Funding Stories
Winning chemistry: KC GIFT pitch competition rewards joy on stage, work behind the scenes
Earning a $30,000 grand prize over the weekend closed out a six-week process for LaToya Ebony Sirls and other founders who were pushed to refine not just how they present, but how they build.
Kauffman funds 46 more project, research grants; many boosting early entrepreneurship
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation recently announced its latest tranche grantees, investing in community-centered solutions that dovetail with its strategic focus on college access and completion, workforce and career development, and entrepreneurship.
Redbud VC drops $25M Fund II in its attempt to ‘out-hustle the market’ for top talent, Midwest unicorns
A new $25 million fund for Columbia-based Redbud VC is expected to help identify and develop top-tier, pre-seed innovators before they head to the coasts to find more abundant capital, said Brett Calhoun. “There isn’t an underground hacker house pumping out unicorn founders,” said Calhoun, general partner at Redbud VC, in a blog post. “The…
Meta delivers on data center investment pledge with 13 grants to KC community orgs
A just-announced grant cabled into Meta data center communities is expected to help a Kansas City-based production crew known for invention competitions to shine a national spotlight on middle school innovators from Clay and Platte counties. Make48 — a TV series that exposes the real life challenges of taking a product “from napkin design to…
Bracket bash winner nets $50K in pitch doubleheader; three KC startups score spots among final four
Kansas came in clutch Tuesday — doubling the grand prize pool for this week’s Gamechangers and Champions pitch competition just before tipoff. Its jersey-clad winner scored $50,000 and a top seed among investors gathered for the state’s bracket bash for emerging entrepreneurs. “When you’re in a startup business, money never hurts, non-dilutive money even more…
