Saint Louis University's New Venture Accelerator to Hold Inaugural Demo Day August 1

SLU's New Venture Accelerator to Hold Inaugural Demo Day Event August 1

The Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship at Saint Louis University is hosting its inaugural New Venture Accelerator (NVA) Demo Day. At the event, the first cohort of GenAssist, Moii Coffee, Posie Pots and EMBr will make final pitches to potential investors and partners interested in the future growth of the four companies.

Demo Day is Thursday, Aug. 1, at the COLLAB and the event is open to the public.

The NVA offers current SLU students and alumni who have graduated within the last five years equity-free investments of up to $50,000 to launch their businesses. In addition to financial support, the teams receive additional resources and mentoring from SLU experts.

EMBr

EMBr is an innovative wearable device designed to detect opioid overdose symptoms and alert bystanders and emergency medical services (EMS) in real-time. Founder Kirti Madhu began her entrepreneurial journey through the MEDLaunch program at SLU.

"I originally started this as a self-injectable naloxone patch, but quickly realized through customer discovery that this was not what people wanted which led me to pivot to EMBr, a device that alerts users of opioid overdose," she said. "I've had experience in the substance use prevention for the past seven years in various roles. Through my experience, I was constantly reminded how large of an issue the opioid epidemic was and wanted to find a way to help people who might be struggling with a substance use disorder."

Madhu said she was especially driven by the conversations she had with various people on how opioid related overdose deaths have affected them.

She said when she applied to the NVA, she wanted guidance in navigating the process of starting a business.

"I also liked the idea of being able to be part of a group that could help each other and offer feedback on our individual projects," she said. "This has been a great experience. As someone with no business experience, I have been able to learn so much. It has also been so great to be around such talented people who have so much insight and are able to be help me through the difficulties of starting a business. "

EMBr is founded by Kirti Madhu, a junior double majoring in medical sciences and women's and gender studies at SLU.

GenAssist

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.

MyoMatrix is comprised 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.

Founding partner Gabe Haas was an undergraduate researcher working in the lab of Koyal Garg, Ph.D., associate professor of Biomedical Engineering in SLU's School of Science and Engineering, under a CURE grant.

"It was a great experience being in Dr. Garg's lab," he said. "It was intense but she was always so receptive and eager to help us learn."

Haas said he had a day in the lab looking at proteins under the microscope where he felt like he could see something happening right in front of his eyes and he was hooked.He shifted his plans from medical school to business, deciding to start a company to advance the work he participated in as a SLU undergraduate.

MyoMatrix began with a $25,000 gift from a family friend. That allowed the team to get a lab with BioSTL and start their work. They participated in the National Science Foundation I-Corps Program through SLU, finding 100 customers in seven weeks time.

In the first few years of the company, funding has come from a variety of sources, from grants to gifts from dentists. Haas said working with the NVA has been crucial for him in learning to hone his pitches and grow his business acumen.

"We're engineering guys - I could spend all my time in the lab," Haas said. "It's been great to really learn that investor language and develop a stronger business plan."

GenAssist is founded by Gabe Haas, SSE '20; Joe Beggs, Washington University in St. Louis, '20; and Koyal Garg, Ph.D., associate professor of Biomedical Engineering in SLU's School of Science and Engineering.

Moii Coffee

Moii Coffee is a coffee company working towards bridging the gap between coffee farmers and consumers.

Moii accomplishes this by importing coffee directly from Ethiopian farmers. The company's mission is to passionately deliver the highest quality, ethically sourced coffee with a personalized touch. Moii strives to deliver a unique and exceptional coffee experience.

Founder Firaol Ahmed started his business with 30 pounds of green coffee beans. He built the Moii website in his dorm room and roasted the beans in small batches.

He said working with the NVA has helped guide him to see the bigger picture.

"It has has been something I've done myself, working on everything," he said. "This summer I'm learning to work on the overall business, not focusing as much on the day-to-day."

Moii has added staff in sales and social media and Ahmed has plans to expand his reach by connecting more farmers in Ethiopia with roasters here in the United States.

Ahmed was named a St. Louis Inno Under 25 in 2023. The St. Louis Business Journal feature seeks to spotlight some of St. Louis' up-and-coming innovators.

Moii Coffee is founded by Firaol Ahmed, a junior in the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, majoring in entrepreneurship.

Posie Pots

Posie Pots is an innovative agricultural technology concept that stands out. The company provides sustainable planters through a unique water-once-a-month system.

The 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 flowerpot. 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.

Kay Wells said the NVA has helped her find ways to pitch her niche product, as well as improve the pot itself. Wells worked with both the SLU Center for Additive Manufacturing (SLU CAM) and the WATER Institute over the summer.

"Making these connections and creating these collaborations is something that will carry forward with me," Wells said. "Having a group of people to troubleshoot and talk with has been immensely helpful."

Wells said working within the cohort, learning from each other has also benefited her business. "We are talking and working together," she said. "There is a strength in that where we are each bringing something to the table."

Posie Pots is founded by Kay Wells, a student pursuing a post-baccalaureate certificate in Organizational Leadership through SLU's School of Professional Studies.

The four teams have participated in a 14-week accelerator program, culminating this week in Demo Day. To apply, the participants provided a high-level pitch in March, detailing their product or service and offering their insights on their target market and competition. A panel of entrepreneurs, alumni and investors assisted in the final selection process.

"We were impressed with the quality of applications we received," Lewis Sheats, executive director of the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship, said in March. "After online reviews by SLU alumni and St. Louis ecosystem leaders, we were able to narrow down this strong field to 10 in-person pitches in front of local investors and industry experts. It was not an easy task, but through much deliberation we selected an incredible cohort for 2024."

The NVA program is led by Sheats, and content is delivered by SLU faculty, industry experts, and mentors. Several of the experts and mentors are SLU alums.

NVA Demo Day Details

• When: 5-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 1
• Where: COLLAB, 4220 Duncan Ave, third floor. Parking is available on Duncan Ave or in surrounding garages

About the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business

Founded in 1910, the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University has shaped the future of industry for more than a century. As one of the oldest business schools west of the Mississippi, the Chaifetz School has built a reputation as a leader in business education committed to innovation, inclusion and impact and recognized with eight undergraduate and graduate programs nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

About Saint Louis University

Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious Catholic institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 15,200 students a rigorous, transformative education of the whole person. At the core of the University's diverse community of scholars is SLU's service-focused mission, which challenges and prepares students to make the world a better, more just place.