BizJournal 💲📰

Our inaugural 2022 Startups to Watch program spotlights the expanding scope of startups that dot the St. Louis region. It profiles companies focused on a range of industries, including renewable energy, software, consumer goods, agriculture and health care. What binds these 10 companies together is their ambition for innovation and change, highlighted by their innovative products and disruptive business models.

The launch of Rebundle’s first product comes as the plant-based beauty market continues to strengthen. As the startup scales up production of its plant-based hair extensions, it is expanding its footprint in St. Louis.

SentiAR contends it has developed the first and only holographic platform for cardiac surgery that uses a wearable headset to enable its technology. The startup is currently at a key inflection point as it scales up its commercialization efforts.

The upcoming year will represent a key transit for Accelerate Wind as it hopes to push its R&D efforts closer to commercialization. That will involve it launching several pilots of its wind turbines, with the company saying it expects to deploy its technology on five to 10 buildings in the next few years.

Intramotev plans to complete its commercial demonstration unit this year and begin testing the vehicle. With that, the company said it could begin sharing videos of the vehicle as it drives itself.

In 2022, Eemerg plans to double its network of roadside assistance providers while also building out a new business line.

With its newest venture, a pair of St. Louis serial entrepreneurs are aiming to help small businesses and "main street" business districts better compete with big box retailers and online shopping giants like Amazon.

Within the past two years, Core and Rind has drastically expanded distribution of its cashew cheesy sauce. At the beginning of 2020, its products could be found in about 100 stores nationwide. Today, it sells its products in nearly 1,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada.

While many companies have placed a focus on combating climate change, the founders of Pluton believe they’re developing products that could have a direct impact on reversing the negative impacts of climate change.

Davidson Logistics LLC, a provider of shipping, warehousing and assembly services, plans a two-phase expansion at its base in Bridgeton.

Michael and Tara Gallina, the couple behind local favorites like Vicia and Winslow's Table, are expanding their hospitality group by adding a new partner and working on three new restaurant concepts.

It marks the biggest round of closures so far this year by Pittsburgh-based bank.

The joint venture is to involve Chevron investing $600 million into a pair of Bunge facilities that process oil from soybeans. The idea would be to double the facilities’ current production of 7,000 tons daily by the end of 2024, and use the oil as a renewable feedstock to make low-carbon diesel or jet fuel.

The nation's largest off-price apparel and home decor chain will open a new St. Louis County store early next month.

The university's decision to pursue NCAA Division I athletics comes less than a decade after it became a full-fledged Division II athletics program in 2013-14.

Six St. Louis-area chefs and one restaurant have been named semifinalists for the 2022 James Beard Foundation Awards, the culinary world's top prize.

Speaking at a panel discussion on race Tuesday featuring executives from the footwear giant, the city's top prosecutor urged the company to put "as much money that consumers consume with Nike" back into the community to combat systemic racism.

A portfolio company of St. Louis-based private equity firm Thompson Street Capital Partners (TSCP) has acquired a pest control business with operations in Illinois and Virginia.

Updated with comments from Monday morning's press briefing. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page has announced the county's mask requirement will end next week. The county's department of public health will instead have an advisory that encourages masks. The change will be effective at 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 28. Due to the mask mandate, vaccines and the virus weakening, Page said: "We're in a much better place today. A place where we are cautiously optimistic. A place where we can move from a mask…

St. Louis County lawmakers on Tuesday passed legislation that seeks to expand and clarify the government's non-discrimination ordinances. The sponsor of Bill 156, Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, said it extends protections for non-civil service employees who were not previously explicitly covered by the county's anti-discrimination ordinances. And her office said anti-discrimination clauses were extended to apply to all county contractors and service providers such as housing financial assistance, health…