Sports Platform Takes Top Prize, Signs First Paying Customers
A data-driven mental performance platform for athletes just landed its biggest funding win yet — and has paying customers to back it up.
Grant Win Fuels Push to Mass Production
A $50,000 non-equity award is funding equipment upgrades to scale the company’s laser-based circuit board technology
University Accelerator Bets Big on St. Louis Social App
A 14-week program with up to $50,000 in equity-free funding could be the catalyst this bootstrapped startup has been waiting for
Frustration Fuels Viral Affordable Food Finder
A map built in one night now guides budget eaters across four U.S. cities — and caught an accelerator’s eye
Chickpea Brand Lands $25K University Investment
A high-protein breakfast startup gains fresh backing from a WashU follow-on fund targeting high-growth Arch Grants alumni
New Apps Sharpen Focus on Right Customers
A legal-tech founder’s growing feature set is helping him zero in on who will actually buy his platform
Smart Cane Startup Wins Big at College Hackathon
Four CS students take first place and $2,000 after building a navigation system for blind and low-vision users
AI fertility firm locks in 16th patent
New intellectual property covers real-time embryo video analysis combined with machine learning
VOISS Converts Pilot Users Into Paying Customers
The Lawrence, Kan., edtech startup is turning more than 200 teachers who tested its social skills app into school district contracts — without spending a dollar on marketing
Accelera Ships New Wearable Balance Device
A wearable balance device built on Harvard research just hit the market — and a Maine startup is already planning its next leap forward.
Nucleic Sensing Systems Lands First Paying Customer
A Connecticut water utility is betting on real-time DNA detection to keep drinking water safe — and a Minnesota startup is ready to deliver.
Dental Startup Lands Major Distribution Deal
A five-person team’s tooth-repair strip reaches 400,000 doses sold, with orders for 700,000 more on the books
Forbes 30 Under 30 Scientist Builds Lab Models to Cut Drug Development Time
Two co-founder honors spotlight a startup that says it can trim years off the path from lab to pharmacy shelf
Soil Biology Startup Lands First Distribution Deal
Field trial success pushes ag-biotech firm toward first commercial contracts by year’s end
Diabetes Startup Earns Spot on Big Stage
Clinical study results land a remote patient management platform a presentation slot at the field’s largest annual gathering
AI Tool Solves Real-Time Bill Tracking Gap
Legislative tracking startup launches AI research tool that draws only from primary sources, not the internet
Pipeline AI Moves to Phase 2 on Paid Municipal Pilot
A mid-Missouri town signs on as first paying customer, testing whether cities become the startup’s growth engine
Crop Tech Startup Plants Its First U.S. Field Trial
An Argentine agtech company brings its photosynthesis-boosting seed technology to Missouri corn fields this spring
Medical startup cracks pharmacy-scale injection device production
Two new Fill-Finish systems and a new operations hire put the company on the cusp of its largest market yet.
Wearable Device Wins Dual Military Competitions
A chest-worn triage tool lands a DARPA challenge spot and a shot at $200,000 in federal funding
Soil Tech Firm Hits Beta With New Farm Alert System
Bizblip readers can test this BETA! Real-time weather alerts and crop recommendations to help farmers cut fertilizer costs
Frost-Fighting Spray Lands $1.3M to Move from Greenhouse to Fields
A natural molecule-based crop protection formula is ready for real-world validation after years of controlled testing
Blood Clot Detection Gets a Clearer Picture
A one-person startup lands a federal drug filing that could reshape how doctors find clots anywhere in the body
Community Banks Get a Fintech Upgrade at Industry Showcase
A Kansas City startup’s invitation to present at a Jack Henry advisory session validates its software for small banks battling tech giants
Mobility Device Clears a Key Safety Bar
An independent engineer finds the rehab robotics prototype more stable than a standard car
Insecticide startup locks in customers across three markets
The San Diego company has signed licensing agreements with buyers in mosquito control, pet care, and consumer products ahead of regulatory clearance
EmGenisys advances human IVF effort with new partnerships and first research submissions
EmGenisys has secured a central IRB approval and launched a multi-site embryo data study in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania and Women's Fertility and Specialty Center in Clovis, California. The company submitted two research abstracts for presentation...
Federal Stamp Validates Space Fastening Tech
Government recognition of in-space assembly advances opens doors to new capital for this aerospace startup.
Seaweed Extract Beats State Lettuce Production Records in Heat
A marine biostimulant startup’s California field trial outperformed crop yield benchmarks — even in the worst weather in years
Space Startup Lands $30K, Signs Five Mission LOI’s
A debris-tracking startup upgrades its product and reaches preliminary agreements with satellite operators targeting 2027 launches.
GiftAMeal acquired
Founder declines to discuss financial terms of the acquisition.
Advertising app inks strategic partnership with chamber
A new chamber partnership puts local nonprofits at the center of a fragmented digital ad market
Fashion Tech Founder Tapped to Chair Industry Standards Committee
New role could clear data bottlenecks blocking apparel automation and U.S. manufacturing reshoring
Feedback Startup Breaks Into Events Industry
A customer feedback software company lands a major events partnership, opening a new market after crossing 200 customer mark.
Startup Lands $220K to Scale Therapist Network
TechStars investment will bring a key technical co-founder on full time, accelerating platform development.
Medical Society Deal Opens Door to 11,000 Provider
Healthcare price transparency startup lands Arizona medical society partnership, gaining access to thousands of physicians.
Clinical Trial Launch Nears After Triple Regulatory Win
A dialysis device startup set to enroll patients at two major academic hospitals this spring.
Biodesign Startup Adds Team of Four
Medical equity consultancy bolsters development team as automated software tool nears direct customer access
Sports Equipment Bank Doubles Its Community Partner
St. Louis startup redistributed $250,000 in gear and diverted 11 tons from landfills in its second year.
Immunophotonics Wins European Patent
St. Louis biotech Immunophotonics has received a European patent covering the use of its lead drug candidate IP-001 in combination with checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of solid tumors, expanding the company’s global intellectual property portfolio to more than...
Habuyta Pivots from Marketplace to Chef Infrastructure Platform
“Our infrastructure makes everything stick — chefs grow faster, buyers trust the platform and the marketplace flows naturally as a result,” says founder.
Coworking Startup Hits 100 Locations Across 24 States
A bootstrapped, two-person team is quietly building a national workspace network for remote employees
Logistics Startup Launches MVP
This Digital Sandbox winner turned $1.35 million in revenue last year – BEFORE building the software!
Sustainable Plastics Startup Closes Funding Round
On the verge of a historic profitability milestone, an Austin bioplastics company secures pre-seed capital to fuel a sales push that its CEO says will get them there.
Astria Biosciences Secures Patent
Pittsburgh-based Astria Biosciences has received a U.S. patent for a whole-blood diagnostic test capable of detecting cerebral aneurysms, assessing rupture risk, and monitoring patient status after treatment — using only a standard blood draw. "Very excited to share...
Startup Lands VC Backing to Fix Broken HR Buying Process
A Minneapolis-based marketplace closes a pre-seed round to bring order to the chaotic small business HR outsourcing market.
Local App Founder Crowdfunds to Cut Merchant Fees
Local discovery app near me has launched a GoFundMe campaign with a $25,000 target to fund its next phase of development, including a merchant portal and direct point-of-sale integrations with Square, Stripe, and Toast. "I'm going to be talking to local businesses,...
Circuit board startup forges distribution deal
After a St. Louis start, this Chicago-based manufacturer partners with 40-year industry veteran to scale rapid prototyping technology
3 Person Startup Hires First Intern
Not even one year old, this startup has $45k ARR, and is eyeballing the Midwest talent pipeline HARD!
Digital Ad Network Secures MLS League Endorsement
St. Louis-based startup installs 334 screens across Colorado and Houston venues under 10-year partnerships
EmGenisys explores new application of its embryo tech
Launches Viable Bio Division, Plans FDA Clearance for Human IVF Technology
Diagnostic Lab Earns Gold Standard Accreditation
Oklahoma City laboratory achieves prestigious College of American Pathologists certification, joining elite group recognized for excellence in testing that identifies immune causes of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Remote Diabetes Platform Partners with Medical Supplier for Complete Care
St. Louis health tech company teams with national distributor to connect prescription fulfillment with ongoing patient monitoring and virtual diabetes educators.
Vacation Childcare Startup Serves 300 Families, Raises $300K Pre-Seed
The service connects traveling parents with local caregivers in eight countries. Founder says influencer marketing drove 1,000% Instagram growth in one quarter.
Food Pedaler Expands Restaurant Network
St. Louis bike-powered delivery service Food Pedaler has added four new restaurant partnerships, expanding its downtown and Central West End network to 18 locations. The additions include Pizza Twist and Taco Twist—sister restaurants offering Indian fusion...
Village Secures Strategic Partnerships with European Baby Formula Retailer, Major Hospitals
Parenting technology startup Village has formed strategic partnerships with BabaBellies, the only European baby formula retailer in Silicon Valley, Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, and Stanford Children's Hospital as the company prepares for its public beta launch....
Mesh Doubles Revenue After Business Model Overhaul
Mesh, a startup connecting people at local coffee shops and breweries, doubled its revenue in December after overhauling its pricing model and now operates profitably with unit economics that work. The company adjusted its pricing to achieve a month-one realized...
Location based retail referral app launches open Beta
Local discovery app 'near me' has launched its open beta on iOS and Android, turning over 1 billion monthly "near me" searches into actionable results for brick and mortar businesses. The app ranks businesses strictly by distance and features voice search, exclusive...
No-code tools startup sells tech to private buyer
3D virtual store startup closes operations after two years.
ES Biodesign Expands Focus With New AI Compliance Tool
ES Biodesign Consulting has announced plans to develop a new AI-powered software tool aimed at helping medical device companies detect potential equity and compliance issues in their designs before submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The tool will...
BirdDog Launches Full-Featured Sales Intelligence Platform After Year in Beta
Sales research platform BirdDog has launched a fully featured platform that monitors up to 100,000 accounts per customer, expanding significantly from the 2,000-account limit of its beta version. The new system scans every potential customer in a company's market...
OpsCompanion Expands Reach Through Peerlist Partnership
OpsCompanion has launched its profile on Peerlist, a professional networking platform for tech professionals, as part of a strategic marketing initiative to connect with engineers and developers who manage production systems. The St. Louis-based startup, which...
Barrett Solutions hires Chief of Staff
Ann Arbor-based consulting firm Barrett Solutions has hired Ezra Zimbler as Chief of Staff, bringing on an operations executive to manage hiring pipelines, invoicing, and marketing systems as the company scales its client base. "These are all things that just I...
xOrbita LAUNCHES MVP
xOrbita, a Dallas-based space debris tracking company, has launched a minimally viable product that uses synthetic data and machine learning to improve tracking accuracy for satellite operators. "Twenty-five percent of the debris catalog from major tracking providers...
MyAnIML Takes AI OFF WiFi
The company currently monitors approximately 10,000 head of cattle monthly across Kansas operations
nCase Technologies Hires Director of Public Health
An EMT for more than a decade and a master’s in public health this hire is tasked with expanding front-line institutional training programs.
LODAS Markets Partners with CAIS Group for Secondary Market Technology Following $8M Raise
Overland Park alternative investment platform expands transfer agent services with major sponsors.
RSIMU (formerly ClockTo) launches AI Chrome extension
Building knowledge bases for projects, and keeping track of past searches and sources… then going back to those projects later for further work… is getting harder. Founder Mahdi Jadaliha says this extension solves that problem.
Paytient 2x’s Y-o-y revenue; onboards millions
Healthcare fintech Paytient has testified before Congress on healthcare affordability while powering prescription payment plans for nearly 22 million Medicare beneficiaries, making it the largest provider in this space. CEO Brian Whorley appeared at a December 10...
Kaliber Launches Beta; Seeks Event Venues
St. Louis event planning startup Kaliber Events has launched a beta directory featuring local venues and vendors, as a first step to expand into a full-featured planning platform. The directory focuses on connecting event hosts with smaller, local businesses and...
Lula Adds Four Strategic Hires to Scale Operations
Property maintenance technology company Lula has brought on four strategic hires to expand its leadership team: Victoria Deltoro as Head of Rev Ops, Haley Waters-Fields as Head of Go-to-Market, Mark Pierce as Head of Partnerships, and JT Tenjack as Head of Design....
Strategic Partnership Boosts Customer Access for Bootstrapped SaaS Startup
Workflow Secrets has secured a strategic partnership with Colibri Group, one of the largest continued education companies for real estate agents in the United States, to deliver webinar-style training sessions for real estate professionals. The partnership emerged...
iSite Media Doubles Stadium Network; Juices Revenue
Strategic partnerships and a newly designed display device are driving growth.
Procurement AI Launches Middleware for Faster Enterprise Integration
Easework AI, an agentic AI startup in procurement and supply chain has moved its technology into live customer environments, with its AI agents now operating in production and generating revenue. The company has also launched a new integration layer, called...
Phoenix Biomedical Strengthens IP Position as Prosthetic Testing Accelerates
Phoenix Biomedical has filed its non-provisional patent application and is now officially patent-pending, marking a significant step toward patient testing of its modular prosthetic system. Early durability testing on its carbon-fiber-reinforced outer socket has...
Career Advisor Marketplace Launches
This is the first startup to join bizblip from India.
EmGenisys’ Wins INNOVATE Pitch Tank Competition
EmGenisys won the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s inaugural INNOVATE Pitch Tank Competition, earning the audience-selected top prize and a $10,000 award. The event brought together more than 240 clinicians, founders, and investors, giving the Texas-based...
Posie Pots Secures Placement in 100 Stores
Self-watering planter startup Posie Pots has secured a Walmart Gold Ticket and will enter 100 Walmart stores as the company expands its retail presence. Founder Kay Wells said the team is also preparing for placement in Schnucks next spring through the grocer’s...
EDURain CEO Sentenced for Assault
Admits guilt to charges of assaulting a St. Louis Entrepreneur and police officer
Storytailor Wins $22K at Pure Pitch Rally
Founder also takes gold at Independent Publisher Book Awards
nCase Technologies Triples Revenue; Sells Out Stock
nCase Technologies, the St. Louis startup behind a keychain case for overdose-reversal medication, has won an Arch Grant and closed an additional $150,000 in funding. The award and fresh capital come as the company reports $18,000 in organic sales over a four-week...
Memorial Tree Startup Grows Six New Partnerships
Six crematories nationwide now offer families a gentle introduction to planting living tributes that incorporate their pet’s ashes into specially formulated soil.
Amplifi Vascular Secures $6.9M and FDA Approval
Medical device startup achieves three major milestones following successful first-in-human study of its innovative vein dilation system.
Ultrasound Device Startup Pivots From Lubricants to Blood
A Missouri startup is preparing human trials of sensor technology that measures blood flow resistance in real time, potentially transforming how clinicians monitor sepsis and blood disorders without drawing samples.
TimeBolt Expands Features
“We wanted creators to be able to record, cut, and caption without waiting on the cloud,” co-founder and CEO Doug Wulff told bizblip
Earnest Agriculture Awarded $450K
Agtech Startup secures two STTR’s and DARPA recognition for microbial crop solutions.
Free Pharmacy Delivery Coming
St. Louis startup connects patients to community pharmacies via subscription model.
SeeInMe Secures $500K NIH Grant
SeeInMe, a Missouri-based health technology startup, has received a $500,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant from the National Institute on Aging to expand and test its digital care coordination platform in dementia care communities. The...
Riverwatz Secures $500K for Prototype
Riverwatz has secured $500,000 in funding to build its first full-scale river generator prototype, which the company plans to install at Frontier Park in St. Charles to power local festivals and demonstrate the technology's commercial viability. "We will be able to...
Immunophotonics New Leadership “Great News” Says Outgoing CEO
Immunophotonics has a new CEO. "It’s great news for the company - really awesome folks that are putting their reputation on the line to push this through the next phase!" outgoing CEO Lu Alleruzzo told bizblip. Aleruzzo stays on in an advisory capacity, working...
CoTrackPro Secures CLE Accreditation
St. Louis-based startup CoTrackPro has earned approval from the Missouri Bar Association to launch its first accredited continuing legal education (CLE) course. The 90-minute Zoom session, scheduled weekly, will train attorneys on digital tools to streamline...
Boat Planet Selected for Major Marine Industry Trade Show
St. Louis-based boat marketplace Boat Planet has been selected as one of five featured startups to pitch at IBEX, the largest marine industry trade event in the United States. The company will present to hundreds of industry professionals, investors, and stakeholders...
BirdDog Spikes MRR
Sales research platform BirdDog has grown revenue by over 60% for two consecutive months and gone viral three to four times in the last six months through unconventional marketing strategies. The 14-month-old startup has been doubling revenue every two or three months...
Capacity continues acquisition streak
Support automation company Capacity completed its thirteenth acquisition with the purchase of Indianapolis-based KLaunch, expanding the company's conversational AI capabilities and strengthening its presence in government, healthcare and nonprofit sectors. "As...
Beauty Brand Startup Secures $10,000 AI Funding
Shades of Color has closed a $10,000 crowdfunding round on Kiva to enhance its AI-powered marketplace for beauty shoppers. The St. Louis-based startup plans to use the funding to expand conversational features and improve visual product recommendations, making online...
OpsCompanion Lands Customers and VC Validation
OpsCompanion closed its pre-seed round as it introduced what it calls its Operational Intelligence Engine, a system designed to make company data searchable and actionable. The tool targets firms struggling with compliance, security, and reliability tasks that often...
Mesh App Adds Free Tier, Expands Reach to St. Louis
Mesh App, a startup facilitating in-person meetups at local coffee shops, has reintroduced a free membership tier and expanded to multiple cities, including recent launches in St. Louis, with Nashville and Chicago scheduled to follow. The company reports 30%...
Amplified Sciences Presents First Human Data for Second Diagnostic Product
Diagnostic company Amplified Sciences has presented its first human clinical validation data for its second product at the ADLM conference in Chicago in late July. The 70-patient study represents a significant milestone demonstrating the company's platform can deliver...
Assertion AI joins AI2 Incubator, secures $500K pre-seed funding
Assertion AI launched its automated machine learning platform after joining the Allen Institute for AI’s (AI2) incubator in Seattle. The incubator, founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, invested $500,000 in the company’s pre-seed round. The startup will also...
Startup Seeks Securities Broker Partner for Real Estate Blockchain MVP
Accountabul is prepared to launch a pilot project to tokenize real estate, beginning with a property purchased for $4,000 near the NGA building in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. The company has also rolled out a consulting service, offering expertise in blockchain...
EmGenisys earns validation; expands to Europe
EmGenisys has published a peer-reviewed paper in the Journal of IVF-Worldwide demonstrating that its EzGrader product can assess bovine embryos with accuracy comparable to expert embryologists. The study found the AI achieved 81.7% agreement with experts on embryo...
MyAnIML Finalizes Product Line
MyAnIML has completed development of its product line that enables ranchers to detect cattle diseases without Wi-Fi, electricity, or additional infrastructure. The AI-powered system uses devices and a mobile app to capture images of cattle faces and send notifications...
MedReveal Lands First Customer
Healthcare price transparency startup MedReveal secured its first paid customer with a three-year contract, marking a major milestone for the St. Louis-based company. The deal was inked a month ago, before the team completed the St. Louis University New Venture...
EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: FinLocker closes Series B extension with MTC participation
FinLocker completed the final tranche of its $17 million Series B round, with the latest investment led by the Missouri Technology Corporation, a state-backed group supporting emerging technologies. The St. Louis-based company will use the funds to scale business...
Denali Pivots From Building Supply Startup to Regional Fleet Operator
Denali Building Supply changed its name and executed a pivot to Denali Equipment Rental. It opened a new retail site in Cottage Hills, Ill., marking its transition from a building materials delivery service into a fast-growing equipment rental company. What began in...
DEMIblue Launches Nonprofit; Eyes Canada
Beauty tech company DEMIblue Natural Nails is preparing for international expansion, beginning with Canada. The startup, founded six years ago to provide healthier nail care alternatives free of toxic chemicals, is also launching a nonprofit initiative called DEMIblue...
Phoenix Advances Prosthetic Testing With Summer Accelerator Support
Phoenix Biomedical has moved its modular prosthetic prototype into the next phase of testing after completing two summer entrepreneurship programs — the Skandalaris Launchpad and SLU’s New Venture Accelerator. Founder Lili Hosteler said two Washington University...
TeaVoila Airport Certified; Enters Grocery Accelerator
TeaVoila, a St. Louis-based maker of compostable tea cups with ready to brew tea included in the cup, has secured certification to sell at airports and launched in St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The company is also participating in an accelerator program...
Blazeworthy and bizblip Form Strategic Partnership
Strategic partnership more of a ‘value add’ to both companies.
Barrett Solutions Hires First (non-founder) Employee; Establishes Office
Ann Arbor-based consulting firm Barrett Solutions has hired its first full-time employee and moved into office space after securing enough client work to support the expansion. The company brought on Logan Hayner as a junior engineer, promoting him from subcontractor...
Startup Sells 800 Units to St. Louis County Public Health
From a prototype 18 months ago, to beta testing a year ago, and actual product sales last winter -- nCase Technologies is now doing bulk sales. St. Louis County Public Health bought 800 units of their keychain case for carrying naloxone - commonly known by the brand...
Capacity Secures $92M and Acquires
This St. Louis startup boasts profitability and $60M ARR. This is their 11th acquisition.
Cognitive Card Games Secures IP
One year old game startup is issued first patent, and begins taking pre-orders for second game.
Offshift Acquired
From MVP stage solopreneur startup, through funding and growth… to aquisition… bizblip has followed this founders journey since 2020.
CoTrack Pro Launches AI Tools to Support Families in Divorce and Custody Conflicts
St. Louis-based startup CoTrack Pro has rolled out a suite of AI-powered apps designed to help families navigate high-conflict divorces, streamline co-parenting, and support legal proceedings. The platform includes tools for documenting parenting plan violations,...
Wind Energy Startup Lands $1.25M Contract
Birmingham-based (and St. Louis founded) clean energy startup secures major defense contract to deploy innovative rooftop wind turbines at Ellsworth Air Force Base as it moves from prototype to real-world deployment.
Treebute Delivers First Beta Testing Kits for Memorial Tree Service
St. Louis-based memorial tree service Treebute has delivered its first Treebute Kits to beta testers, marking a significant milestone in the company's product development process. The kits represent years of development work aimed at helping people honor pets and...
EmGenisys Secures $1.5 Million Seed Funding and Eyes Global Expansion
“We actually met our lead investors, Grit Road Partners, at InvestMidwest 2024.”
ArchGrants Portfolio Company Signs 6 Customers, Matches $100K Grant
St. Louis-based SweetSpot, a healthcare technology company, has been awarded a $100,000 growth grant from Arch Grants. The non-dilutive grant requires matching investment, which the company has already secured. Sweetspot was also named a 2025 "company to watch" by the...
TerraBlaster Secures $3M Seed Round; CEO drops “interim” from title
This Silicon Valley based AgTech startup has ‘deep roots’ in St. Louis!
WingXpand Secures Grant for Edge AI Drone Technology
WingXpand, a St. Louis-based drone technology company, receives a $249,916 Phase I SBIR grant from the U.S. Army to develop its Expeditionary Edge AI Enabled Battle Network from a Pack Portable Fixed-Wing UAS. The grant supports WingXpand's innovative portable drone...
Cognitive Physical Exercise App Trades Service for Marketing; Dives into AI and South Korea
St. Louis-based startup Put14in is securing new intellectual property rights in the United States and nearing completion of filings in South Korea. Founder Joshua Norris also revealed a distinctive approach to artificial intelligence integration and public visibility:...
Greenfield Closes Oversubscribed Round
Funding to date tops $9M, and since our last report they picked up a new CEO.
Food/Weapon Startup Sells on Amazon
S-T-O-P (Self-defense TO all Places) claims increased sales for its self-defense food product since its recent listing on Amazon. Designed to resemble dry food spice to bypass weapons restrictions, the product offers protection in areas where traditional self-defense...
Lena Health Secures $2M Seed Funding
Lena Health closed an oversubscribed $2 million seed round led by Emergent Ventures and Cultivation Capital, with participation from the Texas Medical Center Venture Fund and Caravan Health Ventures. "Patients slip through the cracks because staffing shortages delay...
AlgenAir Unveils Lower-Cost DIY Kit
Indoor air innovation company AlgenAir announced with two new developments: a budget-friendly DIY air purifier for schools and hobbyists, and progress on large-scale industrial systems for buildings across the US and EU. The company just unveiled its Edu Aerium, a...
Cannabis Industry Data Platform Enters New Markets and Early Revenue
St. Louis-based startup reduces six-hour data collection to 20 minutes, expands to four markets. Reddit posts drive significant traffic as company begins generating initial recurring revenue.
Sleep Apnea Product Startup Prepares for April Launch
Brandon Belvin, founder and CEO of startup Apneasy, says he will launch his company's online store at the end of April. Apneasy’s initial product line is focused on improving CPAP therapy compliance. The first offerings include specialized sleep therapy tape and nasal...
Applied Bioplastics Doubles YoY Revenue; Approaches Profitability
The company doubled its 2024 fiscal year revenue in January 2025 alone, and is on the verge of breaking even. Its latest innovation—durable plastic pallets made from recycled agricultural waste—reduces costs by 88% and outlasts wooden pallets by 50 times. Applied...
Agtech Embryo Startup Launches Commercially, Eyes New Markets
With a first product focus on cattle, the startup is researching how its technology could be used to help revitalize endangered species and in hyper-long term space exploration.
Mesh App Expands to Nashville and Chicago, Rebuilding Third Spaces
Mesh App, a startup that facilitates in-pereson meetups at local coffee shops, is set to launch in Nashville and Chicago in two weeks, following successful rollouts in Madison, Milwaukee, and Austin. Founders say the app has seen a 30% month-over-month growth since...
Ag-Tech Startup Benson Hill Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Benson Hill, Inc. (Nasdaq: BHIL), a seed innovation company, announced that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to sell some or all of its business under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. "We have made significant strides in advancing our...
Diabetes Tech Startup Adds Implantable Glucose Monitoring To Platform
Health tech startup SweetSpot announced the integration of an implantable continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system into its platform. They call it Eversense 365. The company, which specializes in integrating data from diabetes devices like CGMs and insulin pumps,...
2023 InvestMidwest presenter closes $3.1M round
Solis Agrosciences, based in St. Louis' 39 North AgTech Innovation District, has secured Series A funding from Cultivation Capital to expand its research services in genome editing, plant transformation and genomic sequencing. While both Cultivation Capital and the...
Well Principled Launches Digital Twin Wellness App
Well Principled, founded in 2018 in St. Louis, is enterprise software that predicts buyer behavior. Now the startup is entering the world of tech enabled fitness with the launch of its health and wellness app BODYSIM into the Apple store. BODYSIM's approach is to make...
Buswell Biomedical finishes prototype and secures more IP
St. Louis medical device startup Buswell Biomedical has strengthened its intellectual property portfolio with a new trademark for its AI-controlled mobility device "UPMO" and completed development of a working prototype capable of supporting up to 500 pounds. "The...
$25K Grant “two-fer” at WashU for Eye Care and Tech Manufacturing
Two Washington University alumni have been awarded the inaugural Olin Startup Grants, receiving $25,000 each to accelerate their innovative ventures. The grants are part of the university's Venture Capital Practice course, which immerses students in the world of...
Crashlands II Nears Launch as Missouri Studio Innovates the Indie Scene
Butterscotch Shenanigans, an independent video game studio headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri, is gearing up for the release of Crashlands II on April 10. The sequel to their 2016 hit marks a culmination of five years of development, highlighting the studio's...
Geneoscopy Closes $105M Series C
Geneoscopy, a St. Louis-based biotech firm, announced Wednesday the closure of a $105 million Series C funding round, led by Bio-Rad Laboratories. The investment aims to accelerate the commercialization of ColoSense, the company's FDA-approved at-home colorectal...
The Bootstrap Playbook: Secrets of Startups That Scaled Without Venture Capital
Billion-dollar venture capital backed tech companies dominate headlines, so it’s easy to believe that outside funding is the only path to startup success. But beneath the surface, a quieter revolution is underway. Some of the most successful startups have bootstrapped...
Data-Driven Growth: Key Metrics for Startup Survival
In the early days of Airbnb, co-founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia slept on air mattresses in their own living room, hosting strangers to make rent money. They knew that if their nascent platform was going to become something more than a quirky side project, they...
EDUrain Founder Picks Up New Felony Charges
Stemming from an October incident at the Founders Lounge, Bryon Pierson Jr. is now charged with felony assault on an officer, a Class B Felony. If found guilty of a Class B Felony he could face up to 15 years in prison.
True Disruptors Never Look Like a Good Bet
"In 1876, an internal memo at Western Union dismissed Alexander Graham Bell's telephone with the assertion: 'This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication.' Little did they know, this so-called novelty would soon...
Prosthetics Startup Wins Proof of Concept Award
Phoenix Biomedical, a prosthetic technology startup, just landed a commitment from the Missouri Technology Corp. for a $50,000 matching investment. Founded in St. Louis in March 2024, the company's modular prosthetics allow patients to perform their own repairs,...
Startup Postmortems: Common Threads in Recent Failures
"In the world of startups, failure isn't the exception—it's the rule. Despite the glamour of unicorns and overnight successes, a staggering 90% of startups fail. But why do so many promising ventures crash and burn?" - Paul Riat, bizblip publisher --- In the...
Food Startup Secures $650K Grant
Mighty Cricket, a sustainable protein company focused on developing cricket-based food products, has been awarded $650,000 in Phase II funding from the United States Department of Agriculture. This follows their successful $234,090 Phase I funding received last year....
Cracking the Code: Data Reveals Top Factors in Startup Success
"In 2019, I found myself stepping back into the world of startups after a decade-long hiatus. Two key players from the St. Louis ecosystem approached me with a pressing problem: 'There's very little information available about early-stage tech startups,' they said....
Under the Radar: Niche Sectors Experiencing Unexpected Funding Growth
When I launched my pre-seed news startup a few years ago most venture capitalists would have dismissed it as too niche, and while they were too polite to say so -- news is a 'dog' when it comes to both scale and profits. I knew I was never going to get a venture...
Startup Ecosystem Heatmap: Where Innovation Is Booming in 2024
"Forget Silicon Valley. Did you know that the next unicorn might emerge from a city you've barely heard of? Welcome to the new global map of innovation, where unexpected hotspots are redefining the startup landscape in 2024." The global startup ecosystem is undergoing...
From Selling Trees to Funding Dreams: The New Startup Funding Playbook
Funding Trends in Early-Stage Startups When I founded bizblip a few years ago, I was venturing into uncharted territory. Early-stage, pre-seed tech startups were like hidden gems—too small for media attention and absent from major venture capital databases. To keep...
🌍 Countries That Actually Help Startups Scale Globally
Looking to expand internationally? The new APEXE Nations Report reveals a surprising disconnect between traditional market attractiveness and actual startup success rates. The Plot Twist: Some "obvious" expansion markets are underperforming, while others are punching...
🌎 Game-Changing Report Reveals How Nations Turn Innovation into Startup Success: G20 Rankings Unveiled
[A thread on the groundbreaking APEXE Nations Report 2024] 🧵 Key Findings: 📊 US, UK & Canada Lead Innovation Race United States tops rankings with strongest startup ecosystem performance UK and Canada round out top 3, excelling in policy implementation Emerging...
Lessons from the Top: Data Insights into Recent Startup Successes
In the early days of bizblip, I found myself burning the midnight oil, sifting through scant information on pre-seed tech startups. Traditional media overlooked them, and databases like Crunchbase offered only a thin, outdated veneer of data. It wasn't until I...
From Silicon Valley to Silicon Savannah
Mapping New Startup Ecosystems
Columbia-Based Tech Company Expands into AI Chatbot Services
Captvr3d, a virtual tour company founded in 2019, is expanding its services to include customized AI chatbot solutions using Zapier's new platform. The company, which specializes in creating virtual tours for businesses and other institutions like Columbia College, is...
Techstars ’23 founder charged with felony assault
Two police officers and a startup founder were transported to the hospital last Thursday following an alleged attack by EDUrain founder Bryon Pierson Jr. Witnesses tell bizblip that Pierson showed up at the weekly meeting of the Founders Lounge, in the Cortex district...
Data Startup Wins First Pitch Contest
Verified Backups, a cloud storage and data protection startup, won its first pitch contest last night in St. Louis. The company emerged the winner out of 16 participants, securing a $400 prize. "The recognition is really nice," CEO Chris Marshall told bizblip. "It's...
AI-Powered Marketing Startup Expands Scope
Zipper is broadening its focus from fitness and wellness businesses to target a wider range of service-oriented companies with its AI-powered marketing tools. After closing a $500K "FF&F" round this spring (see story, below), the Colorado based company is...
Mission Control acquired
LeagueSpot has acquired Mission Control, expanding its platform to include both esports and traditional sports offerings. The acquisition aims to create a unified platform catering to the post-pandemic shift in youth engagement, balancing video games and traditional...
Health Tech Entrepreneur Launches New Equity-Focused Venture
St. Louis Founder Aims to Revolutionize Healthcare Delivery for Underserved Urban and Rural Communities
STOP paying for bizblip
In 2021 I entered ‘figure it out’ mode — and everything was about testing. Last year, while in the hospital after being hit by a car, I put some things together — tested them this spring — and I’m now in ‘build it and sell it’ mode.
STL Startup World Cup Winner – Immunophotonics
Launched in 2008, this startup is a Cultivation Capital, St. Louis Arch Angels and Missouri Technology Fund portfolio company.
Therapy startup funds grant program
The program supplies $1500 in adaptive equipment and services to people who need it.
Startup CEO enters Global Entrepreneurship In Residence program
To maintain her U.S. visa, and continue her bootstrapped startup one St. Louis CEO is headed to Cleveland, Ohio to take part in the Global Entrepreneurship In Residence program there. "This is like the beginning of me becoming a unicorn company. So, welcome to...
EdTech startup cleared for business in Louisiana
This Arch Grants and WUSTL incubated startup is pushing sales.
Food Waste Startup Secures First Test Customers
This student-led venture raised $22,500 through startup and pitch competitions.
Extracurricular activities platform signs first paying customer
In addition to money from paying customers for validation, the early user experience is giving this platform a ton of useful information for refinement.
Play Poll. Launches New Poll-Based Game App
Play Poll., a startup founded by Chris Ocasio, has launched a new poll-based game app that allows users to answer polls, earn points, and unlock live results. The app, currently in beta version, presents different collections of polls for users to play through. "Play...
Airy Launches Voice-Based Smart Journal App on iOS
Airy, a startup founded earlier this year by students at Washington University in St. Louis, has launched its voice-based smart journal app on the iOS App Store. The app, which allows users to create photo-rich journal entries via voice commands, aims to make...
FinLocker Secures $17M Series B
Funding to Enhance Homebuying Experience
Medical device startup lands key patent
It spearheads a moat around our technology so that our whole business is the control system, the secret sauce, said founder.
Blockchain/AI startup to the insurance industry expands product offering
This founder raised $5M in 2022 and last year told bizblip that 2024 would see the company turning a profit.
FDA approves home test kits for colorectal cancer detection startup
Home test kits are expected to vastly expand the reach, and potential revenue, of this startup.
Bootstrapped startup closes $500K ‘Friends and Family’ round
Initially trying to connect fitness professionals with customers, the startup soon pivoted to developing a marketing tech stack to help health and wellness businesses.
Missouri Startup Weekend – Winners
“Two billion dollar companies, Zapier and EquipmentShare, came from this competition,” said Brett Calhoun, organizer and General Partner at Redbud VC.
Hot shot co-founder and CTO joins an Arch Grants startup
This pre-revenue company CEO tells bizblip they have paying customers lined up for a June launch.
For Womanhood Seeks Beta Testers
After percolating in the Washington University system, this startup is ready to launch.
2024 InvestMidwest presenter secures $750K
A month before the biggest venture conference in the Midwest, this scrappy startup won a global pitch competition!
Boat Planet funded
This 2023 InvestMidwest presenter landed VC from Tulsa.
Startup approved by FDA as ‘Software as a Medical Device’
This startup helps physical therapists get compensated for work they used to do ‘ad hoc’, says CEO.
Healthcare startup rolls out 1st product; claims 1500 users
This startup has been beta-testing its product with a hospital that invested in its seed round.
Fitness Tech Company Launches Training Center
“We are launching a Special Training Center to showcase our software and equipment and build brand awareness,” the CEO told bizblip.
EDUrain picks up $120K and kisses the STL ‘goodbye’
CEO Pierson says Black Wall Street is part of American history… and his startups future!
Healthcare startup CEO says new hire is ‘most important person in our company’
This company, launched last year, recently picked up funding from Arch Grants and Missouri Technology Corp.
Cancer Fighting Startup Treats First U.S. Patient
“The first time you put your drug into patients, you work a decade to achieve that type of goal,” the CEO told bizblip. This startup reportedly raised more than $28M.
Fashion startup enters two accelerators; nets $120,000
This startup is also in the first ever GitHub Accelerator cohort.
iVenture Accelerator startup launches Beta app for iOS and Android
Feedback from this Beta will help refine the platform. B2B sales are expected to launch by the end of the year.
Portal wins $2K at WUSTL to fund MVP
This student run venture founder says they’ll have an MVP up by the end of the semester.
AI and blockchain platform serving insurance industry named ‘most fundable’ as it doubles workforce
This startup projects revenues to drive profitability by next year. It recently doubled its workforce.
OPO Startups Demo Day Pitch Winners! (everyone)
Cash is great, but there’s a lot more to take away from a pitch competition.
Brand New Angel Fund Makes First Investment
This university alumni fund leverages alumni who want to invest in startups, and campus generated startups from both students and faculty.
TechSTL honored by Technology Councils of North America
At its national convention in Seattle the Technology Councils of North America awarded TechSTL with its 2023 "Major Impact on Tech Community" award. TECNA is made up off more than 60 Tech Councils across North America, and TechSTL is amongst its newest members -- as...
Real estate platform partners with coaching firm for market expansion
CEO tells bizblip this should put them into a score of new markets.
Capacity acquires Denim Social and a west coast startup
These acquisitions are hot on the heels of the Textel acquisition.
Alternative marketplace startup opens door on a $12 trillion market
“This is our first foray into being able to transact fully private securities,” the founder told bizblip.
The Navy just paid a tiny Missouri firm to develop AI defect detection in metal manufacturing
Not an early stage startup, this firm is headquartered near the family farm of bizblip publisher Paul Riat… and they’re doing cool stuff.
Stem cell startup closes $6.5M A Round; launches subsidiary
This startup presented at InvestMidwest, and bizblip has reported a half dozen of its milestones in the last couple years.
Telehealth startup pivots, rebrands, goes multi-lingual
We talked with the founder who says focusing on four and five year olds entering school is the secret sauce in the U.S., and she’s headed to England in October to start international adoption efforts.
EXCLUSIVE: Tiny STL startup funded $17M in four years; launches second product
Only bizblip paid subscribers will learn about this startup. No one else is reporting on them.
GiftAMeal tops 1.5M meals to needy
A social mission lies behind everything this for-profit startup does.
St. Louis startup founder to address national conference of Latinx realtors
This Arch Grant and Capital Innovators portfolio company has raised more than $900,000 in pre-seed.
Turning ChatGPT into my graphics design expert
I run an online news publication that focuses on early-stage tech startups. All the written content I publish is based on interviews and research that I have personally conducted or supervised. Any external references are clearly attributed and fall within the...
Scale VC rebrands
Redbud is more in line with the kind of branding that the incubator investor wants to put out there.
Missouri startups sandbagged — new report says how
Hint: it’s the state government and a general lack of angel investors
New startup wins $272K grant to combat transplant rejection
This tiny startup just opened its doors a little over a year ago.
AI made easy… with AI
Someone asked me how to get started with AI content generation, and was surprised when I told them to use ChatGPT do the heavy lifting FIRST. In short, have the bot ask you questions about your project so it gets all the information it needs -- then tell the bot what...
Gerotherapy startup, with nearly $2M in grants, exits university — and sets up shop
The startup has three SBIR grants, totaling $1,960,850 from the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services for both drug target identification and also developing a treatment for insulin resistance.
Eiwa partners with Intelinair
Eiwa’s new partnership with Intelinair will allow its customers the tools they need to better analyze their data and make more informed decisions.
Life science startup crosses state to meet with angel group
This lean manufacturing startup passed over more than a hundred ERP and CRM solutions on the market — for some off-the-shelf AI powered tools and a spreadsheet — to track operations.
Prepare.ai and Capacity data chief starts new job
Data, driven by machine learning, is still his focus.
Data analytic platform for cannabis users shifts product-market fit
Cannabis users provide their health profile and specific effects off lab-tested products. With greater data, bigger customers than dispensaries emerge.
InvestMidwest startup hires CTO; preps boating platform for AI
“It’s going to revolutionize the way boaters and local marine professionals interact, and it’s going to be a huge boost for our growth,” the CEO told bizblip.
Vegan nail polish startup launches in new market — Atlanta
“The ability to place my products in this spa is very strategic and it will give me some leverage when I pitch other wellness spas and other opportunities,” the founder told bizblip.
Corporate gifting startup launches new, tech laden site and web app
“We’re looking forward to the impact this new business activity will have on our future growth,” the CEO told bizblip.
IN2 Names 2023 cohort – Three from Missouri
The companies get up to $250,000 in non-dilutive funding to conduct technical work at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis. They’ll also get introductions to industry experts, investors, incubators, accelerators and university programs.
Mighty Cricket on shelves at Fresh Thyme
Mighty Cricket products are now available at St. Louis area Fresh Thyme Markets. “We were in one location to start with, and then they expanded us to all the St. Louis stores,” CEO Sarah Schlafly told bizblip. “I think it's six.” Schlafly launched Mighty Cricket in...
Verified Backups releases year-over-year numbers
Verified Backups has tripled its customer count and nearly doubled its revenue in year-over-year figures released today for the first halves of 2023 and 2022. "“Our partnerships with distribution channels, commercial insurance companies, and software distributors are...
Stealthy startup lands $1.5M grant
This seven person startup has brought in more than $6M from the NIH since 2018.
Two person medical device startup lands $1M
The startup is developing a series of safety injection devices to prevent needle-stick and dosing error, as well as an improved injection experience for those self administering medications.
GiftAMeal wins $25K
GiftAMeal won the $25,000 grand prize in the Amazon Business Grant competition. “This prize money helps further our growth into more states across the country,” GiftAMeal CEO Andrew Glantz told bizblip. “We want to get to all 50 states by this time next year. This...
Flipstik in Smithsonian; signs swag partnership
Flipstik signed an exclusive agreement with the St. Louis based swag giant, Ariel Premium, to print, pack, and ship all custom Flipstiks. The company and its cell phone case product also became part of an exhibit in the National Museum of Natural History. "Flipstik...
Customer experience gamification platform moves to AWS
The move anticipates scalability needs, but also brings greater analytics tools.
Event platform partners with Abeles and Co.
This 2022 Arch Grant cohort member is executing on a marketing plan that takes them nationwide.
C-Suite Shake Up at LaunchCode
The new CEO starts this week.
Pitches Get Stitches (and Arch Grants) winner moves to AWS
Better data analytics and easier scaling of the platform cited as top reasons for the move.
EDURain inks deals
This student fintech startup is connecting students with off-campus housing.
Skandalaris Innovation Awards $75K
Here’s the list… including Top Tutors for Us. This startup recently competed in bizblips Blippy Pitch competition.
Pitches Get Stitches expands to cover the region
Since January, this competition has been pulling startups from Park City, KS to Urbana, IL and across Missouri.
Medical augmented reality startup closes $8.5M Series B
Rolling out their product to medical practitioners is job one!
EXCLUSIVE: Erkios v. Arch Grants ends
Once again, bizblip was the only reporter in the courtroom.
Online marketplace expands to NYC
What started as an Illini student project, during lockdown, is now supporting 2000 stores.
BREAKING-EXCLUSIVE: TechSTL and Yuga Labs launch $200M fund
The $200 million fund is expected to be available in early 2023, and will be administered by TechSTL.
Real estate marketplace funded $4.5M; digs into sales
The new funding actually hit last year, but bizblip got the news before PitchBook or CrunchBase.
Startup Genome compares Midwestern tech ecosystems
It doesn’t look good… but there’s a hidden problem BEHIND the numbers!
Wellness platform exits Beta; enters customer acquisition
bizblip has followed these founders for a couple years… and they’re JUST NOW coming out from under a rock!
WUSTL Pitch Madness winners!
This bracketed style pitch competition is a feeder event for Arch Grants (and Blippy Pitch).
Stock gamification app launches on the app store; starts influencer campaign
Billing itself as the ‘DraftKings of Stocks’, the skill app is now widely available and exiting Beta.
Air purification startup closes crowdfunding round
This startup now tops $200K in funding as it digs into testing a comercial version of its algae based system in an airport terminal.
‘Alternative investment’ platform inks deals; rebrands
This two sided marketplace is making headway with both the buy-side and the sell-side, a juggling act for any such startup.
InvestMidwest announces 2023 presenters
A couple of the Missouri presenters are ones bizblip subscribers have been following since the spring of 2021!
Balsa grant award fuels MVP
Online marketplace targets Asian groceries for regional, then national, expansion.
Verified Backups sees jump in customer base
From service to SaaS platform, this founder is getting traction.
GiftAMeal partners with mall; CEO awarded
It’s in 31 states, and with the addition of several mall brands hopes to enter the rest.
Key hires expand future for army of field bots
These hires help commercialize the growing army of field robots emerging from rural Kansas, the CEO says.
Sports facility management Saas lands $700K from family office
From huge arenas to pickleball courts this startups suite of software replaces a slew of off the shelf (and thrown together) options.
Tiny rural Mo firm lands $200K grant
This Rolla-adjacent tech transfer and product developing company has garnered more than $2.6M in grants over the past few years.
Less Annoying CRM drives for greater integration
Tyler King bootstrapped this business, not so much to take on Salesforce… but to do what Salesforce can not do!
Public transportation startup lands $200K grant
This aspiring data startup wants to tie together, and improve, transportation as we know it.
Love Lifesciences wins Blippy Pitch
Blippy Pitch is the area’s only online video pitch competition, and is only seen by bizblip readers… who are also the judges.
BREAKING: stem cell startup closes $1.5M seed round
This seven person startup doubled revenues last year, and grew its workforce to seven.
Tiny engineering firm lands Phase I SBIR
With this grant, the firm tops $3.5M raised from the Air Force since its inception.
Formerly stealthy startup heads to a conference
A public appearance, a new website, and new ‘digs’ all spell exciting new stuff for this formerly quiet little medtech startup.
EDURain nominated
This startup is in the same space as JPMorgans $175M scandal ridden portfolio startup, Frank.
Verified Backups wins inaugural Blippy Pitch
Hold on to your hats… this is getting serious!
BREAKING: Geneoscopy applies for FDA approval
The company is developing a noninvasive diagnostic kit for colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas.
EXCLUSIVE: Court drama erupts in Erkios v. Arch Grants
What should have been an entirely boring counsel status hearing, the judge got heated with the legal teams for both plaintiff and defendant.
Capacity acquires Textel
Bizblip talked with Cultivation Capital and TechSTL about why this is HUGE for our area!
Pitches Get Stitches – Grudge Match draws 50
The startup ecosystem showed up to support seven early stage founders.
Drone data startup founder served as a judge at CES
The CEO came back with a report about this year’s cool tech as well!
Fitness tech startup launches MVP
This startup founder says he’s headed into TWO pitch competitions within the next week!
Geneoscopy one step closer to commercialization
Trial results prompt CTO to apply for Premarket Approval from the FDA.
BREAKING: Paytient closes $40.5M Series B
This COMO startup launched in April of 2018!
Agogie turns to customers for funding
“In the future, any forward facing consumer company is going to have their customers as investors at some point,” said Aaron Mottern, CEO.
Velocity Accelerator graduates first cohort
The graduation ceremony at the St. Louis ITEN offices served as an unofficial going away party for ITEN Executive Director Melissa Grizzle, who joins the Missouri Technology Corporation where she’ll get to invest money in Missouri startups.
UMSL DEI funds cohort three
We talked with one founder who says this capital will help nearly double its availability in Schnucks and On The Go stores.
Flipstik funded
Flipstik founder and CEO akeem Shannon was in the audience this morning at the UMSL Accelerate DEI cohort reveal party, and confirmed that his startup just closed a $1.2M funding round. "We've been funding all this year...what that led to for us was in organic sales...
Medical device startup closes crowd funding round
The money significantly shrinks the timeline toward FDA testing for the two person startup.
Field robotics startup sells to Snacktivist
bizblip founder Paul Riat took his engineer dad out to visit this field robot business a couple years ago… and followed its growth since.
Stadia Ventures reveals 15th cohort
None of the startups are from the Midwest.
Four funded at $25K Skandalaris Venture Competition
We asked the founders what the cash does for their startup — and the answers are always interesting!
JAKAPA lands client, refines focus
'Soft skill' tracking and improvement platform JAKAPA landed two-locations for a West Coast sandwich shop client, focusing the platforms founder. "We just closed Ike's Love and Sandwiches... we're now focusing on quick service restaurants because they have high...
Figozo walks with $10K at Pitch Breakfast
bizblip readers are well acquainted with four of the six competitors at this competition.
$3500 Awarded at OPO Startups Demo Day
This is the seventh year for the St. Charles, MO collocated workspace, and innovation hub.
STL Data Equity project gets Kauffman money
The project aims to address the collection and reporting barriers that exist around entrepreneurship, small business and innovation for black, brown and foreign-born residents of the 15 county bi-state region around St. Louis.
AlgenAir lands airport in PA for pilot program
This 2021 early stage startup moved around the country to find resources, mentorship, and community. It did find its home — just not here.
Sara Health releases study
New medical billing codes for therapeutic follow-up from clinicians (not involving a medical device) open up avenues for better medical outcomes.
Stealth startup exits ‘stealth mode’ – the interview
“Having demonstrated proof of concept, now we’re in technology development,” says the formerly stealthy founder. “So we are working with a international supplier of highest quality robotic arms.”
Medical startup lands second $1M-plus grant THIS YEAR
This is the second Phase II SBIR this year, following SEVEN Phase I grants landed in the last four years.
Redpoint Summit and 5 others funded
Digital Sandbox has pumped $3M into 176 startups since 2013.
WePower Fund Backs First Startup
This Arch Grant company says it’s connecting Black and Latinx produced products with major retailers.
Realto hires; tops off seed round
The alternative investments platform updates the numbers on an oversubscribed Seed round from May.
EXCLUSIVE: Euler Science wins Pitches Get Stitches
“This is how you get the world to care about your startup,” TechSTL Ex. Dir. Emily Hemingway told bizblip about the value of early stage startup pitch competitions.
Accelerate Wind moves to Alabama
This Arch Grants 2016 member brought in more than a million and a half grant dollars to develop their technology.
EXCLUSIVE: Startup lands $225K for real-time, in-engine oil sensor
If engine oil breaks down it damages the engine, but changing oil preemptively wastes money.
EXCLUSIVE: Founder funded; hires 2 and targets software launch
This seed round and subsequent hiring puts this healthcare startup a few months away from launch — to tackle clinician burnout from record keeping.
BREAKING: Veeper and StockSwap funded
bizblip has been covering these two startups for more than a year.
EXCLUSIVE: Health startup raises $133K in 24 hours
This startup is developing a series of safety injection devices to prevent needle-stick.
Five selected for Pitches Get Stitches
The St. Louis startup ecosystem descends on TechArtista in a week… you should be there!
Data backup platform expands to MySQL
This tiny startup springs from a service business.
Where are the Unicorns?
Good news! The answer is INCREASINGLY decentralized!
STL startup wins $250K for Alabama companies
Alabama invested $4.5M in 30 entrepreneurs across 6 Alabama cities, including this STL startup.
BREAKING: Blockchain/AI insurance startup lands $5M seed
bizblip talked with the Cheterfield, MO startup founder about how the money will be used to accelerate growth in the 14 person company.
Bionics startup moves to the coast
This startup raised nearly $2M in grants and seed money, developed and launched its product into all 50 states and now calls San Diego ‘home’.
Arch Grants startup founder named to NAHB
“It’s all about building relationships,” this founder told bizblip, as he stepped into a national role at a trade association.
EXCLUSIVE: TechSTL announces new pitch competition with $10K cash prize
In a cool wrinkle, the winner of the upcoming Pitches Get Stitches (and $500) competition will automatically be one of the five startups competing in Pitch Breakfast.
Geoint Symposium 2021 startup lands $50K grant
This greenhouse gas data platform startup is using AI to form a marketplace for carbon reduction decision making.
Seamly Systems enters Launch Blue Accelerator
Fashion design software startup Seamly Systems was accepted into Kentucky's Launch Blue Accelerator. "They actually provide people instead of money," CEO Susan Spencer told bizblip. "I found out about them when I went to the Queen City Angels Entrepreneur Bootcamp...
Venku pitches in Arkansas
Venku founder Muriel Gaither is headed to Bentonville, Arkansas for the upcoming Innovation in Outdoor Recreation Showcase by Plug and Play Tech Center. Venku is an online marketplace for outdoor experiences, connecting consumers with hunting, fishing, hiking and...
EXCLUSIVE: Agtech startup hires new CEO
This scientist heavy plant sciences team just brought on board a CEO that can take it out of the lab (note: they are not saying that, while at the same time… they’re kinda saying that!)
Trucker fitness app lands giant partner; rebrands
The Trucking Fitness Company just landed Nationwide Insurance as a channel partner to get it's health app in front of more customers. At the same time it rebrands as Supply Chain Fitness. "Nationwide obviously has insurance all over the place, but one of their...
BREAKING: Geneoscopy oversubscribes essential trial
This crucial study is for FDA approval, and CEO Andrew Barnell tells bizblip that making sure key demographic groups are well represented in this cohort is vital in proving the company technology.
Electric aircraft startup visited by NASA; moves from prototype to full motor
This 2017 startup has pulled in millions in grants.
Real Estate app lands $100,000
bizblip has followed this company from Kansas City to Cape Girardeau to Omaha.
EdTech startup signs school district
The startup says it helps districts identify state and federal funding for career oriented instruction.
Event planning app expands to dining
Pitches Get Stitches winner makes moves beyond an MVP.
Agricultural gig-worker app enters manufacturing space
The tiny startup has agricultural customers in 42 states.
Delegate in revenue
“It’s a huge milestone for us,” the show runner told bizblip.
Pre-launch startup lands $1.8M pre-seed
Perhaps the largest pre-seed round in the area for a startup without a product.
¡Balto, ahora en español!
bizblip looks into the R.O.I. of language access marketing.
GiftAMeal hits 1M meal mark; invites you to party
The founder tells bizblip that this growth is a great relief after the early pandemic shut-down of the industry his company supports.
Inaugural “Hold My Beer!” 90 under 90
Curate CEO Ryan O'Neil turned to LinkedIn "complaining" of not making it onto the cliché 30-under-30 or 40-under-40 type lists by saying he was waiting for the "90 Under 90". Clearly kidding around, and in the same spirit, publisher Paul Riat responded 'Hold My...
GiftAMeal signs their biggest franchise group to date
“This builds off our work with Lee’s Chicken at the corporate level…” CEO Andrew Glantz told bizblip.
Healthcare fintech platform completes proof-of-concept
This startup uses a new set of procedural codes for Remote Therapeutic Monitoring to help rehab care clinicians get compensated for continuing remote care that doesn’t involve a device.
Healthy Hip Hop update
The online platform allows educators to stream music and video content to the classroom smartboard. The content supports their curriculum, primarily around exercise, and the company says it has an app that allows students to create their own content in a child-safe environment.
IN2 names 2022 cohort — THREE from St. Louis
Last year, none of the companies were local. But all of these companies come to St. Louis to conduct research at the Danforth Center.
EXCLUSIVE: Pre-revenue startup raises $3.1M
The startup finished an enterprise pilot with Walmart, Canada and is getting ready for a full launch this fall.
Scheduling app now in four STL-area high schools
A high-school side project gets traction, but the founder is still figuring out how to monetize it.
Holekamp Seed Fund 2022 Winners
These fledgling, student run startups are just getting started — and they just got their first taste of funding.
Flipstik in AT&T stores
The CEO tells bizblip why this particular retailer is especially important to them.
EXCLUSIVE: Arch Grants sued by ’21 cohort startup
Civil court filing alleges breach of contract, seek jury trial and $55,000 damages.
Dorm-room fintech startup lands $5K; launches Beta
‘Swipe-right, swipe-left’ and a suggestion algorithm among key features of this social media stock app.
GiftAMeal lands 4th chain, enters new markets
The company is approaching giving away 1,000,000 meals to those in need… something that could hit as soon as next month, thanks to this deal!
EDURain pulls in $35K – in the nick of time
“I was going to die about a month ago because we ran out of money and none of the investors wanted to double down,” EDURain CEO Bryon Pierson told bizblip.
DEMIblue wins Pitches Get Stitches
This early-stage pitch competition is about more than just the foam check.
Four Arch Grant startups share $350K follow-on
Follow on grants only require portfolio companies to continue to make St. Louis their home for another two years.
Five startups chosen for Pitches Get Stitches
This regional pitch contest searches out promising, but very early stage startups that are not quite ready to get before investors, and in some cases even customers.
MediBeacon issued patent
Optical diagnostics company MediBeacon was just issued another patent, the company has a score of them. This latest patent covers compositions and methods for assessing gut function. The company uses novel light-activated agents for a number of medical applications....
Hire Henry (finally) reveals prototype
The company has been busy working in Sugar Land, TX.
Disco! wins Pitches Get Stitches
The inaugural pitch competition drew nearly 60 people from across the St. Louis tech ecosystem.
VaxNewMo rebrands; hires new CEO
This formerly three person startup is making moves to raise money for human trials.
Seven contenders in Pitches Get Stitches
The inaugural Pitches Get Stitches (and $500) pitch competition is a little over 24 hours away. Seven companies will give their two minute pitches tomorrow. "All of these companies are winners in my book," said TechSTL Executive Director Emily Hemingway, who, along...
Stock gamification app raises $225K
Positioning itself as the DraftKings for the stock market, this startup has skin in its own game… plus some capital from users!
Food Haven launches in Cape
This startup was lured to Missouri from San Francisco.
GiftAMeal adds chain and 11 markets
Partnering with chain restaurants is key to this startups national roll out.
Trucking Fitness brings in COO as partner
Truck drivers suffer tragedies, and cost billions, due to poor health related to weight and a lack of exercise.
Verified Backups gets traction
A year after on-boarding his first paid Beta customer, Verified Backups CEO Chris Marshall says his first customer signed on for a second year... and they are not alone. “We're starting to get traction... we're not pre-revenue,” he said, adding that a half-dozen Beta...
Geneoscopy picks up key certification
Their new lab is cleared to accept human samples for diagnostic testing… kinda a big deal for them!
Early stage fintech founder lands $10K
This platform helps financial advisors, and is migrating from MVP to Beta.
Culture Think Tank Launching App
Kiosk solution being deployed in two manufacturing plants.
Pluton Biosciences founder scrubbed
This company isn’t talking, but the 4thEst8 presents you with a chronology of known facts… and a history of a startup that has had three CEO’s in the past 18 months.
Greenfield Robotics launches new bot
CTO steps down to advisory role.
Birth defect app introduced at 1MC-STL
“We're addressing light pollution as it pertains to pregnant women and the prevention of light pollution related birth defects in children,” Juno team leader Iyana Oliviel told the 4thEst8. “Our primary investigator is Dr. (Carmel) Martin-Fairey.” Oliviel says their...
MyAniML enters accelerator; and USDA study
MyAniML uses digital imagery and machine learning for the early detection of a variety of animal diseases — starting with pinkeye. The startup partnered with Texas A&M last spring for greater animal trials of the technology, after proving the concept at small cattle lots in the Kansas City area.
Skypig takes $10K at pitch competiton
10 early stage startups competed for $30K.
30 Midewest startups – 11 from MO/KS — pitching in Omaha
Many of these startups have been featured on the 4thEst8 this past year, including Veeper, Flipstik, Love Lifesciences, Particle Space, Azella, MD MatchUp and SeeInMe.
Flipstik available at Target
This is the first major retailer to sell this St. Louis product.
Mighty Cricket makes FedEx grant finals
From a field of 18,000 participants it’s down to 100… and CEO Sarah Schlafly is asking the St. Louis ecosystem to help her get $50,000.
Pluton wins competion and $1M
This annual competition pulled in more than 150 competing companies this year.
Love Lifesciences finalist in Omaha pitch competition
This scrappy startup has pitched all across the Midwest, but it’s what they’re doing with their tech that is impressive!
Subi launches Kickstarter campaign
The app is available in Beta and the founder is working to onboard users.
Veeper announces rebuild and new CTO
“Veeper 2.0 is Live.. complete rebuild and launch in six weeks,” said CEO Jordan Williams on LinkedIn.
Autonomous mower pilot program launched
Hire Henry founder George Leno Holmes says he’s in Sugarland, TX to prove the case for his technology at a regional airport.
Startup Weekend winner funded
Hot off the heels of an exciting win at the TechStars Startup Weekend in Columbia, MO a couple weeks ago, this scrappy startup just landed $60K in pre-seed.
Pluton hires CFO — more ‘musical chairs’ in the C-Suite?
Founder, and former CEO, Charlie Walch had been the company’s CFO — and still lists the post on his LinkedIn bio.
Swipesum – trying to outgrow new digs
SwipeSum uses its technology to match companies with the most affordable credit card processors that match their needs, to reduce their fees — not so much as a payment processor, but as a technology assisted payment coach
Med-tech Startup Closes $1.5M Seed Round; Names New Board Member
This stealthy startup got it’s start in 2018.
Stealthy startup lands $1.2M to develop stroke robot
The 4thEst8 started tracking this startup last year. As far as we can tell, nobody else knows about them.
Pluton hires data scientist
This scrappy startup landed $6.1M in VC last year and closed a deal with Bayer.
Arader quietly exits BioGenerator
Arader’s bio has been scrubbed from the team page of the BioSTL website, but a search of the site returns hits under his name as recently as Sept. 2021.
Startup awarded $1.6M; licenses tech
This venture into field deployable soil testing is a huge departure for the small St. Louis company, and the company it’s licensing its tech to is brand new and only on the 4thEst8.
Electric motor startup lands $5.7M
One of nearly 70 companies splitting $175M in research funding.
GiftAMeal celebrates anniversary of landing first chain
It has two chain restaurants as customers, and CEO Andrew Glantz says chains are key to expansion into new markets.
Fitic founder moves on
“I’m grateful for everyone who helped forward Fitic’s mission,” Jake Heyen told the 4thEst8.
4thEst8 moves to Solana-based NFT platform
Solana platforms, even the one I’m on, are all clunky and weird. Kinda like using eBay back in 1998 when you had to wait for a mailed personal check to clear before shipping. Still, it works. The transactional costs are super low. And I expect functionality to improve.
Techstars Startup Weekend — Where Unicorns Play
“This is where I’m from,” Zapier CEO Wade Foster told the 4thEst8. “I owe a ton to the community that gave me a start. The least I can do is try to pay it forward to others.”
Team ‘Appreciate’ at the Startup Weekend Biz-Hackathon
Team Appreciate believes that many landlords base decisions about their tenants based on emotions and bias rather than real data. They may have data on a building but not on a specific apartment.
Team ‘Waste Not’ at the Startup Weekend Biz-Hackathon
“Industrial surveys show that 20 percent of Americans will pay a premium to live a zero waste lifestyle”
Team ‘discovAR’ at the Startup Weekend Biz-Hackathon
“With augmented reality we’ll be able to provide a more visual learning experience for students to learn their mistakes in things like biology and other sciences.”
Team ‘Farm Find’ at the Startup Weekend Biz-Hackathon
By providing a two sided marketplace Farm Find connects cattle ranchers directly with consumers.
Team Goober at the Startup Weekend Biz-Hackathon
Parents will have access to a lot of information about their specific driver, including a video serving as an introduction.. so parents have an idea of whom they are entrusting their child.
Team ‘Five’ at the Startup Weekend Biz-Hackathon
The problem is that all dating apps out there are heavily used by men, and there are not enough women out there and a lot of the times people are not satisfied with the matches they’re getting so we are designing an app specifically for emotionally intelligent individuals,” said Alena Gladkova, business development for Five.
Engineering firm gets two grants from NASA; $870K
If successful, this tech could help power human occupation of Mars.
Principal validates high school founders side project
“It’s great having him on the team,” EDURain CEO Bryon Pierson told the 4thEst8 after hearing about Front’s side project engagement. “He’s building cool stuff that people want to use.”
BREAKING: Property tech startup lands $3M
The startup is used in more than 40,000 rental units in ten markets including Kansas City, Houston, Denver and Atlanta.
Ronawk hires; adopts new logo
CEO A.J. Mellott tells the 4thEst8 an expanded vision of what the company’s technology can do forced a complete makeover of the mission statement, logo, and an examination of core values.
EXCLUSIVE: Staffing platform closes $750K+ pre-seed round
This startup launched in 2019… and already boasts $35,000 in monthly revenues.
GiftAMeal hires 4th full time employee
CEO Andrew Glantz says she brings restaurant management experience that will help craft the startups value proposition.
Geneoscopy touts importance of study composition
The 4thEst8 asks CEO Andrew Barnell why skewed demographic representation is even a problem with human trials… and what he’s doing differently.
InvestMidwest startup issued 1st patent for medical device
This one person, tumor fighting, startup has brought in nearly $1 million to develop tech. This patent is just the first of what the company founder calls a family of patents.
Balto CEO cheers 100M calls; 4thEst8 asks for context and background
Balto CEO Marc Bernstein took to social media today to cheer on his fast growing team for having customers use the call center platform for 100 million calls. Everyone loves round numbers, and that's a very big one, but the 4thEst8 asked Bernstein what this kind of...
ToDue rebrands
More of a side project than a full on business (so far) this platform developer is working with beta customers to get product/market fit.
EDURain in revenue
Cuts a deal with STL CityWide, a real estate leasing agency.
Agmine funded $75K
Funding comes through interesting instrument that uses intellectual property as collateral.
Arch Grants winner launches NFT side-hustle
Ape tokens said to be future of gaming.
Disruptel cuts deal with huge TV maker at CES
The second largest TV display manufacturer in the world showed off this startups tech at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Three-scientist vaccine startup lands $600K
“We believe the next pandemic is not a viral pathogen, but actually the phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance,” said the CEO.
GiftAMeal opens up North Carolina and New Hampshire
CEO Andrew Glantz tells the 4thEst8 he has a two-pronged expansion plan, and it’s working.
Ronawk hires COO and CRO; doubles annual revenue to $700K+
From three to five full time employees (with one part time).. it’s not just the head count that indicates high growth potential for this tiny startup. The new roles tell a story all on their own.
Dating app launches crowdfunding effort
The two-person St. Louis startup was founded in 2020 to address an ongoing problem with other online dating apps: very few virtual interactions lead to face-to-face encounters (let’s call them ‘dates’).
EXCLUSIVE: Bankruptcy after $8M in funding; startups assets sold to creditor
The CEO tells the 4thEst8 how it played out in court. Leawood Venture Capital, Nelnet, Johnson Venture Partners, Aurora UV, Mid-America Angels, Nebraska Angel Network, and SeedStep Angels all invested in this company.
EXCLUSIVE: Food-tech startup lands on Hy-Vee shelves
The deal opens up Columbia, Missouri for the food tech company as well. If the cricket protein-based oatmeals, pancakes and protein shakes perform well in those three stores (and one in Southern Illinois) other Hy-Vee supermarkets could be next.
AI startup preps for CES 2022
In 2019 the CEO just walked around the huge Consumer Electronics Show… in 2020 it was all virtual… but this year “my time will be spent in a booth talking to people and then we have, like, a suite”
1st News NFT Sold
I want to put more reporters on the street. That’s fundamentally expensive. I’m developing some technology to improve news labor costs, but I also need to change the way that news pays for itself. I contend that advertising drives bad behavior in news organizations. The behaviors that are most profitable are often least beneficial (or harmful) to the audience. And news must be directly accountable to the public for the discourse that is required to operate a democracy.
ICYMI: Check out this video of Press Pass STL
Plastomics closes $7.1M Series A
“It’ll allow us to get the trait delivery system from the lab through the greenhouse to the field, for both soybeans and corn,” CEO Martha Schlichter told the 4thEst8.
Geneoscopy closes $105M Series B
The screening technology examines RNA in a stool sample to detect the cancer, but this simple test is just the first of what CEO Andrew Barnell has told the 4thEst8 in the past that he hopes will be a platform of tests. Broadening this technology could be used to detect, prevent, and guide treatment of a wide variety of gastrointestinal diseases.
GiftAMeal hires; CEO shares two-pronged expansion plan
GiftAMeal hired two key workers to execute on an expansion plan that CEO Andrew Glantz says he's been working on since early-summer, following a partnership with Lion's Choice that opened the Kansas City market and preceded $500K in funding. "With the fundraise that...
CareSignal bought by Lightbeam
“It is deeply humbling and rewarding to have grown this company with our phenomenal team, client-partners, and investors,” CareSignal CEO Blake Marggraff said. “I look forward to serving millions of additional patients and members in the years ahead.”
$3800 Awarded at OPO Startups Pitch Competition
“Pitch competitions like this encourage early stage tech startups to keep doing what they do,” OPO Startups owner, and serial entrepreneur, Randy Schilling told the 4thEst8. “Startups, especially tech startups, drive economic growth and job growth in the region.”
Aspire continues M&A frenzy
Aspire Software announced the acquisition of two landscape-related software firms. The Chesterfield, Mo. company provides business development software to the landscaping, snow removal and construction businesses. Acquired are Go iLawn, an online property measurement...
Love Lifesciences gets $25K cash injection
The startup is developing a series of safety injection devices to prevent needlestick and dosing error, as well as an improved injection experience for those self administering medications. The road to FDA approval to sell a medical device is often long, but Love and co-founder CTO Bradley Hopper hope their startup can clear the major hurdles in the next year.
Tiny Harrisonville, MO startup funded to develop super AI chip
The startup is investigating a new reconfigurable computing platform capable of performing a variety of AI (machine learning) tasks in a distributed and parallel manner for better performance and lower cost. The end products, if successful, will be AI accelerator chips that can be integrated into accelerator cards or as co-processors for both servers and in edge computing… particularly cloud computing.
Four early stage tech startups to pitch at OPO Demo Day
Four early stage startups are selected to pitch to a 'Shark Tank' style live pitch competition at the upcoming OPO Startups Demo Day, part of St. Louis Startup Week. The competition will take place November 9, from 5pm to 7pm at the collocated workspace in St....
Wind energy startup lands 2 grants; $1M+
One of the grant applications lays out how this startup plans to piggy-back solar installers for rapid expansion of the commercial product being developed with money from these grants.
Eight KC tech startups funded at Pure Pitch Rally
The event brings together angel investors and startup founders in a shark type pitch competition.
Two “Around Missouri” startups make Future Founders semifinalists
20 college entrepreneurs, one from University of Kansas and another from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, vie for a share of $10,000 and GLORY! The 4thEst8 tried to talk to our two local founders but they’re young… one was “too busy” and the other was intimidated.
Colorectal cancer detection startup hires Chief Medical Officer
“Although the initial focus is on colorectal cancer detection and prevention, the company’s robust platform has the potential to address a broad range of unmet needs in managing gastrointestinal conditions,” said the new CMO.
EDURain hires CTO
This is the fifth full time employee for the ed-tech/fin-tech startup.
Realto partners; readies to launch alternative trading system
This startup is setting up a platform to broker the sale of things that are otherwise difficult to sell, loosely called ‘alternative investments’ – essentially any asset class EXCEPT stocks, bonds and cash. Could be a rare trading card, carbon credits, non-fungible token or real estate securities.
EXCLUSIVE: CoverCress lands $600K; plants first revenue crop
CoverCress is selectively breeding and gene editing the pennycress plant to reduce the fiber in its seeds by as much as 50 percent, thereby increasing both the oil it produces, and the nutritional value of the meal that remains after the oil is extracted.
Seven Missouri startups pitch to Silicon Valley investors
There’s no money with this one but both previous PitchForce STL winners, Provider Pool and GiftAMeal, later picked up $100,000 each through the Arch Grants new Growth Grants program providing follow-on capital to its portfolio companies.
Draiver expands Uber business
Plans are in the works to grab more business from this, and other, driver marketplace.
Venture Cafe – signs of life and where is Tyler Mathews?
After a flogging from the 4thEst8 and St. Louis INNO the Venture Cafe finally said something all on their own. Meanwhile, Tyler Mathews quietly moved on and the 4thEst8 found out where.
Skandalaris Venture Competition picks 16 semi-finalists
The 2021 Skandalaris Venture Competition at WashU named 16 semifinalists, all students and recent alumni-led ventures vying for up to $22,500. The semifinalists are: ClosetSwitch is an online clothing trading platform made for college and high school students. Chiara...
BREAKING: Pluton closes $6.61M seed round and plays musical chairs with the CEO seat
The 4thEst8 talked with the newest CEO, third in three years, about what this funding will fuel — and why a diverse set of investors is nearly as important as the raise itself.
Ronawk lands first international customer
The 4thEst8 caught up with CEO A.J. Mellott while he’s traveling to ask if there’s a difference between local and international customers any more.
Chemical Startup Wins $10K from American Farm Bureau
4ThEst8 readers first heard of this agricultural chemical company this spring when it presented at InvestMidwest. The CEO tells the 4thEst8 that the best thing about this award is because his company comes from a chemical R&D background and they’re just learning about ag.
Dynamhex lands award en route to GEOINT Symposium
Dynamhex is presenting this Thursday at the GEOINT Symposium in St. Louis. The company only opened its virtual doors in March 2020 but it fell in with Ameren in St. Louis early on and that opened things up for this six-person startup.
EXCLUSIVE: 9 early stage tech startups to present at GEOINT Symposium
If you check the symposium program you won’t find these startups… but the 4thEst8 dug them up so you won’t miss them in this gathering of huge contractors and government/military behemoths.
Veeper lands $100K
Another example of the startup ‘brain drain’ game as Louisville makes a play to snag this company.
SportsTrace opens up platform to organizations
Athlete feedback and training platform SportsTrace launched a new version of its software to bring coaches, trainers and organizations into the video-based application. Rick Strickland’s Trainright Academy in St. Louis is rolling out the new collaborative features.
Ronawk enters Capital Factory
Ronawk has just been accepted into Capital Factory – one of the most active investors in Texas (according to PitchBook). Joining this Austin cohort doesn’t come with cash right off the bat. Capital Factory looks for companies that have already been through an accelerator – like Ronawk with Mass Challenge
FastDemocracy dives into city and local government
Legislative tracking platform FastDemocracy is taking their federal and state oriented service and diving into the maelstrom of city government, starting in St. Louis. After that, they’ll start rolling out one city after another – based on a few criteria.
St. Louis loses a startup to Paducah – Is the startup game ‘zero sum?’
St. Louis is losing an early stage tech startup to Paducah, which may be a trend as smaller cities learn the value of – and throw some seed money at – early stage tech startups.
In the recently published report ‘Economic Impact of Missouri Startups’ it was found tech startups create an average of 863 jobs each year – and they’re mostly high paying jobs. Programs like Arch Grants have attracted high growth potential startups from other parts of the country by offering founders $50,000 (equity-free) on the condition that they move to St. Louis.
Other cities are taking that model and running with it. 1st50K is one such competition. It’s been pulling startups like SwipeSum, SportsTrace and UpSwot to Cape Girardeau, Missouri for a couple years – and it branched out to Paducah, Kentucky this spring. It recently announced the first Paducah cohort.
Tech startup bringing data to medical marijuana
Marijuana has compounds, cannabinoids and terpenes, that can be measured and quantified in every batch of marijuana or edible. These compounds have effects, but when it comes to treating specific conditions patients and healthcare providers don’t have guidance about which compounds and concentration is effective.
BREAKING: Venture Cafe Foundation transfers operations
In a release dropped on its website yesterday Innovation Studio (a.k.a. Venture Cafe Foundation) announced the transfer of operations for the Venture Cafe Cambridge program to the Venture Cafe Global Institute "in order to focus more on it's inclusionary innovation...
ITEN announces fall cohort for Eureka Validation
The fall cohort for ITEN's Eureka Validation Experience consists of seven startups ranging in maturity from idea stage through scaling the business. Those companies are: Doorward BreakWell Harry Devitre FilterBin TimeBolt Priority Email Podtrics “We will help them...
Captvr3d lands Griggs Innovator Nexus as ‘proof of concept’ client
Captvr3d, a 3D video startup for events and retail space, landed the Griggs Innovators Nexus as a demo customer. Founder Charise Smith tells the 4thEst8 that the deal came as a result of her July pitch at 1 Million Cups – Columbia when she met University of Missouri Executive Director of Entrepreneurship Programs, Greg Bier.
GiftAMeal CEO named to Forbes Next 1000 list
GiftAMeal CEO Andrew Glantz is part of the Fall 2021 cohort of the Forbes Next 1000 list... a rolling, year-round showcase of startup founders with under $10M in revenue or funding. “I think it is just exciting to be listed alongside a lot of other really smart...
UPDATE: VenCafSTL Board Responds; New Site Goes Up (but no content)
Promises of things to come partially supported by hastily published new site.
Agricultural app hires first non-founder
The agricultural labor marketplace is getting traction in the South and Southeast, and the founders say they needed a rep.
Venture Cafe St. Louis Goes Quiet
Venture Cafe St. Louis quietly halted operations this week. It became apparent that the non-profit abandoned it’s role as a meeting place for the St. Louis tech ecosystem when both of its websites returned a logo and a contact email address instead of displaying the Thursday meet-up activity that the Venture Cafe has as it’s primary function. (Note: sign up for a Freemium subscription to read the whole story).
St. Louis FinTech startup enters Charlotte accelerator; picks up $50K
The St. Louis startup distributes its platform through banks, credit unions and mortgage companies to help them retain customers. The CEO tells the 4thEst8 that Charlotte has some of the biggest banking concerns in the country.
BREAKING: 1st50K names 2021 cohort
In addition to the $50K, startups receive membership in the Codefi co-working space and technology incubator, business coaching, mentorship, and introduction to venture capital and angel investment networks. All four finalists will have to relocate to Cape Girardeau as part of the 1ST50K program.
EXCLUSIVE: Healthy Hip Hop closes crowdfunding round
The two-person startup has an online platform that allows educators to stream music and video content that supports their curriculum to their classroom smart board. The company also has an app that allows students to create their own content in a child-safe environment.
EXCLUSIVE: Chicken plant services company dives into tech R&D
The one person services company is developing its own smart control technology for more efficient climate control of poultry buildings — the second most costly thing in that industry.
Impossible Sensing lands $250K to develop soil sensor
Founded in 2016 the 12 person St. Louis startup nabbed global headlines this spring for having its sensors aboard the rover as part of the Mars 2020 Perseverance mission.
Brain-computer device cleared by FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized NeuroLutions to market its brain-computer interface device in April of this year. The Santa Cruz, CA company was founded in 2007, has research and funding ties to St. Louis. CrunchBase says it has brought in a combined $1.3M in VC from Ascension Ventures, Prolog Ventures, BioGenerator and an earlier seed round by St. Louis Arch Angels.
EXCLUSIVE: Video software startup 4X’s recurring revenue
“Every morning I wake up, there’s another 15 to 20 subscribers… We’re at about $12,000 a month in subscription revenue… (a year ago) it was three or four thousand” the CEO tells the 4thEst8.
AgButler touts 1350 users on anniversary of MVP launch
“Today marks our one year anniversary of having our initial MVP launched, so it’s kind of a big day,” AgButler CEO Kevin Johansen told the 4thEst8.
EXCLUSIVE: FynCom lands first investor
The four person startup has an Android app called KarmaCall that blocks phone spammers and robocalls – with a cryptocurrency twist.
EDURain raises $20K
CEO Bryon Pierson told the 4thEst8 what he’s going to do with the money.
EXCLUSIVE: Cow disease detection startup proves tech; Partners with Texas A&M
Founded in February of this year, this six person startup is moving fast to productize for an anticipated launch next May. It detects pinkeye earlier than other methods, and with West Texas A&M the CEO tells the 4thEst8 he expects to detect a slew of other cattle diseases by spring.
SureShow lands $10K; launching new app for pre-K/K parents
This weekend Dr. Cooper is testing the new app, with a soft launch scheduled for Monday. She expects to start enrolling parents on Tuesday at Emmanuel Family Daycare in Kansas City, followed Wednesday in Excelsior Springs, Mo.
VenBoo partners twice; hires first employee
Vendor support application VenBoo just made two strategic partnerships, and a part-time hire that CEO Juaquan “Jay” Herron told the 4thEst8 should line up more events, and bring onboard more vendors.
BREAKING: Balto raises $37.5M
The 4thEst8 has recently been all over this aggressively growing startup, breaking news (two weeks ago) of it’s move from colocated workspace T-Rex to it’s own offices, quickly followed with a story about a suite of new software features to support call center supervisors and trainers.
BREAKING: Greenfield Robotics – finalist in “Oscars Ceremony” of global impact
Contenders: WhatIf Foods of Singapore offers alternative protein food products and has raised a Series B; Orbillion Bio of Berkeley, Calif. has raised a seed round for its cultured meat product.
NEER finishes 1st paid Beta; eyeballs national expansion
NEER put the city two to three years forward and saved the city hundreds of thousands of dollars we would have spent using traditional methods,” said Raytown Director of Public Works Jose Leon Jr. said in a statement. Raytown has been working with NEER since May, 2020. NEERs report just came out.
TeleMemory re-brands as MoodSpark; presents, pitches and lands preorders
4thEst8 readers first heard about the company when it landed DelMar Gardens, a Chesterfield, Mo.-based senior living facility, as a paid ‘Alpha’ customer back in February of this year.
EXCLUSIVE: CEO Gutshall exits OpenCell Technologies
The 4thEst8 initiated coverage on OpenCell last year because the startup landed a boatload of grants, then claimed to pivot from ‘research tool maker’ into a cell and gene therapy company.
Eiwa hires Chief Business Development Officer
Eiwa uses a combination of drones, field-level imagery, and computer vision.
SportsTrace hires to open up India
“We’ve been getting a lot of interest in cricket here domestically, but also internationally,” SportsTrace CEO Max Montrey told the 4thEst8. “Shreyansh Mohta has deep experience in cricket, used to play, and has an incredible network.”
BREAKING: Benson Hill – Q2 2021 Financials
4thEst8 competitors will have this later this week… but why not read it now?
EXCLUSIVE: Fitness app startup pivots, partners — lands first paying customers
Cha-Ching! Solo-preneur gets traction!
BREAKING: New features to accelerate sales for Balto
This startup doubled its workforce in the last few months and the CEO tells the 4thEst8 he’s set to do it again!
Bionic hand startup announces national launch
This eight person startup has been testing the waters — now, it wants to make waves.
EXCLUSIVE: Fast growing software startup gets new digs
The 4thEst8 told you last winter they were hiring, and looking for a new place.
Student Fintech Startup Sponsors Bar Crawl
This 2021 Arch Grant finalist says being underfunded forces innovation.
1ST50K names 10 finalists
Finalists head to Cape Girardeau this weekend to show off their stuff!
Infant medical device startup lands $1.73 million
Infants, especially premature ones, have trouble coordinating eating and breathing.
Approach closes on $45K, Launches Beta App
The CEO tells the 4thEst8 that entering a saturated market requires a unique approach.
Textel puts $5M in VC to work — Just in time!
This deal came in practically on top of Five9’s acquisition by Zoom this week!
Five Elms closes on $780M
This KC-area VC focuses on startups with B2B software.
EXCLUSIVE: St. Louis-based vascular medicine startup raises $6M
This startup gobbled up a couple other startups a couple years back — what will they do now?
CU Aerospace lands $750,000
NASA wants them to develop an electric spacecraft propulsion system by 2023.
Columbia Mo. Startup Closes $230M ‘D’ Round
Founded in 2015… this company’s platform brings in $1 Billion a year!
Daupler Raises $4M
Kansas City, Mo. – WEBWIRE – Thursday, July 8, 2021 Daupler, the software platform that helps cities, utilities, and other service providers manage their operations, today announced it has raised a $4 million round of funding led by Burnt Island Ventures with...
WuGen raises $172 Million for cancer treatment trials
The money will fuel development of several technologies to treat leukemia and other cancers.
Stealthy startup piles up $2M in grants in 3 years
This company is under the radar… but the 4thEst8 has DOPPLER.
IN2 Names 2021 Cohort
Five ag/sustainable startups get cash and research to validate their tech.
Holekamp Seed Fund 2021 Winners
Seed stage investments are rare like duck’s teeth.
China confirms Erkios patent
This is part of an ongoing effort to get the patent recognized globally.
Akhtar named a top world innovator by MIT Technology Review
4thEst8 readers have been following this startup closely for a year.
Vendor app launches Beta; enters revenue
CEO cheers “300 users in 24 hours!”
Simply Foster joins MassChallenge Boston cohort
The not for profit runs on a for profit Saas model, and is focused on reducing caregiver turnover in the child welfare system.
Plastomics hires key VP; moves next door
Bayer exec enters as this startup moves its labs and office.
Ronawk joins MassChallenge cohort
As it waits for its patent to be issued, the 2 person startup plans massive hire and penetration into new verticals.
Startup clears MVP for mobile car detailing app
Seeks investment to finish development.
GiftAMeal pulls in $500K seed; from Arch Grants and angel investors
CEO says it’s time to scale.
Three scientist vaccine startup lands $992K
This startup has a platform technology for bacterial vaccine development, and this grant fuels the development of one of its first hoped-for products to address a specific bacteria.
BioRankings lands $230,000 from the NIH (sorta)
This Phase I sends the company in a new direction.
Curate raises $1.25M seed round
Money to bring on more features for the platform; staff expected to double.
VoteSharp opens Texas; rebrands
This political campaign canvassing app just got paid subscribers in a state with a ton of down ticket elections.
EDURain completes proof-of-concept for trickiest component
Off campus housing costs less than dorm living, but putting the money in place for that first month’s rent and a deposit is difficult for many.
HomeTraq partners with Beyond Housing
Chairman Mark Gorman says their newest market, Kansas City, is bringing in a lot of business.
Tiny Missouri Ag-tech company partners with giants
Corteva and Nutrien will get drought and citrus greening countering products to farmers.
GiftAMeal partners with MRA; goes on hiring streak
GiftAMeal is now partnered with the Missouri Restaurant Association and is on a hiring streak. “We're giving a custom discount to the Missouri Restaurant Association members, so it's like an extra perk for them,” CEO Andrew Glantz told the 4thEst8. “That'll help us...
TeleMemory (and 9 others) form Techstars cohort
4thEst8 readers heard about the Silver-tech startup when it landed its first customer.
Impetus Agriculture closes $1M seed round
They’re engineering new ways to kill crop eating insects that are resistant to existing methods.
Greenfield names new COO
Their robots are in fields right now, pulling weeds from row crops.
Autonomous mower startup wins $50K
This cash infusion helps further develop the prototype. Meanwhile, the company is putting their machines in front of a potential Beta customer this coming Monday.
Hinetics lands $149,890 Air Force grant
This one’s for VTOL controls, but they made their bones with an electric propulsor for NASA.
BioRankings Launches Beta — Halfway Through $1.6M Grant
Partners With Domino Data Lab.
Erkios deals with IP issues
CEO announces resolution on social media.
Bionic Hand Startup Posts “May the Fourth” Video
Inspired by Star Wars, this startup has a little fun on Star Wars day.
Tumor fighting device wins at startup conference
CEO tells the 4thEst8 the path to liquidity for this one-person company.
Carroll recieves Plasmadynamics and Lasers award
His engineering firm has more than a dozen patents, and has landed many SBIR grants.
Food tech startup migrates URL from .co backwater to .com
The CEO tells the story of how to get around a gatekeeper, and get what you need for your company.
Agtech startup eyeballs real estate as it exits ‘proof of concept’
The CEO says ramping up both the data and feed formulation sides of the business will be better if everyone is under one roof.
InvestMidwest Targets Hot Startups
The virtual event wraps up today, but this story can connect you to the companies.
VR Startup Lands Air Force Contract
CrunchBase says this tiny company has quietly raised $1.4 million in the past couple years.
SafeBeat Clears Y Combinator Hurdle
This little startup is making waves in St. Louis and Silicon Valley.
SafeBeat Rx Wins Pitch Competition
How will CEO Rachita Navara spend that $500?
Infrastructure Startup Closes $41M Series B
With infrastructure commitment from Biden this data platform expects strong SaaleS.
Biotech Startup Chases “A” Round
Musical chairs in the C-Suite is followed by a promotion in business development.
4thEst8 Struggles With Page Load Time
As a journalist, I hate being the story. But I owe my subscribers an explanation.
SentiAR Lands A Round and New Investor
Their 3D VR platform acts as a guidance system for heart surgeries.
Hire Henry Wins $3K – Puts Beta to Work
Disrupting commercial lawn care is about automation and accessibility.
Fairmount Lands Grant; Tech Moving From Shop to Clients
Fairmount Technologies landed a $149,551 Phase 1 STTR grant from the Department of Defense to demonstrate how its flow-type CNC machining technology can help Air Force maintenance depots make replacement parts for older aircraft without having to reproduce the...
Aural Therapeutic App Rebrands after Retooling
Customer expectations forced serious changes in the product — and the image needed to change.
Air Force thinks this startup can kill airborne Covid
This company already holds patents for purifying water with high intensity LED arrays.
Schlafly takes $500 at VenCaf Pitch Competition
Cricket-protein evangelist ‘leaps’ over competition!
BREAKING – CoverCress funded $8M; Bungee, REG
CoverCress Inc. raised $8 million in what COO Mike DeCamp tells the 4thEst8 is a “Series B-1 round.” The round was led by two new investors, Bungee Ventures and REG Ventures. DeCamp says all existing investors also took part and that this investment gives the company...
FynCom hires ‘unicorn’; launches crowdfunding effort
This 1MC-STL presenter is on 22,000 phones
Startup to design eVTOL UAM with $150K grant
Beyond the military applications… what would Amazon pay for this?
Ed-tech startup signs school district for $500K
Kansas City startup Healthy Hip Hop just landed a $500,000 contract to provide it's children's music/health platform to more than 70,000 students at the Dallas Independent School District. As an early adopter DISD got a 50 percent discount. If the contract is renewed...
Boating marketplace hires; puts feet in Florida
CEO tells 4thEst8 ‘Florida is the biggest boating market in the United States.”
BREAKING: Plastomics partners with seed-trait producer
4thEst8 readers knew in February this was coming.
Engineering firm lands $50K Air Force grant to combat drone swarms
From engineering services, to DoD R&D, this small firm is branching out.
App tracks college financials; loads new data
What if your Freshman’s school failed before she made it to Sophomore year?
Startup lands $811,000 to apply neural net to kidney biopsies
The ITEN/BioGenerator startup was getting by on PPP loans before landing the grant.
Disruptel lands $1.15M
CEO tells 4thEst8 what he’s going to do with the money.
Farmer patents, makes and sells 1000 — all during COVID
One-man-band goes from ideation to sales… in a pandemic… from his farm.
Adaptive fairing startup files for 3rd patent
The next big challenge is to build a working prototype.
GiftAMeal cuts first deal with a chain; gets toe-hold in third market
Social app startup CEO tells 4thEst8 readers what this means to his company.
Pluton inks deal with Bayer
If successful, the venture could also reverse climate change.
Vaccine Scientist hopes Fellowship will bolster business acumen
With potentially break-through technology this tiny startup founder and scientist needs to learn about business.
Data security startup lands $8.2 million in seed financing
Cha-CHING!
Facebook grant fuels R&D for DJ app entrepreneurs
Testing out a Beta with real customers — priceless!
IPS hits IP snag; continues work with other products
Smart license plate is NOT the only thing in this company’s pipeline
Startup “headquarters” kinda fuzzy when launched in pandemic
Where is your startup headquartered? It's a tough question for some entrepreneurs, especially ones that started during the Covid 19 pandemic. “Like yeah, so I pitched at 1 Million Cups – Kansas City a couple of weeks ago, and yes, that was because one of our initial...
Plastomics- New CEO, Soybean Grant and Two More Scientists
The race for commercialization (and perhaps acquisition) is ON for this BioGenerator portfolio company.
For profit social venture tops pre-pandemic revenue record
Doing good and doing well have always been the goal.
FastDemocracy brings on new CEO for expansion
Charged with expansion, CEO Grant Campbell takes charge
Ed-tech startup lands spot on Silicon Valley TV pitch show after Shark Tank snafu
Live stream this entrepreneur on Saturday.
BAMSL names ag-tech startup ‘Inventor of the Year’
CTO tells the 4thEst8 the company path to revenue.
Self-funded ‘Silver Tech’ Startup Launches Alpha; Lands 1st Customer
Serial entrepreneur tells the 4thEst8 how he got to Beta without outside investment.
Sports Tech Startup Launches Beta
With $85K incubator/competition money the four person startup is swinging for a full launch soon
$256K Grant to Help Medical Device Startup Clear FDA Hurdles
Founders focused on FDA approval, seek angel investment and grants
Genomic Startup Exits Incubator; Picks Up San Francisco Angels
Pluton validates its model and picks up some cash.
1MC, STL Fintech Presenter Rocks the ‘Room’
Fintec app excites!
Food Tech Founder Featured in Mag — Lands Shelf Space, Finds Co-Packer
Protein laden snack bar coming soon!
Tanker Tech Startup to Launch Crowdfunding Effort
Bloomberg says this market will be worth $692 BILLION by 2025!
‘Series A’ Fuels Balto Hiring Spree – But Where Will They Go?
And Balto isn’t the only St. Louis-area tech startup in hyper-expansion mode — find out who else!
Electrolyzer Catalyst Startup Lands $750K to Turn Salt Water Into Hydrogen
Money will go to making an industrial sized ‘stack’ to prove concept.
LEANLAB Awards Healthy Hip Hop and 18 Others
Non-dilutive micro-grants fuel educational ventures.
Bionic Hand Startup Grabs $739K — National Launch Within Reach
Fueled with a $739,000 grant, a bionic hand company is driving hard to move from a limited Midwestern release to a nationwide launch. The eight person startup claims to have the only prosthetic hand with sensory feedback in the fingertips that is covered by Medicare....
Cape Girardeau Nabs Four Tech Startups
1st50k is a partnership of Codefi and the Missouri Technology Corporation.
New CEO Hired — Follows Investment, Grants and a ‘Pivot’
Tons of activity from BioGenerator portfolio company.
MOgene Lands $250K
This tiny startup is no stranger to grants — this brings total near $2M
Four Person Startup Fuels Fruit Crop Tech With $225K Grant
This novel technology may significantly improve yields for the highest value fruit crop in America.
T-Rex/ITEN Startup Chases $124M Navy contract – As Opening Salvo to $44B Market
Congress says there is a refueling gap. The Air Force, Navy, Army and commercial aviation are waiting in the wings for a private-sector solution.
1st Patent Awareded to Agtech Startup with $7M in VC
Investors don’t generally pump a lot of money into a startup until AFTER the IP is secure. Why is this company different?
Women and Capital
Respond AI Commits to Manufacturing
A little over a year ago the three person startup launched with a service offering that supplied domestic fire and police departments with their AI software and off the shelf drones to boost their situational awareness during emergencies. After a hackathon sponsored...
$1M Fuels Commercialization of Nanoparticle
Biotech startup at the CIC@CET works on particle to better target proteins in fluids.
Pluton Supercharges its Race to Market
Cash and sequencing open things up.
Genetic Screening Startup Lands $225K
Supercharging CRISPR for genome-wide screening aims to speed up, and reduce costs, of ALL drug development. Boom!
$1.6M Grant Fuels Data Analysis Startup Expansion
Going from five to seven employees is HUGE for a small company — and their commercialization effort.
T-Rex Startup Applies for Patent
Pitches in to help limit Covid exposure at the fuel pump,
Butterscotch Shenanigans Launches 6th Game
Co-Founder Sam Coster shares the marketing strategies that have worked — and not!
IN2 Supercharges Six Ag-Tech Startups
In a 4thEst8 EXCLUSIVE: $250K in cash and research services fuel technology development at very early-stage companies.