SIUE alumna earns Arch Grant to grow startup business

Brittany Dwyer

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumna Brittany Dwyer, founder of the St. Louis-based startup, Disco!, has received a competitive 2022 Arch Grant. Disco! is a digital marketplace for planning group events and experiences at favorite local businesses. Dwyer, who earned a bachelor’s in marketing in 2011 and an MBA in 2015, will continue to grow her company thanks to the $75,000 award.

“After working on Disco! for a year, the grant is a huge achievement and validation of the hard work I have put into this company,” said Dwyer. “It is a catalyst that will propel me forward, and has connected me with an extremely talented pool of startups and resources that have already opened doors for us.”

Dwyer plans to boost her company’s platform and completely reshape the way businesses connect with their customers. She credits the SIUE School of Business with offering applied educational opportunities that set her up for success.

“SIUE opened the door to many opportunities,” Dwyer added. “Within the MBA program, I was able to specialize in project management and received my project management certification. That experience introduced me to a great job, and I left with a skill set that has served me throughout all of my roles, but especially with starting a company.”

“The School of Business takes pride in this alumna’s accomplishment.,” said School of Business Dean Tim Schoenecker. “SIUE has had both business and engineering grads involved with startups that have received Arch Grants and we believe that the way that our business and engineering schools have designed our curricula provides real-world experiences that develops high-caliber graduates that make an important contribution to the regional economy.”

For more information on Disco! Visit timetodisco.com.