WELCOME to the 39 North monthly Newsletter |
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Your source for news and happenings in our innovation neighborhood. | August 2023
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Weekly: Danforth Center Scientific Seminar Series
The Danforth Center’s complimentary weekly Scientific Seminar Series will pause for the Summer and restart on August 23. If you would like to participate or be on the email list for these seminars, please contact Terri Burton, tburton@danforthcenter.org.
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Agritech Thursdays
Second Thursday of the Month
5:30 - 6:30 PM
Geospatial Innovation Center, T-REX,
911 Washington Avenue 4th Floor
AgriTech Thursdays is a monthly, after-work event focused on agricultural technologies research and collaboration in the St Louis region. At each event, one company or researcher gives a short, 15-minute talk on an existing or solved research problem of their choosing and how it fits into the wider agricultural technologies landscape. Q&A, drinks, and networking follow the talk. Interested in giving a talk? email: george@deepgrain.com
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Missouri Soybeans and BioSTL Ag Innovation Field Day
August 22, 9 AM - 1 PM
Join the annual field day focusing on ag innovation and the future of farming with the advancements in technology. Live demonstrations of new and upcoming technologies will be featured. Attendees will be surveyed to collect recommendations and ideas of what technologies should be highlighted and tested at the Bay Farm in the next year.
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Collider Event: Leveraging Federal Resources & Small Business Assistance Programs
August 24, 1 - 5 PM
Geospatial Innovation Center, T-REX,
911 Washington Avenue 4th Floor
In partnership with The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), T-REX is pleased to present a collider networking event focused on helping small businesses prepare themselves for pursuing federal government contracts and award opportunities. This Collider will bring together government, small business, entrepreneur support organizations, and other resources, and will include workshops focused on SBIR funding and utilizing the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) among other things.
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NGA GEO-Hack for Humanity
September 8 - 10
Open to current Fall '23 Undergraduate and Graduate students. The NGA Geo-Hack for Humanity provides competitors and colleagues the opportunity to meet with other like-minded students to see what can be accomplished in a weekend of fun and exploration.
This year’s hackathon will be focused on Food Security. Students will be asked to analyze key indicators related to food availability in a region of the world. Registration ends September 1.
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Conversations: Big Ideas 3.0
August 31, 5:15 - 7 PM
Danforth Plant Science Center
Back by popular demand: three teams of Danforth Center scientists in a friendly competition. Learn about the best new ideas to address the biggest challenges in agriculture and the environment. The top presenting team, selected by audience vote, will receive a grant to pursue their idea. Prepare to be engaged, entertained, and inspired by big ideas from some of the Center's most talented early-career scientists! Reservations are free for both in-person and virtual attendees, but required.
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Starting a Business is Hard. Learn to Advocate for Making it Easier.
September (multiple dates)
NEXT Missouri, a statewide advocacy coalition supporting new businesses, and partners across the state have teamed up to offer a free advocacy training to entrepreneurs and small business owners so that they can effectively influence lawmakers and help their businesses grow. Join other entrepreneurs from across the state to learn practical skills and strategies you can use immediately that will make a difference for your business.
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Startup Connection
September 23, 4 PM
Knight Hall, Washington University
Back by popular demand, Startup Connection is the St. Louis region’s largest expo and showcase of early-stage startups. Featuring ~50 local companies, Startup Connection aims to build relationships between startups, students, investors, customers, and the general public.
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39 North Pedal the Cause Team
September 23 and 24
39 North is proud to participate in Pedal the Cause to support to provide critical funding for cancer research at the Siteman Cancer and
Siteman Kids Institute at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. With courses ranging from 10 to 100 miles and spinning options, there is something for everyone! Join us and Register for the 39 North team today!
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Coffee with Colleagues
September 26, 8:30 - 9:30AM
Danforth Plant Science Center
Join us at the Danforth Center to learn about the cutting-edge technology and research in the Phenotyping Core Facility and how you can apply these tools and resources to your own work! Enjoy fresh baked goods and kick start your day with as much coffee as your heart desires!
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Have you met?
Bryan Witherbee, CEO
Agragene
Describe your journey to 39 North
From early on in my career, I have always said “yes”. I have been open to moving down different paths, learning new technologies, instruments, or techniques, traveling to different locales, meeting new people, challenging current concepts and taking risks to innovate and improve. I have been fortunate to work for and with the absolute best people – gifted, open to challenges, mentoring, sharing, enthusiastic, grounded, focused, human, resilient, and many more great traits. I definitely inherited from my parents a strong work ethic, the desire to not leave things undone, and commitment to the project or cause. I know that my life has definitely been “charmed”.
39 North has always felt like home. I started my career at Searle on the Monsanto Creve Coeur campus and over the years I have ventured out to other campuses, companies, and endeavors, but always I am drawn back to 39 North. There is this magic brew of talent, ideas, will, and possibilities here that makes me feel that all things are possible.
What are you excited to be working on right now?
Again, am lucky enough to have said “yes” and am currently working with the talented team at Agragene (www.agragene.com), a company using gene editing tools in a unique way. Agragene is utilizing gene editing tools to produce sterile insects, which when released into fields will disrupt mating and over the course of the growing season decrease the population of crop pests, limiting damage to crops. The initial target for Agragene is Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), a pest that plagues fresh fruit providers and results in >$700M annually in economic losses in the US. We are currently working on contained field trials with USDA collaborators and planning open release field studies for 2024.
I am also excited about the opportunities in 39 North to start and grow new companies. BioGenerator continues to foster entrepreneurs and companies in St. Louis with advisement, investments, and well equipped labs at Helix. The community at Helix and in the 39 North district provides expertise down the hall or across the street, and a willingness to help everyone for the betterment of all. I am hopeful for the work that the 39 North entity is trying to accomplish and that they can continue to unite, grow, and foster the magic that I know exists here.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I look forward to vacations with the family. Evenings out with my wife. Baseball continues to be a passion and amaze me. I enjoy all games I get to watch – from MLB to my son’s high school games. My daughters are working through their college years and moving closer to starting their careers, watching them become adults is as rewarding as it gets. I am always in pursuit of little things in life – like the perfect cup of coffee, a book that you can’t put down, a beautiful sunrise, and the continuation of conversations with old friends.
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Small Business Development Center
St. Louis Economic Development Partnership is home to a St. Louis SBDC (Small Business Development Center) office. The Missouri SBDC provides assistance to the Missouri small business community. As part of America’s SBDC Network we serve existing and aspiring business owners and help them navigate the local, regional and global marketplace. Our program is dedicated to promoting economic growth in our community.
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