Techstars

Accelerated Equity Insights creates more diverse college communities by removing bias from recruitment communications. It implements programs in colleges and universities to ensure that every voice is heard and has the same opportunities. Accelerated Equity Insights was founded in 2021 and is based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Lenme is a mobile application that streamlines the process of peer-to-peer lending and borrowing. It addresses the needs of the 140 million Americans who require small loans for unexpected expenses, offering a more accessible alternative to traditional financing options like bank loans, credit cards, or payday loans. The platform connects borrowers seeking loans with investors looking to earn returns by lending money. By leveraging extensive data on each borrower, Lenme enables lenders to provide more competitive rates, thereby reducing the high costs typically associated with small loans. The application features a user-friendly interface that simplifies the lending process, allowing borrowers to request loans on their own terms while offering investors a less volatile investment opportunity. Overall, Lenme aims to lower interest rates and fees, creating a more equitable lending environment.

WingXpand is an aerospace company founded in 2022 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, specializing in the manufacture of commercial drones. The company develops aerial drones tailored for various sectors, including public safety, defense, agriculture, survey, inspection, and insurance. WingXpand's drones feature expandable and customizable designs, incorporating smart sensing recognition and an open architecture system with modular payload capabilities. This innovative approach allows the drones to be compact enough to fit into a backpack, enabling clients to enhance agricultural yield, improve public safety, and ensure the safety of personnel in challenging environments.

Backstitch Inc. is a Kansas City-based company founded in 2012 that specializes in a platform for personalized employee communications. The platform serves business communicators by enabling them to create tailored communications for their teams, providing features such as push notifications, internal content, and industry news. Additionally, Backstitch's platform helps users analyze trends and behaviors, identify departmental allies, and measure the return on investment of their communications and engagement efforts. The company also develops an application that integrates a curated media monitoring platform, further enhancing its offerings for HR and internal communications teams.

Applied Particle Technology, founded in 2014 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, specializes in advanced air filtration technologies aimed at removing microscopic particles from the air. The company develops efficient air purification products that utilize a novel charge, capture, and inactivation technology, making them suitable for applications in hospitals, clean rooms, and other specialized environments. In addition to air filtration, Applied Particle Technology also offers environmental sensors designed to measure key parameters, including both fixed and wearable devices that detect aerosols. These sensors employ patented technology to monitor dust emissions, ensuring compliance with safety standards and protecting workers in potentially hazardous environments. Through its innovative solutions, the company addresses critical air quality issues while enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

Petabolix Inc. is a company focused on developing an intelligent nutrition platform tailored for pets. Established in 2014 and based in Saint Joseph, Missouri, the platform evaluates pets' nutritional needs by considering factors such as breed, age, activity level, and various individual conditions. By assessing these parameters, Petabolix maps each pet's nutritional profile to nearly 10,000 available diets, ensuring optimal matches. The platform also offers personalized diet recommendations and assists users in identifying well-priced retailers for pet food purchases, thereby emphasizing the importance of individualized nutrition in pet care.

Provider Pool Co. is an online labor marketplace focused on the healthcare sector, established in 2018 and headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri. The company facilitates connections between healthcare organizations and professionals through a tech-enabled platform that automates the hiring, recruiting, and contracting processes. By utilizing advanced matching technology powered by artificial intelligence, Provider Pool efficiently pairs hospitals with nursing professionals and other healthcare workers, catering to both short-term and long-term staffing requirements. The platform not only streamlines staffing and recruitment for healthcare organizations but also offers educational pathways for non-degree healthcare workers, enabling them to advance their careers and improve their qualifications.

Zohr, Inc. is a retail and service company specializing in tires, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The company provides a range of services, including tire replacement, tire rotation, tire pressure monitoring system checks, flat tire repair, and fleet services. Zohr operates multiple locations across Kansas and Missouri, making it accessible to a broad customer base. The company has developed an online platform that simplifies the tire purchasing process, allowing customers to order tires for delivery and installation at their home or office. This service-oriented approach aims to enhance convenience for vehicle owners while ensuring competitive pricing for quality tire services.

Zohr, Inc. is a retail and service company specializing in tires, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The company provides a range of services, including tire replacement, tire rotation, tire pressure monitoring system checks, flat tire repair, and fleet services. Zohr operates multiple locations across Kansas and Missouri, making it accessible to a broad customer base. The company has developed an online platform that simplifies the tire purchasing process, allowing customers to order tires for delivery and installation at their home or office. This service-oriented approach aims to enhance convenience for vehicle owners while ensuring competitive pricing for quality tire services.

Keybot, Inc. is a company that designs and manufactures rental access robots, automating entry for rental properties through an innovative integration of hardware and software. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in St. Peters, Missouri, with additional locations in Kansas City and London, the company provides solutions for rental owners and property managers. Keybot's product facilitates self-showings and allows renters and maintenance personnel to access properties securely. The system employs digital keys that enable property managers to share access with verified third parties, manage locks remotely, and maintain access logs, thereby enhancing security and efficiency in property management. Keybot also operates a production office in Taipei City, Taiwan.

Zego Inc., founded in 2017 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, specializes in developing a smart amenity platform designed specifically for apartments. The company's application connects residents with management, maintenance services, and a marketplace for local amenities through a single interface. This technology aims to enhance resident engagement and facilitate the sale of additional services, ultimately benefiting both property management companies and community associations.

Strayos Inc., founded in 2016 and based in St. Louis, Missouri, specializes in developing aerial data analytics software for various industries including mining, drilling, blasting, quarrying, and oil and gas exploration. The company's platform utilizes image processing and artificial intelligence to provide highly accurate survey data analytics, transforming job site insights through 3D visual AI. Key offerings include smart drill data analysis using measurement-while-drilling techniques, 3D Blast Profile for optimizing blast patterns, and Muckpile and Rock Size Analysis through advanced machine learning. These solutions aim to reduce costs, improve productivity, and enhance safety by delivering actionable insights that maximize operational excellence.

Strayos Inc., founded in 2016 and based in St. Louis, Missouri, specializes in developing aerial data analytics software for various industries including mining, drilling, blasting, quarrying, and oil and gas exploration. The company's platform utilizes image processing and artificial intelligence to provide highly accurate survey data analytics, transforming job site insights through 3D visual AI. Key offerings include smart drill data analysis using measurement-while-drilling techniques, 3D Blast Profile for optimizing blast patterns, and Muckpile and Rock Size Analysis through advanced machine learning. These solutions aim to reduce costs, improve productivity, and enhance safety by delivering actionable insights that maximize operational excellence.

Backstitch Inc. is a Kansas City-based company founded in 2012 that specializes in a platform for personalized employee communications. The platform serves business communicators by enabling them to create tailored communications for their teams, providing features such as push notifications, internal content, and industry news. Additionally, Backstitch's platform helps users analyze trends and behaviors, identify departmental allies, and measure the return on investment of their communications and engagement efforts. The company also develops an application that integrates a curated media monitoring platform, further enhancing its offerings for HR and internal communications teams.

Mycroft AI, Inc. is a developer of an open-source voice assistant platform that enables users to interact with their electronic devices through voice commands. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, with additional offices in Palo Alto, California, and Lawrence, Kansas, Mycroft's software operates as an adaptable platform that can be customized and integrated into various devices, including refrigerators, computers, speakers, wearables, cars, and televisions. The company emphasizes a privacy-focused approach, utilizing artificial intelligence and natural language processing to enhance user experience while maintaining an open-source and open-hardware framework. This allows for extensive extension and personalization, catering to the diverse needs of users.

Ollo Wearables Inc. is a company focused on developing innovative communication solutions tailored for senior citizens and children. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Ollo Wearables offers a unique push-to-talk smartphone that features a single button and no display, facilitating ease of use for its target demographic. The device includes advanced functionalities such as GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity, and various sensors, making it waterproof and shock-resistant. It is designed to enhance safety and independence for seniors by providing voice control, fall detection, and inactivity alerts that notify emergency contacts. By combining health monitoring capabilities with a simplified communication platform, Ollo Wearables aims to improve the quality of life for its users and strengthen connections between families and their loved ones. The company was incorporated in 2014.

FitBark Inc. is a pet technology company that specializes in monitoring dog health through its innovative activity and sleep tracking device. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, FitBark's product collects data on a dog's physical activity, sleep patterns, and overall behavior, providing valuable insights for pet owners. This data-driven approach not only helps owners to motivate their dogs to stay active but also allows for sharing information with veterinarians to enhance pet care. FitBark's technology is utilized in over 125 countries and is recognized as a research-grade platform, adopted by numerous veterinary schools and research institutions for the validation of new medical treatments. The company's products are available through its online store and various online retailers in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

FitBark Inc. is a pet technology company that specializes in monitoring dog health through its innovative activity and sleep tracking device. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, FitBark's product collects data on a dog's physical activity, sleep patterns, and overall behavior, providing valuable insights for pet owners. This data-driven approach not only helps owners to motivate their dogs to stay active but also allows for sharing information with veterinarians to enhance pet care. FitBark's technology is utilized in over 125 countries and is recognized as a research-grade platform, adopted by numerous veterinary schools and research institutions for the validation of new medical treatments. The company's products are available through its online store and various online retailers in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.