ST. LOUIS (KMOX) -- The Wall Street debut of local education technology start-up Nerdy is a milestone moment in the transformation of the region's economy into a start-up and entrepreneurial hub.
"You don't produce billion dollar start-up companies without being real," and Greater St. Louis Inc. CEO Jason Hall notes that the area has produced at least three "unicorns" in the last twelve months.
A unicorn is a start-up that's grown to at least a billion dollar valuation.
"Those are numbers that would make Silicon Valley blush," he says. "I am so proud of what this region is doing in the start-up space."
Clayton-based Nerdy's public debut will be quickly followed by agriculture technology firm Benson Hill, whose home base is in the 39 North plant science district in Creve Coeur. Benson Hill has a shareholder vote scheduled September 28th with its special purpose acquisition company.
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Hall says the tech push in St. Louis began two decades ago after losses like Southwestern Bell and McDonnell-Douglas.
Today, companies in other markets are taking notice of the change.
"I was in yesterday, actually, with a San Francisco headquartered company, pitching St. Louis as their second major hub in the fin-tech space," Hall said Tuesday. "They're seeing what's happening and it's attracting more people."