SLU’s Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship to Host New Venture Accelerator Demo Day

The Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship at Saint Louis University is hosting its second New Venture Accelerator (NVA) Demo Day on Thursday, Aug. 14. At the event, the cohort of AlgaEarth, Med Reveal, Phoenix Biomedical and Spray X will make final pitches to potential investors and partners interested in the future growth of the four companies.

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 received additional resources and mentoring from SLU experts over the past 14 weeks.

Applicants provided a high-level pitch to the NVA 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.

The four NVA companies are:

AlgaEarth

AlgaEarth is a biodegradable packaging platform made from algae and other bio-based materials that redefines waste. The goal of AlgaEarth is to provide a solution that can be used for secondary purposes and will naturally break down in the soil, resulting in environmental benefits. This aims to reduce packaging and single-use waste, while providing additional benefits for consumers. AlgaEarth is also challenging where waste can be reduced, such as plastic coatings and films.

AlgaEarth is founded by Abigail Avila, Ph.D. (SSE ’22). Avila received her doctorate in biomedical engineering.  

Med Reveal

MedReveal is a healthcare analytics company transforming how independent medical practices and surgery centers leverage price transparency data. It equips provider organizations with AI-powered tools to detect underpayments, benchmark rates against local competitors, and generate insurer-specific insights for smarter reimbursement negotiations.

Med Reveal was the 2025 SLULaunch winner. 

Med Reveal was founded by five members of SLU’s Class of 2025. They include Harshu Pande, a public health major in the College for Public Health and Social Justice; Claire Elah Doua, a health sciences major in the Doisy College of Health Sciences; Tarun Janapati, an analytics major in the School for Professional Studies; Seyun Jeong, a computer science major in the School of Science and Engineering; and Satya Siva Sai Kiran Gutti, an analytics major in the School for Professional Studies. 

Phoenix Biomedical

Phoenix is a prosthetic designed with plug-and-play parts so that patients can repair their prosthetics themselves. This innovation provides greater stability for prosthetic users by eliminating the high costs and appointment delays that are common under current billing practices. Using a blend of 3D printing and traditional manufacturing techniques, Phoenix significantly lowers the cost of prosthetic maintenance.  

Phoenix Biomedical was founded by Lili Hostetler (SSE ’21). Hostetler received a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering.

SprayX

SprayX is an innovative ag-tech company revolutionizing crop protection through drone-based spraying services. SprayX helps farmers safeguard their fields with precision, efficiency, and care, using cutting-edge drone technology to deliver targeted agricultural applications. It’s mission is to support growers by providing a reliable, environmentally conscious service that boosts crop yields while minimizing waste and environmental impact.

SprayX was founded by Chris Kalmer, a senior majoring in finance in the Richard. A. Chaifetz School of Business. 

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Event Details

• When: 5-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 14
• Where: Saint Louis Club, The Confluence Ballroom, 5th Floor, 7676 Forsyth Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63105

Register to Attend

In its inaugural year, each of the NVA participants grew their business and their skills. The businesses in SLU's first NVA cohort include EMBr, GenAssist, Moii Coffee and Posie Pots.