Every life-saving device, Fortune 500 company and hottest consumer trend started the same way: with an idea, and the spark to make it reality. As our community emerges as a hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurship activity, Washington University in St. Louis is also doing its part to develop and grow startups.
Beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, Washington University hosts St. Louis’ largest event for early-stage startups: Startup Connection. The event gives support to companies in a variety of sectors, and will be held at Knight/Bauer Halls until 9 p.m.
Seventy companies, including 25 founded or supported by Washington University alumni, faculty and students, will take part. The individual startups will pitch their products and ideas to faculty, alums, the business community and venture capitalists. It’s a natural fit for the university, where innovation and entrepreneurship are cultivated and encouraged via curriculum, across disciplines, and at a variety of campus centers that provide resources to students and faculty interested in turning their ideas into realities and successes.
“Our region has seen significant growth in entrepreneurial energy and interest in the last few years,” said Dedric Carter, associate vice chancellor for innovation and entrepreneurship at Washington University. “Washington University has continued to be a strong partner in these areas. It’s refreshing to see that a third of the companies at Startup Connection this year have WashU ties.”
Washington University-affiliated startups include the following, listed in alphabetical order:
- Accelerated Rehabilitation Technology
- AdVax
- Applied Particle Technology
- Blue Line Security Solutions, LLC
- Cast
- CTY
- DataDog Health Inc.
- Epharmix: Digital Pharmaceuticals
- Eureka Analytics
- Filament: A Better Meeting Machine
- Foodshare Mobile Application
- GREETABL
- Grip Racks
- Intact Genomics, Inc.
- Invisible Industries
- MagBiosense
- Nanaya
- Opend.city
- People Behind the Science
- PFITR
- PIXI Medical, LLC
- Pro-Arc Diagnostics
- Regent Power, LLC
- Sparo Labs
- Unfettered Socks
The 25 startups are as diverse as the campus where many got their start: some are tackling issues such as improved medical care and environmental stewardship. Others offer app-based technology to make people’s lives easier. All share an entrepreneurial vision and a sustainable drive to succeed.
“To capture a quote from the regional Accelerate STL video, ‘We are on the ground floor of awesome.’ The momentum is definitely building, and Startup Connection is a lens for that activity in our region,” Carter said.
To learn more about Washington University’s commitment to the startup scene, visit the website Fuse. This web-hub is dedicated to showcasing stories of innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the university.
Founded by the St. Louis Regional Chamber and now in its eighth year, Startup Connection is presented by Accelerate St. Louis.
Media interested in event coverage should contact Erika Ebsworth-Goold at eebsworth-goold@wustl.edu or 314-935-2914.