If there was ever a year not to leave your holiday shopping to the last minute, it’s probably 2021. That’s because the ongoing supply chain woes are likely to cause headaches for shoppers this holiday season.
To that end, St. Louis Inno wants to help give you a head start on your shopping with our gift guide, which features consumer products made by 12 local startups. This guide not only will ease your gift giving, but also highlights the diversity of St. Louis’ startup sector. It features products ranging from plant-based meats to 3D printing materials.
We sourced the companies on this list based on our previous reporting of St. Louis consumer startups that have received funding from local investors.
FOR THE ONE WHO'S ALWAYS ON THEIR PHONE
St. Louis startup Flipstik, founded in 2017, has developed a patented, reusable adhesive that attaches to a phone’s cover and can serve as a kickstand as well as be used to stick a phone to a flat surface. The product, called the Flipstik, allows users to complete tasks such as watching videos, taking selfies and using GPS hands free. Following founder Akeem Shannon's Nov. 2020 appearance on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” Flipstik won a 2020 Arch Grant and was named to the first cohort of the University of Missouri–St. Louis’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion accelerator program.
FOR THE FOODIE
Launched by co-founders and siblings Todd and Jody Boyman, Hungry Plant sells plant-based meat products covering several different protein types. The startup distributes its products through the foodservice industry, restaurants, grocery stores and e-commerce. Its products include plant-based beef, chicken, pork, crab and Italian sausage. Hungry Planet earlier this year announced it raised a $25 million Series A financing led by St. Louis consumer packaged goods holding company Post Holdings Inc.
St. Louis-based Halo + Cleaver sells premium, naturally sweetened low-sugar sauces and condiments. Its products, which are sold online and can also be found at local Schnuck Markets stores, includes its Perfect Ketchup, Gold Mustard BBQ Sauce and Backyard Red BBQ Sauce. Founded by Matt Richard and Rob Garwitz, Halo + Cleaver is a recent winner of a 2021 Arch Grant.
Mighty Cricket sells food products and protein powders using cricket protein powder. Its products include protein powders, oatmeals and pancake mix and chocolate. The startup was awarded an Arch Grant this year.
FOR THE FITNESS LOVER
The “resistance apparel" startup sells pants with built-in resistance bands aimed at helping those who wear them to strengthen muscles and burn calories while working out or walking around. AGOGIE, which recently relocated to a new headquarters in the St. Louis region, has been backed by local accelerator and startup investor Capital Innovators.
FOR YOUR PET
Native Pet is a St. Louis-based pet food and nutrition startup that develops and sells organic, limited-ingredient pet supplements and treats for pets. Its products are sold online and include allergy chews, omega oil, pumpkin powder and more. The company, founded by Pat Barron and Dan Schaefer, in 2020 won a $50,000 grant from Arch Grants.
FOR KIDS
3DuxDesign, a startup co-founded by Washington University student Ayana Klein, sells architectural modeling systems built for children. Its kits include materials for kids to create specific designs or their own structures. The startup says its kits are a way to practice STEM education for younger students. Klein was an honoree this year in St. Louis Inno’s inaugural Inno Under 25 feature.
FOR THE FASHIONISTA
Founded in 2017, Summersalt launched with an initial focus on swimwear and has since expanded into other female clothing categories that include loungewear, sweaters, sleepwear, intimates and activewear. The high-profile startup, founded by Lori Coulter and Reshma Chattaram Chamberlin, has raised $26 million in venture funding since its founding.
This minority and female-owned startup sells what it describes as eco-friendly and functional handbags. It uses vegan or recycled materials to create its handbags, which come in a range of colors, sizes and styles. Lux and Nyx won a $50,000 Arch Grant in 2019.
This startup, a 2021 winner of an Arch Grant, sells a variety of hair care products that include shampoo, gel, pomade and conditioner. It says its products are made using natural ingredients designed to minimize hair loss and strengthen hair.
Founded by Michelle Robinson, DEMIblue Natural Nails sells cruelty-free and vegan nail polish. Robinson launched the company out her mother's experience with cancer and says her company's natural products are gentle enough to be used on people undergoing cancer treatments and that are affected by chemical beauty products as a result. DEMIBlue was a member of the first cohort of the UMSL Accelerator program.
FOR THE MAKER
The startup sells adhesives and coatings for use in additive manufacturing and 3D printing. In 2020, it was an Arch Grants winner and snagged a $50,000 grant.
St. Louis Inno sourced this list on its own through its previous reporting of St. Louis' startups. It does not endorse companies on the list.
