Corporate Stories

CB Insights KCRise

CB Insights calls KCRise most active VC in Kansas; Fund credits work of small team, innovative portfolio startups

Kansans don’t fear hard work, said Darcy Howe. An investment in such a mindset has come with big returns for the KCRise Fund, newly proclaimed the most active venture capital fund in the Sunflower State, according to CB Insights. “Perhaps overused but Margaret Mead’s quote, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens…

Bo Lais, Lula

New $750K investment round for Lula comes with partner in apartment management

Closing a $750,000 seed round is even more impactful with a strategic partner like Worcester Investments, said Lula founder Bo Lais. “We did have three other private investors, that were minority investors with two of them local, but it’s [become] more than just investment with [with Worcester],” said Lais, CEO of the Overland Park-based home…

Photo courtesy of Evergy Ventures/Getty Images

Smart strategy generates wins for Evergy Ventures — KC’s quiet investment powerhouse

Editor’s note: The following content is sponsored by Evergy Ventures but independently produced by Startland News. As two long-standing utility companies merge, they’re creating a new kind of energy for GXP Investments — now known as Evergy Ventures — said Dennis Odell, announcing a rebrand of the investment firm. “GXP Investments — GXP — it…

Matt Condon, Bardavon Health Innovations, Matt Condon Kauffman

Startup leader hears calling in Kauffman legacy, selected to join Kauffman Foundation trustees

Money alone won’t truly satisfy an entrepreneur, nor will it build a stronger Kansas City, said Matt Condon — lessons learned from the late Ewing Kauffman. “Having a successful company isn’t good enough,” said Condon, a veteran startup leader who recently completed a year as chair of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. “Impacting…

Dale Hazlett, chief financial officer and principal, DEG; Neal Sharma, chief executive and principal, DEG; Jean Lin, Isobar Global CEO; Deb Boyda, Isobar U.S. CEO; and Jeff Eden, chief revenue officer and principal, DEG

WSJ report: Overland Park-based DEG posts $150M exit in deal with Japanese ad behemoth

Top-tier Kansas City digital agency DEG will provide a global advertising giant with an opening into the U.S. market, as well as push the locally-headquartered firm’s reach international, the companies said Tuesday. Dentsu Aegis Network announced the acquisition of Digital Evolution Group (DEG) as part of an effort to transform its existing creative hub, Isobar….