TechSTL announced that Amass BioSystems, founded by Justin Traenkle, won the third annual Startup World Cup St. Louis Regional Finals, held Sept. 23 at The Post Building. The company will represent St. Louis at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, Nov. 4-6 in San Francisco, where it will compete for a $1 million investment prize.
Amass develops symbiotic species that help farmers diversify revenue, reduce input costs and improve soil health. The company was selected from 10 finalists who took the stage after advancing from a field of 100 St. Louis startups. Zentry Pass placed second, and LandConnect placed third.
“The judges did a fantastic job choosing a startup that showcases the region’s incredible depth of expertise in agriculture technology, and a founder with tremendous problem-market fit,” said venture capitalist Vikram Lakhwara, TechSTL’s Director of Velocity and Startup World Cup. “Justin is an outstanding presenter who articulates a unique value proposition: one that unlocks additional revenue for farmers while providing a cleaner source of energy to factories still reliant on coal. We’re excited to have Amass BioSystems represent the region at the finals in November.”
The St. Louis finals followed KCSourceLink’s first Kansas City Startup World Cup Regional Tournament on Sept. 22 at CPKC Stadium. Love Lifesciences, founded by Nick Love, won the Kansas City competition and will also advance to the Grand Finale. The back-to-back events mean Missouri will send two regional champions to San Francisco for the first time.
“The collaboration between TechSTL and KCSourceLink on the Startup World Cup shows what can happen when we think regionally instead of within city and state boundaries. We know firsthand that borders don’t build ecosystems, people do. When our organizations work side by side, more founders get funded, resourced, and ready to compete on a global stage. That’s what we’re here to do,” said Adam Larson, Senior Program Coordinator at KCSourceLink.
“For three years, TechSTL has used the Startup World Cup to showcase the most promising founders in St. Louis and connect them with investors and markets outside our region,” said Emily Hemingway, CEO of TechSTL. “Partnering with KCSourceLink this year gives Missouri two companies in the global finale and builds a stronger bridge between our startup communities. Amass BioSystems and Love Lifesciences show why that regional approach matters.”
Amass BioSystems and Love Lifesciences will join regional champions from more than 100 competitions worldwide at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale. The Nov. 4-6 event will bring founders, investors and industry leaders together in San Francisco before one company is selected for the $1 million investment prize.
About Startup World Cup
Startup World Cup is a global startup conference and pitch competition organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures. Regional champions advance to the Grand Finale in San Francisco to compete for a $1 million investment prize. Learn more at startupworldcup.io.
About TechSTL
TechSTL is the technology council for the 15-county St. Louis metropolitan region. The organization connects technology companies, founders, investors, employers, educators and civic partners, and leads StartupSTL, the region’s entrepreneurship hub. TechSTL produces Startup World Cup St. Louis and other programs that help startups and technology companies reach customers, capital and talent. Learn more at techstl.com.
About KCSourceLink
KCSourceLink, a program of the UMKC Innovation Center, connects entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources, funding opportunities, support organizations and business expertise they need to move forward. Through regional ecosystem development, KCSourceLink strengthens partnerships and improves access to entrepreneurship support across the Kansas City region. Learn more at kcsourcelink.com.
