The 2026 Anchor Accelerator cohort includes: (clockwise from top left) Luke Lieb of Unique Visions, LLC; Doug Wulff of Timebolt; Kenneth Eversole of OpsCompanionAI; Jaee Blue of Venture Beyond Aspirations; Sam Vanderpool of Blue Reason, LLC; Tiffany Jones of Cheryl’s Herbs; Jackie Huebbe of SugarBot, Mona Jawad of ASL Aspire; and Anthony Ezeokoye and Afoma Ezeokoye of Raknida. (Photos courtesy of Anchor Accelerator)
The University of Missouri–St. Louis held a kickoff event last Wednesday evening to unveil the latest cohort of the Anchor Accelerator in the newly renovated UMSL Innovation Center.
UMSL’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center is awarding a total of $90,000 in competitive grants to nine emerging St. Louis-area businesses that have demonstrated exceptional potential for innovation, growth and community impact.
The 2026 cohort – the program’s sixth since it was first launched in the fall of 2020 – features the following founders:
- Luke Lieb — Unique Visions, LLC
- Doug Wulff — Timebolt
- Kenneth Eversole — OpsCompanionAi
- Jaee Blue — Venture Beyond Aspirations
- Sam Vanderpool — Blue Reason, LLC
- Anthony Ezeokoye and Afoma Ezeokoye — Raknida
- Mona Jawad — ASL Aspire
- Jackie Huebbe — SugarBot
- Tiffany Jones — Cheryl’s Herbs
The EIC selected each business via a new referral-based nomination process. Business professionals, industry advisors and past program participants were invited to recommend founders whose visions align with the EIC’s mission. This collaborative referral system ensures that high-potential businesses, especially those who have historically been underrepresented in traditional funding pipelines, are elevated and connected to the resources needed to scale.
EIC Executive Director Scott Morris said the selection process has allowed the EIC to support exceptional founders through trusted community networks.
“This year’s cohort stands out for their innovation, as well as the strong endorsements they received from respected leaders across our region,” Morris said. “These referrals highlight the confidence our community has in these entrepreneurs. Supporting them is an investment in the future of St. Louis, and we are proud to provide the resources, space and mentorship they need to thrive.”
The 2026 cohort will be among the first to take advantage of the university’s newly renovated Innovation Center, which officially reopened last month after a $3 million transformation. The 8,900-square-foot hub now includes flexible learning spaces, breakout rooms and collaborative areas designed to foster creativity and connection. A reimagined lecture hall with double the previous seating capacity and state-of-the-art audiovisual technology provides an ideal setting for pitch competitions, workshops and thought leadership events.
During the 12-week, five-module program, cohort members will use the new facility as a base for pitch events, professional coaching, technical training and community engagement. With upgraded audiovisual systems, hybrid meeting tools and interactive spaces, the UMSL Innovation Center offers a modern environment where founders, mentors and partners can collaborate and scale their ventures. These investments reinforce UMSL’s role as a catalyst for entrepreneurship and regional innovation.
“Supporting innovation, collaboration and regional growth lies at the heart of UMSL’s mission,” Chancellor Kristin Sobolik said. “Through the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, we are cultivating an environment where emerging business leaders can access the knowledge, resources and partnerships needed to drive meaningful economic and social impact across our community.”
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