Corporate Stories

Tim Donnelly, SoftVu

Four key moments led to SoftVu’s exit (three missteps kept it from happening sooner)

Deals like the acquisition of KC-based SoftVu by an Alabama private equity firm don’t happen overnight. And founder Tim Donnelly gives near-equal weight to the trials and triumphs that led the marketing platform to its big exit. “We’ve done as much as we possibly can based on the mistakes we’ve made, the lessons that have…

Gloria Higley and Mohammad Rasoulipour, VML LaunchCode

LaunchCode partners like VML turn apprentices into professional programmers

Tech fields provide a never-ending learning experience, said Mohammad Rasoulipour, a creative technologist at VML. With a background in design, Rasoulipour turned to LaunchCode to get a leg up in the web design world, try something new — and land a job a premier marketing and advertising firm like VML. LaunchCode, a free tech training program,…

LaunchKC past winners

WATCH: No reason for ‘lone wolfing’ the startup grind, LaunchKC past winners say as application window narrows

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by LaunchKC but was independently produced by Startland News. With a July 11 application deadline nearing, LaunchKC past winners emphasized the popular, high-profile grants contest is about much more than chasing a payday. “There’s the community piece. There’s the exposure piece. But once you win — or even once…

NBKC Bank Headquarters

nbkc bank launching FinTech accelerator with at least $50K for each startup

Leveraging an area aptitude for innovation in finance, nbkc bank is launching an accelerator program for early-stage financial technology startups from across the globe. The Kansas City-based community bank has partnered with the LaunchKC grants contest to offer the Fountain City Fintech Accelerator, which will soon welcome applications for its inaugural class. The 75-day program…

‘We’re a big damn deal!’ KC is an underground fintech hub, says Zach Pettet

Editor’s note: Zach Pettet is the Fintech Strategist at nbkc bank, with which Startland News has partnered on an upcoming Innovation Exchange event. Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Kansas City is the United States’ underground financial center. Over the years, many financial juggernauts have been born and grown up in Kansas…