Two Kansas City companies that previously shared the stage as winners of LaunchKC grants received funding through St. Louis-based Arch Grants, which awards $50,000 equity-free grants to startups.
The nonprofit organization announced Friday it provided nearly $2 million in funding to 35 startups in its 2021 cohort, setting a record amount of startups backed through its annual competition. In previous years, Arch Grants has funded about 20 companies annually as part of the contest.
Nearly half of the companies selected are in St. Louis, while the other 17 hail from several U.S. states, including New York, Illinois, Iowa and Georgia. As part of the Arch Grants award, each of the companies will commit to operating their business from St. Louis for at least one year. Those not located in Missouri and at least 150 miles outside of St. Louis have been provided $10,000 in relocation assistance from Arch Grants.
The Kansas City-based recipients are Erkios Systems Inc., which previously won a $50,000 LaunchKC grant and was awarded $20,000 through Energy Sandbox, and PlaBook, which also won a $50,000 LaunchKC grant, was chosen for the inaugural class of the OHUB.KC Minority Accelerator, took part in the most recent cohort of Techstars Kansas City and landed an investment from the Fountain Innovation Fund in August.
Founded in 2017 by Sean Null and Philip Vanderstraeten, Erkios is a cybersecurity startup that aims to provide safety against data leaks. Null, the company's CEO, has described its system as the "Master Lock" of computer port security.
Founded in 2018 by Philip Hickman, PlaBook is an edtech startup that combines artificial intelligence, natural language processing and speech recognition to teach children how to read. Aside from social and emotional acuity, the ability to read is the most important skill a child learns in school, Hickman told the Kansas City Business Journal earlier this year.
The other startups winning 2021 Arch Grants are:
- Athlytic (Detroit): The startup has created a marketplace designed to link college student-athletes to potential endorsement deals.
- Bask & Bloom Essentials (Bridgeton, Missouri): The St. Louis-area company develops and sells hair care products.
- Buck Surgical (St. Louis): A developer of surgical devices.
- Cedars Health (South Korea/St. Louis): The startup is creating a medical device aimed at treating benign prostatic hyperplasia.
- Core and Rind (St. Louis): This startup produces and sells plant-based cheese.
- Equalizer Games (Dallas): The company has developed sports and education software to provide athletes with virtual coaching and training.
- GABA (Atlanta): This company has launched a career development platform designed for students in the health care fields.
- Halal Beauty Cosmetics (Des Plaines, Illinois): The company focuses on providing halal-certified cosmetics to Muslims.
- Halo + Cleaver (Denver/St. Louis): The food company sells low-sugar sauces and condiments.
- Harmonee (St. Louis): The mobile app created by this company aims to let businesses seek input from individuals in exchange for donations to charities.
- Honeymoon Chocolates (St. Louis): The company sells chocolate products.
- Imanyco: (West Palm Beach, Florida): The startup has developed a transcription app designed to provide communication more easily for individuals with hearing loss.
- InfraLytiks (Des Moines, Iowa): This startup develops software focused on data analytics, machine learning and automation.
- intramotev Autonomous Rail (St. Louis): The firm creates autonomous, battery-electric railcars.
- Inventora (St. Louis): Focused on companies developing handmade products, the startup offers software to help those brands mange inventory and finances.
- Looking Glass Interactive Web Application (St. Louis): Its technology is designed to convert architectural drawings to 3D models.
- Mighty Cricket (St. Louis): The company makes food products and protein powders using cricket protein powder.
- Mississippi Mud Coffee (Maplewood, Missouri): The St. Louis-area company is a wholesaler of organic coffee and beverages.
- Nebula Media Group (Philadelphia): The company provides web and digital services for small and medium-sized businesses.
- No Limbits (Iowa City, Iowa): It produces clothing items for those with disabilities.
- oneKIN (New York): A provider of e-commerce technology for small businesses.
- Optikal Care Inc. (Atlanta): The company offers a subscription service for eye care.
- Paerpay (Boston): Its software is design to let businesses conduct contactless payments from customers.
- Pilotbird (New York): This fintech startup provides software for insurance companies.
- Preventogen (Grover, Missouri): The St. Louis-area company has developed a wound care product it says has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
- Printerior (St. Louis): The company develops 3D printing products.
- Rock The Score (Sunset Hills, Missouri): The St. Louis-area company has designed a product aimed at boosting rental tenants' credit scores.
- Simerse (St. Louis): This local startup uses "synthetic data" designed to help customers improve their artificial intelligence models.
- Soiless (Austin, Texas): The company is working on an indoor gardening system.
- Stereotheque (New York): This startup has developed a marketplace meant to help people employ creative workers.
- Total Orbit (St. Louis): This firm has created an education and training platform used by hospitals.
- ZenHammer (Johnson City, Tennessee): A developer of a mobile app used by residential contractors.
- zPods (St. Charles, Missouri): This St. Louis-area company has developed sleeping pods it says are sensory-friendly.
The increased number of startups funded this year by Arch Grants comes after the nonprofit in February said it raised more than $20 million in gift and commitments to boost its ability to support early-stage companies.
"We could not be more excited to introduce the 2021 Arch Grants cohort to this region," said Emily-Lohse Busch, executive director of Arch Grants. "These founders are truly extraordinary and are eager to build their companies and their lives in St. Louis — and I know that St. Louis is just as eager to welcome their ideas and their solutions with open arms and open minds. With these new companies, Arch Grants has surpassed the 200-company mark, an important milestone in our drive to solidify St. Louis as a beacon for innovation in the country and throughout the world."
The nonprofit plans to celebrate its latest cohort on Nov. 17 with its 2021 Arch Grants gala, which will be held virtually. At the event, the nonprofit will recognize St. Louis serial entrepreneur Jim McKelvey with its 2021 Entrepreneur Award.
Arch Grants, which launched in 2012, has given $10.6 million to 208 startups. Portfolio companies have raised $411 million in follow-on capital and created 2,347-plus jobs, according to the organization.
