Corporate Stories
CommunityAmerica innovation lab launches AI chatbot to help students complete FAFSA
A new artificial intelligence-fueled chatbot and FAFSA help site aim to digitally remove barriers faced by first-generation American students, children of divorce and others hoping to obtain financial aid to attend college. It’s about delivering peace of mind to members of CommunityAmerica Credit Union, which developed the technology, said Anita Newton, chief innovation officer for…
Fountain City FinTech first cohort named; could draw coastal, international companies to KC
A half-dozen companies from outside Kansas City earned spots among the first cohort of Fountain City FinTech, said Zach Pettet, hopeful the metro could attract the firms to stay or build long-term partnerships. “There’s a good chance that a number of firms will be putting down roots and creating jobs in Kansas City. We don’t…
Techweek 100 list released: Dozens of KC’s top cultivators, ambassadors and innovators
Techweek Kansas City on Friday released its Techweek 100 list of the premier leaders pushing innovation in Kansas City. The collection of cultivators, ambassadors and innovators is a who’s who of familiar names across the startup, entrepreneurship and tech communities. Released in the runup to Techweek KC’s Oct. 8-12 festivities, the list isn’t a ranking,…
Self-driving cars deliver unexpected challenges, says Burns & McDonnell strategist
City streets filled with safer, automated or self-driving vehicles would come with an unexpected price tag: fewer organ donations because of reduced traffic fatalities, said Julie Lorenz, discussing the promise and paradox of evolving transportation technology. “If you look back in history, it can help you think about the future,” said Lorenz, strategic consultant for…
Serial entrepreneur hopes to cultivate ‘real talk’ with startups at day-long Own It event
Business often isn’t pretty, said serial entrepreneur Mike Wrenn. And it’s time to expose some of the hard truths he and his wife, Becky Cole — as well as other business heavyweights — have learned through their careers, he said. “Becky and I have built a successful business with national and international reach,” said Wrenn, chairman…
