St. Louis Export Challenge Winners Announced
Winners of the 2017 St. Louis Export Challenge were announced on Friday at Growing Global, the annual luncheon hosted by the World Trade Center St. Louis (WTCSL). Five winners were chosen from more than 80 applications from startups, small- and mid-sized businesses for their global market entry strategies.
“The World Trade Center is thrilled to once again sponsor the Export Challenge and help innovative startups and small- to mid-sized companies advance their future global market strategies,” WTCSL Executive Director Tim Nowak said. “I want to thank JPMorgan Chase for funding support and Arch Grants for powering it.”
“By minimizing barriers to exporting, companies are better positioned to increase revenue and create local jobs,” JPMorgan Chase Commercial Bank Executive Director Craig Horstmann said. “We’re happy to support the Export Challenge and invest in local companies that understand the incredible opportunity presented by international markets.”
1st Place ($25,000) — Masterclock
Masterclock’s time synchronization devices do everything from ensuring smooth transitions in broadcast to helping astronauts with liftoff. The company plans to expand its global reach with the prize money.
2nd Place ($15,000) — Critzas Industries
Critzas Industries is a cleaning products manufacturer of all American-made GOOP products. The product is currently available in Europe and Asia, and the company plans to use prize money to expand to South America.
3rd Place ($10,000) — Halcyon Shades
Halcyon Shades is changing the commercial shade industry utilizing space-age technology developed for NASA. The company plans to use prize money to showcase their energy-efficient products at a trade show in Frankfurt, Germany, while also interviewing potential German distribution partners.
Bright Futures ($5,000) — Tallyfy
The Civic Progress/St. Louis Mosaic Award for an immigrant-led business went to Tallyfy, which is a cloud-based application that gives businesses one place to track any repeatable workflow. It interfaces in any language and can transact payments globally. Prize money will be used to expand beyond the U.S.
Bright Futures ($5,000) — Aggie MD
The award for a minority and/or woman-led business went to Aggie MD. The company was started by Dr. Agnes Scoville, a mom, doctor and veteran who was inspired to create an over-the-counter infant health brand that addresses common infant illnesses with smarter home solutions. Aggie AD will use the price money to expand to Brazil and Europe later this year.
In addition to prize money, each of the winners will receive one-on-one expert mentor support, foreign market research services and the option to accept a full-paid scholarship in the six-month Chancellor’s Certificate in International Trade program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
The Export Challenge is sponsored annually by the World Trade Center St. Louis, a division of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, and powered by JPMorgan Chase and Arch Grants.