WingXpand

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2022 | Status: Active

What is WingXpand?

WingXpand is the most simple and powerful drone solution of its size. It combines the small size and simplicity of a quadcopter with the horsepower of airplane wings.
– Wings expand from pack to 7ft wingspan in < 2 min

– Flies 5x longer and carries 10x more pro tools than a small quadcopter

– White glove services for professional drone operations

Company Leadership

Michelle Madaras

Chief Customer Officer & Co-Founder

Michelle spent the first part of her career as a top ranked on-air television news reporter, culminating at Fox 2 News, St. Louis. She is an expert at product marketing and go-to-market strategy derived from her strong analytical and communication skills. She also founded and led a public relations and marketing firm where she gained experience with businesses ranging from startups to 100M+ non-profit where she was the senior executive responsible for all aspects of marketing, communications and campaign strategy.
— University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Bachelor of Science of Journalism, Minors in Informatics and Political Science

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James Barbieri

Co-founder & CEO

James Barbieri (CEO): Aerospace industry expert who spent 10 years at Boeing and the U.S. Intelligence Community in a wide variety of roles spanning engineering, corporate strategy, business development and senior R&D leader responsible for executing a $6M+ portfolio of innovations.
— Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Entrepreneurship Focus
— National Intelligence University, Master of Science & Technology Intelligence
— Saint Louis University, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation, and Technology, Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, Certificate of Asian Studies

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Wayfarer

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2022 | Status: Active

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What is Wayfarer?

Our Knowledge-as-a-Service interactive platform helps libraries prevent resources from collecting digital dust.

Patrons don’t think about the “resource” they need. They think about the problem they need to solve. The Wayfarer helps libraries translate resources into problem-based, patron-centric micro-tasks that are then compiled into curated paths on discrete topics (“Find a Job” or “Start a Business,” e.g.). The patron selects the Wayfarer path that solves her problems and follows the steps along the path.

The Wayfarer uses AI, smart questions, customized UX, and micro-action tracking to provide a personalized experience and connect patrons to resources like never before. And the discovery element helps connect the dots between resource topics. The platform is available in multiple languages and helps to bridge the digital divide.

Wayfarer is currently in 13 library systems nationwide reaching a service-population area of 4.6 million patrons, including Missouri patrons in Kansas City, St. Charles County, and Joplin, as well as Houston. It also recently won SBA’s veteran-owned business of the year award.

Company Leadership

Chris Daming

Co-Founder & CEO

Chris is the co-founder and CEO of Wayfarer. Prior to Wayfarer, Chris spent 4 years in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. Afterwards, he got his J.D. and LL.M. at Washington University, and practiced law serving entrepreneurs.

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Jorik Ittmann

Co-founder

Jorik is the co-founder and COO of Wayfarer. Originally from the Netherlands, Jorik has founded one medical tech company, and he helped lead another in a successful exit to a publicly traded firm.

Upgrade Energy

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2022 | Status: Active

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What is Upgrade Energy?

Upgrade Energy began its journey in 2020 from shifting from a drone company to a battery company after realizing the biggest limiting factor in drone technology is flight time. The founder, Matthew Barnard, developed a new LiIon battery technology and along with his team, scaled the company to manufacture drone batteries at scale in St Louis Missouri. After early traction, the company further expanded their product line to carrying 14 distinct products to date. After working through customer feedback, Ariel Cerfoglia and Matthew Barnard have worked to bring Smart Battery technology to their battery technology, enabling battery analytics to further improve the safety and widespread use of the batteries. Since launching, Upgrade Energy has sold over 1000 batteries, selling through 3 online retailers, direct to consumer, and specific batteries developed for commercial clients. Upgrade Energy has attracted numerous high profile customers such as Drone Express who handles drone delivery for Kroger’s Grocers, Papa John’s Pizza, Win Supply Construction company, Whirrx who performs ground surveys nationwide, the US Air Force Academy, and several other companies who are currently testing our batteries for deployment for their drone services. Upgrade Energy has a team of 5 and is continuing to scale their business through increasing manufacturing output. So far, Upgrade Energy has made a difference through enabling delivery of goods, enabling further reach of search and rescue operations, and enabling the advancement of clean tech to provide a greener future for all.

Upgrade Energy has brought to market a silicone anode Lilon based battery system which achieves a 30% increase in pack energy density to standard NMC Lilon based battery chemistries.

Company Leadership

Matthew Barnard

ceo

Matthew Barnard has been involved in robotics from a young age. After finishing his degree in computer science, he worked as a software developer, then an electrical engineer for a consumer product company. While launching a drone startup, he realized that the need for a better battery technology is what was limiting the drone industry, and Upgrade Energy was born.
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uFab

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2022 | Status: Active

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What is uFab?

uFab is a St. Louis based company startup that is committed to changing how circuit boards are designed and fabricated. Modern circuit board designers face a plethora of challenges, from long lead times to unreliable supply chains. To solve these issues facing them, , uFab has developed a patent pending technology to fabricate circuit boards in a matter of hours, rather than days or weeks. Customers can reduce development time by months and focus on what matters most to them: creating new and interesting hardware.
Inventors and innovators are constantly seeking to change the status quo, but, taking their ideas from paper to reality can be challenging or sometimes feel impossible. uFab’s clients look to us to actualize their ideas, taking something from idea to reality without all the hassle. uFab helps clients through the entire development cycle using its tech, from planning to circuit board design, rapid prototyping to finalized design. Once completed, uFab often works with clients to strategize viable mass production options. Our clients have us focus on the technical, while they focus on what they do well in their business.

Company Leadership

Tyler Richards

founder

When Tyler was young, he had no doubt he was going to work with electronics. He would spend his free time building 3D printers from scraps, high vacuum chambers with items from Ebay, and restoring vintage electronics. Now, Tyler has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and his experience in industry ranges from music synthesizers to plant growth chambers. With his passion for inventing, Tyler always pursues new and interesting ways of making things, and wants to continue that as founder of uFab.

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The Fattened Caf

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2022 | Status: Active

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What is The Fattened Caf?

The Fattened Caf started through a series of game nights. It was a way for Darren to perfect his BBQ skills and a way for Charlene to introduce Filipino food to her STL community. Since then, it has grown into a pop up restaurant inside Earthbound Beer. At the height of the pandemic, Charlene and Darren had to figure out a way to pivot the business to stay afloat. They started working on a smoked longganisa recipe and packaging them for people to cook at home. It was a way for their customers to still get their Filipino food fix from The Fattened Caf in the comfort of their own home. When the opportunity came to put their packaged goods in Schnucks, they took the opportunity to get Filipino food on the shelves on mainstream grocery stores. Today they can also be found in Fresh Thyme City Foundry, United Provisions, and Old North Provisions.

Company Leadership

Charlene Bakunawa Young

co-founder & vp of operations

Charlene is a transplant to STL from Los Angeles, California. Before living in STL, she was in Melbourne Australia getting her Masters in International Relations from the University of Melbourne. She’s worked for the fundraising development field team of UNHCR, as a Policy Analyst for Project Respect, and then a Data Analyst here in STL. Since Sept 2020, she left full time work to pursue The Fattened Caf.
Charlene is a mom of 2 (3 year old and 8 month old). She considers STL her home and is empowered by all the Filipino American chefs in STL’s food scene. Even though her passion is still in humanitarian work, her mission through The Fattened Caf is to bring authentic Filipino food into grocery stores.
On her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family, Sunday family days, being outdoors, cleaning her home, and traveling.

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Darren Young

Co-founder & CEO

Darren Young is a transplant to STL from Santa Clarita, California. He has devoted over 16 years in non profit management and community development. He has a degree in Urban Missions. Currently, he is the Area Director of Young Life, a youth development and outreach program, in Saint Louis City. When he isn’t program planning and strategic thinking, Darren loves all things BBQ and is the grill master of The Fattened Caf. He enjoys recipe development and sausage making the most! Darren also enjoys feeding people. In his free time, he loves hanging out with his family, grilling for friends, and watching a great movie.On her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family, Sunday family days, being outdoors, cleaning her home, and traveling.

Figozo

Origin: FL | Grant Awarded: 2022 | Status: Active

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What is Figozo?

Committed to helping independent business owners compete and win, Figozo’s cutting-edge omnichannel retail point-of-sale (POS) solution equips SMBs with the ability to reach more customers both in-store and online while maintaining the level of personalization that makes them stand out.

So, how does it work? Figozo helps retailers set up cloud-based catalogs that are updated in real-time so they can have an accurate view of the products they have available, whether they are selling in-store, online, at a flea market, farmers market, or all of the above. With Figozo, merchants can build their online store, configure a slick POS device for in-store and on-the-go transactions, plus offer multiple payment methods, including Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and gift cards, to provide a seamless customer experience. The platform can also keep track of inventory and send updates to team members or key stakeholders (like brands) about items that might soon be out of stock, helping retail merchants efficiently track and manage supplies.

Company Leadership

Shani Bennett

cEO

Shani Bennett is the co-founder and CEO of Figozo, a data analytics engine for independent retailers. Prior to Figozo, Shani was a senior analyst for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a United Nations agency tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development. Shani is passionate about human and community development. Shani loves to watch cooking shows and designing logos for imaginary companies.

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Pivto Digital Learning

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2022 | Status: Active

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What is Pivto Digital Learning?

Pivto Digital Learning transforms digital learning for the healthcare industry. Pivto provides custom eLearning experiences through consumer-focused technologies – mobile, micro, and social. Cinematic quality video-based learning is delivered through E-Laborate, our online LMS platform. Our platform, E-Laborate, is simple to use with a modern user interface. Our clients include leading healthcare systems, medical organizations, pharmaceutical & medical device companies, and public health agencies & associations. We help healthcare organizations train employees, customers, or patients anytime, anywhere, from any device.

Company Leadership

Kelley Robson

founder & cEO

Kelley Robson brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in healthcare – including several startup organizations. Kelley’s healthcare industry experience includes sales, marketing, and training roles at GSK, Baxter Healthcare, and Siemens. Kelley is a graduate of the University of Missouri.

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Peppermint

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2022 | Status: Active

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What is Peppermint?

Peppermint is a consumer healthcare brand that designs beautiful products for those with mobility challenges. Its first product is a walker unlike any other.

For the first time in US history, those over 65 years of age will out number those under 18. These are known as the “baby boomers” and they are very different than the generation before them. Among the many differences is their interest in “embracing” as opposed to “accepting” their age, and their focus on health and wellness.

The healthcare equipment category is filled with brands that force a feeling of being a patient instead of a person, and products that look like hospital furniture.

By reinventing what a brand and its products can look like for those with mobility challenges, Peppermint can help encourage people to embrace their season of life and better connect them with their loved ones, communities, and their health and wellness.

Company Leadership

Scott Bernstein

founder & cEO

Scott has dedicated much of his career to innovative businesses on both the investor and operator sides. Prior to founding Peppermint, Scott sat on the leadership teams of several startups including Freely Pet and Stix Golf.

Scott was also on the investment team at Lewis & Clark Ventures, a Series A stage VC firm, and managed operations for Capital Innovators.

Scott has an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BA in Economics from the University of Colorado Boulder.

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Nutrible

Origin: CA | Grant Awarded: 2022 | Status: Active

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What is Nutrible?

Nutrible is a web app and virtual medical practice that delivers diagnosis-based food directly to patients as soon as they are discharged from hospitals, emergency departments, behavioral health facilities, and other healthcare settings.

More than 3.8 million times per year, patients leave healthcare settings without the resources they need to live independently. With our technology and processes, we partner with healthcare organizations to ensure their most vulnerable patients live full and healthy lives.

Company Leadership

Kwamane Liddell, JD, MHA, BSN

founder & cEO

Kwamane Liddell, JD, MHA, BSN is a health equity visionary and business leader who has saved lives, and believes healthy food should be accessible to every sick person. While Kwamane was an emergency department nurse, he witnessed the devastation that happens to families when they don’t have the right food at home. Those patients inspired him to create Nutrible, where he uses his experiences as a trauma nurse, healthcare lawyer, and entrepreneur to build technology that connects the current healthcare and grocery systems. Nutrible focuses on the most vulnerable patient populations and makes it easy for patients to access food that aligns with their medical, cultural, and financial needs.

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