Inside the Startup Ecosystem: Skandalaris Summer Programming Begins June 1

This summer, the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship will once again bring together WashU students, startup founders, and innovation leaders for a hands-on experience that immerses participants in the St. Louis startup ecosystem.

Beginning June 1, students participating in the Skandalaris Internship Program (SkIP) and Skandalaris Center Launchpad will spend the summer working directly with startups and early-stage ventures while engaging in weekly cohort programming, workshops, networking opportunities, and founder-focused experiences.

From hackathons and leadership sessions to ecosystem tours and IdeaBounce®, the 10-week program is designed to help students gain real-world entrepreneurial experience while supporting the growth of emerging ventures.

Startups Participating This Summer

This year’s Launchpad and SkIP companies represent a wide range of industries and innovation areas across the WashU and St. Louis entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Launchpad Companies

• Choose It Well Deodorant
• Epi-Friend
• Euno
• Grounds Consulting
• Janfio.com
• Kayno Labs
• Kre8 Spaces
• Netty’s Juicery
• NeuroFore
• NeuroMap
• SPARC
• Amass Biosystems

SkIP Companies

• ASL Aspire
• B&N Inspection
• Change Raven LLC
• ChiChi
• Constituent Connection, LLC
• Decodable Reads
• Eternal Bloom Corp
• Harbor Hills Home Health
• Intramotev
• Nari
• Native Pet
• nCase Technologies (DBA nCase Tech)
• Source 2 O LLC
• Spacetime Parking
• Tierney & Ohlms CPA
• AI Streamline

Together, these companies span industries including consumer products, AI, health innovation, biotech, software development, transportation, education, sustainability, and advanced technology, giving students direct exposure to the realities of startup growth and operations.

A Summer Built Around Community and Growth

In addition to working alongside founders and startup teams, participants will take part in weekly Wednesday programming at the Skandalaris Center focused on entrepreneurship, leadership, and professional development.

Programming throughout the summer will include:

• Leadership development workshops
• Networking and mentorship opportunities
• A collaborative summer hackathon
• Career development sessions with the WashU Career Center
• A tour of the Cortex Innovation District and a founder panel discussion
• Reverse IdeaBounce®
• Expo presentations showcasing student and startup work

Launchpad founders will also participate in weekly mentorship meetings with experienced entrepreneurs and operators from the St. Louis innovation ecosystem.

Connecting Students to the St. Louis Innovation Ecosystem

At its core, the Skandalaris summer experience is designed to connect students with the people, companies, and ideas shaping the future of innovation in St. Louis and beyond.

Whether supporting biotech startups, consumer brands, AI ventures, or emerging software companies, participants will spend the summer gaining firsthand experience in fast-moving environments where collaboration, creativity, and adaptability matter every day.

As programming begins June 1, students and founders alike will become part of a growing entrepreneurial community focused on turning ideas into meaningful impact.