks different. While Washington University has grown from a regional "streetcar college" into a world-leading research institution, the city hasn't shared in that success. There's no startup culture, no innovation ecosystem, and no gravitational pull keeping talent here.
The brain drain is real. Sam Altman and Jack Dorsey both grew up in St. Louis and left to build elsewhere. The people who stayed, like Square co-founder Jim McKelvey, who built LaunchCode here, show what's possible when builders invest in the city. We want more of the second story.
We can't replicate Silicon Valley overnight, but we can start the flywheel. The ecosystem starts as a bridge between St. Louis and coastal risk capital. Over time, ventures that start and scale here will create capital and density in St. Louis itself.
In San Francisco, New York, and Boston, building startups is fun, social, and cool. At WashU, it's often academic. We need a space where building is joyful, not just rigorous.
Here, the moment anyone gets traction, the question is "How do I get to the coast?" We want an ecosystem that makes staying the obvious choice: lower costs, strong universities, and growing density.
No. Plenty of people find their idea, or their co-founders, by being around other builders. Come curious.
No. Startups need designers, researchers, people who can sell, and people who can figure things out. If you want to learn to build, you'll be surrounded by people who can help.
Yes. First-years are welcome, and starting early is a big advantage. You don't need experience to join.
Disruptio was started by and is run by WashU students. It isn't an official university program. Any formal relationship with WashU is still being finalized.
Yes. Disruptio is open to builders across St. Louis, including students at other schools.
We're building the first group of members now. Tell us what you're working on, or what you want to work on.
Sign up