Funding Stories
AltCap banks $55M in tax credits to bolster KC’s underserved entrepreneurs
A huge award will enable AltCap to make a broader entrepreneurial impact in low- to moderate-income communities throughout Kansas City. AltCap — a Kansas City-based community development financial institution that focuses on underserved populations — has received a $55 million new markets tax credit award from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The award enables…
Sickweather storms market with overfunded $1M crowdfunding campaign amid flu season
An illness forecaster is never more valuable than when the threat of a widespread virus is high. This year’s severe flu season, however, is only one of the leading contributors to Sickweather’s uptick in interest — and its recent oversubscribed $1 million crowdfunding campaign, said founder Graham Dodge. “We learn a lot every cold and…
Fund Me, KC: Operation Breakthrough hopes to burn into STEM gap with laser cutter
Editor’s note: Startland News is continuing its ‘Fund Me, KC’ feature to highlight area entrepreneurial efforts to accelerate businesses or projects. If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com. Today’s featured campaign from Operation Breakthrough spotlights a campaign by the nonprofit childhood development center to boost its…
Lula raises $420K, fueling expansion of home service offerings
A $420,000 funding round from Kansas City area investors will accelerate tech startup Lula to expand in Kansas City and soon two more large metros, CEO and founder Bo Lais said. The Overland Park-based firm is eyeing Phoenix and Dallas as its next service areas, but it first plans to focus on marketing its on-demand…
Grand prize: 10-year-old Leawood girl wins $260K for Storm Sleeper invention
When Julia Luetje’s parents surprised her at school with news that her Storm Sleeper invention won Frito-Lay’s $250,000 Dreamvention grand prize, the 10-year-old Leawood girl was excited, but told them she needed to get back to work. “Julia seemed to be stunned,” said her mother, Susan Bernstein. “She had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on…
