ST. LOUIS, MO, March 11, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Dr. Angela Zeng, founder of the St. Louis-based wellness beverage company Karviva, is partnering with Saint Louis University (SLU) to create new opportunities for collaboration between academia and local businesses, helping connect student learning with real entrepreneurial challenges.

The initiative brings together SLU’s Emerson Leadership Institute (ELI), the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship (CCE), and Karviva to provide students with direct exposure to the strategic decisions facing a growing company operating in a national market.

Over the past year, Dr. Zeng, an alum of SLU’s School of Medicine, has mentored aspiring entrepreneurs, shared internal company data with graduate student teams for strategic analysis, and worked with faculty members to develop teaching case studies based on real growth decisions facing Karviva.

For students, the collaboration offers a chance to analyze real business questions involving supply chain strategy, pricing models, revenue growth, and market expansion. For faculty members, it creates opportunities to build rigorous case studies rooted in an active St. Louis enterprise competing nationally. For Karviva, the partnership provides structured analysis and fresh perspectives during a period of expansion.

“As a founder, you are constantly making high-stakes decisions,” said Dr. Zeng. “Inviting students and faculty into that process brings valuable perspective, but it also strengthens the local ecosystem. When we develop talent here in St. Louis, we are investing in our shared future.”

The collaboration reflects a broader call from Saint Louis University leadership to strengthen connections between universities and the regional economy. In his January 21 address, “Great Cities, Great Universities: Leading With Hope to Strengthen Our Shared Community,” SLU President Ed Feser encouraged universities to take an active role in shaping regional growth through partnerships with local businesses.

Through programs such as the New Venture Accelerator, SLU Launch, and other experiential learning initiatives, the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship works to embed students directly within the region’s innovation ecosystem.