Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, has been a significant contributor to the startup and venture capital (VC) ecosystem. Notably, the university boasts initiatives like the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which fosters innovation and entrepreneurship among students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

In terms of successful ventures, Square, a financial services and digital payments company, is among Washington University's notable success stories. Square was co-founded by Jim McKelvey, an alumnus of the university. In recognition of his contributions, a business school within the university is named the James M. McKelvey School of Engineering.

Another significant venture emanating from the Washington University ecosystem is Nanopore Diagnostics, a biotechnology company founded by Tom Cohen and Steve Laderman. They developed the idea for the company during their time as students at the university. Their startup focuses on developing rapid, point-of-care diagnostics for bacterial infections to prevent the overuse of antibiotics.

Furthermore, the university encourages student entrepreneurship through programs like the "Hatchery" course, which gives students the opportunity to write and present business plans to local business leaders. Through this program, notable ventures like Material Mix (a recycling and waste management startup founded by Allison Carmen) have been launched.

Washington University's reputation in research and a supportive environment for entrepreneurship has been a critical factor in fostering its vibrant startup and VC ecosystem. Through a commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship education, the university continues to cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurs and startup leaders.