Three Olin alums’ companies named ‘Startups to Watch’

  • February 5, 2025
  • By WashU Olin Business School
  • 1 minute read
Alyssa Huffman, Glen Schuster and Franklin Taylor
From left, Alyssa Huffman, EMBA 2021; Glen Schuster, MBA 2012; and Franklin Taylor, MBA 2024

Three St. Louis companies led by WashU Olin alumni are on the Startups to Watch 2025 list compiled by St. Louis Inno, which covers the region’s entrepreneurial scene.

Two of them — Allumin8, founded by Alyssa Huffman, EMBA 2021, and VedaPointe, cofounded by Glen Schuster, MBA 2012 — are in the healthcare space.

Allumin8 creates 3D-printed orthopedic and spine hardware. The company’s mission is to increase the survivorship of implants and reduce the likelihood of complications. VedaPointe’s software-as-a-service platform helps providers navigate health insurance reimbursements.

The third company, Zaiko (formerly Sustain-A-Plate), helps independent grocery, convenience, and
beverage stores more efficiently track inventory and manage accounts payable. Its founder and CEO, Franklin Taylor, MBA 2024, won the Olin Cup for an earlier version of this startup.

Learn more about this year’s eight Startups to Watch from St. Louis Inno.

About the Author

WashU Olin Business School

WashU Olin Business School

WashU Olin has been a leader and innovator in business education and research for over a century. We offer a global education in the heart of America that transforms the way students look at business. Our esteemed faculty produces research that makes an impact on the world of business and beyond. We are proud to collaborate with organizations in our home community of St. Louis and worldwide to effect meaningful, constructive change.

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