St Louis Startups to Watch, Including Cortex-Affliated Companies

An economy that isn’t driven by ideas and innovation, you could argue, is a dying economy. There’s a reason we don’t give recognition to companies for stagnancy or decline; as humans we aspire toward progress.

The eight companies highlighted in the 2025 Startups to Watch represent some of the best innovative thinking in St. Louis. They’re led by entrepreneurs who are turning ideas into tangible businesses and products, whether it be physical items, like StepStuds, which are designed to prevent flood damage to walls; medical devices like Allumni8’s surgical screws, which improve the recovery process; or software like Zaiko’s aimed at helping small retailers manage inventory.