SLU New Venture Accelerator
The Saint Louis University New Venture Accelerator (NVA) allows SLU founders to launch their entrepreneurial journeys with access to funding, resources, advisors and guidance to propel their ideas to reality. SLU NVA participants are eligible for equity-free investments up to $50,000 through a special accelerator fund.
Our 14-week accelerator is curated to the needs of each summer cohort, focusing on
customer discovery, validation, business development, revenue modeling and more. Our
modules are designed to leverage the success and knowledge of our faculty, mentors
and advisors to improve the participants' chances of success.
The accelerator culminates with a demo day in August for invited investors, strategic
partners, and ecosystem leaders for final pitches from our SLU NVA graduates.
Demo Day 2025
Celebrate the achievements of the 2025 cohort at Demo Day, where student and alumni founders from Saint Louis University will showcase the ventures they’ve built over the past 14 weeks.
Backed by mentorship, strategic support, and equity-free investments of up to $50,000, these entrepreneurs are ready to unveil their progress in customer discovery, validation, business development, and revenue modeling.
Join us for an evening of innovation, networking, and celebration. Enjoy drinks and appetizers while connecting with SLU’s emerging entrepreneurs and getting a first look at what’s next in startup development.
When: Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. CT
Where: The Confluence Ballroom, 5th Floor, Saint Louis Club, 7676 Forsyth Blvd., St.
Louis, MO 63105
For more information, contact Hayley Johnston at hayley.johnston@slu.edu
2025 Cohort
AlgaEarth is a biodegradable packaging platform made from algae and other bio-based materials that is redefining waste. The goal of AlgaEarth is to offer a solution that can be reused for secondary purposes and will naturally break down in soil, providing environmental benefits. The platform aims to reduce packaging and single-use waste while offering added value for consumers. AlgaEarth also explores new ways to minimize waste in areas such as plastic coatings and films. AlgaEarth is more than just packaging. It closes the loop between sustainability and value.
Founder: Abigail Avila
School: School of Science and Engineering
Major: Doctorate in Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: 2022
MedReveal is a healthcare analytics company transforming how independent medical practices and surgery centers use price transparency data. We equip provider organizations with AI-powered tools to detect underpayments, benchmark rates against local competitors, and generate insurer-specific insights for smarter reimbursement negotiations. Our mission is to help practices strengthen their negotiating power and remain financially viable in today’s complex payor landscape. MedReveal's platform unlocks a 7 to 11 percent increase in earnings through clean, actionable intelligence.
Founder: Tarun Janapati
School: School for Professional Studies
Major: Analytics
Graduation: 2025
Founder: Seyun Jeong
School: School of Science and Engineering
Major: Computer Science
Graduation: 2025
Founder: Satya Siva Sai Kiran Gutti
School: School for Professional Studies
Major: Analytics
Graduation: 2025
Founder: Claire Elah Doua
School: Doisy College of Health Sciences
Major: Health Sciences
Graduation: 2025
Founder: Harshu Pande
School: College of Public Health and Social Justice
Major: Public Health
Graduation: 2025
Phoenix is a prosthetic system designed with plug-and-play parts, allowing patients to repair their own devices. This innovation gives prosthetic users greater stability by reducing high costs and appointment delays often associated with traditional billing practices. By combining 3D printing with conventional manufacturing, Phoenix significantly lowers the cost of prosthetic maintenance. Its unique service model includes telehealth visits that guide users through repairs, removing the need for multiple appointments and long insurance-approval processes. Patients complete an initial fitting with a local prosthetist and return weeks later to receive their custom unit. A $50 monthly subscription covers ongoing maintenance, virtual consultations, and direct delivery of replacement parts to the patient's home.
Founder: Lili Hostetler
School: School of Science and Engineering
Major: Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: 2021
SprayX is an innovative agtech company transforming crop protection through drone-based spraying services. We help farmers safeguard their fields with precision, efficiency and care by using advanced drone technology to deliver targeted agricultural applications. Our mission is to support growers with a reliable, environmentally conscious service that improves crop yields while reducing waste and environmental impact. SprayX is committed to becoming a trusted partner in the agricultural industry, working alongside farmers to ensure every application is done right. By combining cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of growers' needs, SprayX is redefining what it means to farm smarter.
Founder: Chris Kalmer
School: Chaifetz School of Business
Major: Finance
Graduation: 2025
2024 Cohort
EMBr is an innovative wearable device designed to detect opioid overdose symptoms and alert bystanders and emergency medical services (EMS) in real time. By continuously monitoring vital signs such as respiratory rate, heart rate and oxygen levels, the bracelet identifies critical overdose indicators and sends immediate alerts to designated contacts, including EMS, with the wearer’s location. Targeting individuals at risk of overdose, their families and healthcare providers, this bracelet aims to reduce opioid-related fatalities by ensuring timely intervention and providing peace of mind.
Founder: Kirti Madhu
College: Doisy College of Health Sciences/College of Arts and Sciences
Major: Medical Sciences / Women and Gender Studies
Expected Graduation: May 2025
GenAssist is developing MyoMatrix, a regenerative biomaterial to treat volumetric
muscle loss (VML) and other muscle conditions. MyoMatrix is designed to replace lost
muscle tissue following severe injuries. It is made of proteins that mimic the natural
extracellular matrix, supporting the wound and stimulating stem cells. When implanted
or injected, MyoMatrix encourages the growth of skeletal muscle stem cells. These
cells then differentiate into muscle cells, forming new muscle tissue as MyoMatrix
resorbs.
Founder: Gabe Haas
School: School of Science and Engineering
Major: Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: 2019/2020
Founder: Joe Beggs
College: Grinnell College and Washington University in St. Louis
Major: Bachelor of Arts in Biophysics and Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: 2019/2020
Founder: Koyal Garg
School: Associate professor of biomedical engineering in the School of Science and
Engineering
Moii Coffee is a coffee company working towards bridging the gap between coffee farmers and consumers. We accomplish this by importing coffee directly from Ethiopian farmers. Our mission is to passionately deliver the highest quality, ethically sourced coffee with a personalized touch. We strive to deliver a unique and exceptional coffee experience.
Founder: Firaol Ahmed
School: Chaifetz School of Business
Major: Entrepreneurship
Expected Graduation: May 2025
Posie Pots is an innovative agricultural technology concept that stands out from the rest. We provide sustainable planters through our unique water-once-a-month system. Our patented system uses 95% less water and one-third of the soil or growing medium, allowing plants to grow up to 10 times more than in a traditional flower pot. This self-contained subirrigation system is the first one-piece, closed-loop subirrigation self-watering planter on the market, making it incredibly easy to use and a game-changer in the industry.
Founder: Kay Wells
School: School of Professional Studies
Certificate: Post-Baccalaureate in Organizational Leadership
Expected Graduation: May 2025