Saint Louis University’s New Venture Accelerator Names Second Cohort

ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University’s New Venture Accelerator (NVA), launched in 2024 out of the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship, announces its second cohort of participants.

The NVA offers current SLU students and alumni who have graduated within the last five years equity-free investments of up to $50,000 through a special accelerator fund created through donor support. In addition to financial support, the teams receive additional resources and mentoring from SLU experts.

“We are pleased with the mix of disciplines and industries represented in the NVA,” said Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship executive director Lewis Sheats. “This unique cohort holds great promise in developing scalable and impactful companies.”

The four chosen teams will participate in a 14-week summer accelerator program, culminating in a Demo Day in August. The 14-week summer accelerator is curated to the needs of each cohort, focusing on customer discovery, validation, business development, revenue modeling, and more. 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 to showcase our SLU NVA graduates.

The 2025 cohort includes AlgaEarth, Med Reveal Phoenix Biomedical and Spray X.

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 more than just packaging; it closes the loop between sustainability and value. 

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

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. Our mission is to help practices strengthen their negotiating power and stay financially viable in today’s complex landscape, unlocking up to a 7 to 11 percent increase in earnings through clean, actionable intelligence. 

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. Med Reveal was the 2025 SLULaunch winner. 

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 also offers a unique service model that includes telehealth visits to enable user repairs, thus eliminating the need for multiple appointments and lengthy insurance approvals as is typical in traditional prosthetic care. Patients undergo an initial fitting with a local prosthetist, returning weeks later to receive their custom unit. A $50/month subscription covers ongoing maintenance, virtual prosthetist consultations, and direct delivery of replacement parts to the user's home. 

Phoenix Biomedical was founded by Lili Hostetler (SSE ’21). Hostetler graduated with 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 is committed to becoming a valued partner in the agricultural industry, working side by side with farmers to ensure every application is done right. By combining advanced technology with a deep understanding of growers’ needs, SprayX is redefining what it means to farm smarter. 

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

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.

• 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. She is currently a senior at SLU, double majoring in medical sciences and women's and gender studies at SLU. In the fall of 2024, EMBr was selected to be a part of the fall Cambridge Innovation Center Social Impact Cohort. 
• 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. 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. The company was founded by Haas, Garg and Joe Beggs. 
• Moii Coffee is a coffee company working towards bridging the gap between coffee farmers and consumers. The company’s mission is to passionately deliver the highest quality, ethically sourced coffee with a personalized touch. Founder Firaol Ahmed began by importing green coffee beans from Ethiopia. In fall 2024, Moii pivoted its business model. Ahmed partnered with SLU alum Andy Irakoze and moved the business from roasting to a supply chain and logistics firm connecting coffee farmers in Africa with roasters in North America. Ahmed credited his time in the NVA to helping him focus on what Moii could be.
• Posie Pots is an innovative agricultural technology concept that 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. Posie Pots was founded by Kay Wells, who holds a bachelor's degree and a post-baccalaureate certificate from SLU. In November, Posie Pots was one of 20 businesses to receive seed funding from Arch Grants, the St. Louis-based nonprofit, as a part of its 13th annual cohort. 

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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 research institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 15,300 students a rigorous, transformative education that challenges and prepares them to make the world a better place. As a nationally recognized leader in research and innovation, SLU is an R1 research university, advancing groundbreaking, life-changing discoveries that promote the greater good.