Funding Stories

LaunchKC accelerator

LaunchKC reviving $50K grants competition with 8 big checks for startups ready to call KC home

After a four-year hiatus, LaunchKC is officially set to bring back its signature grants competition. Early-stage tech companies will have the opportunity to each win $50,000 in non-dilutive grants, plus access to business support and networking.  Co-founded by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri, (EDCKC) and Downtown Council (DTC), the non-profit LaunchKC’s cornerstone…

Historic $1.8M pre-seed round revs up automotive startup with former BacklotCars VP behind the wheel

Anders Ericson is tackling an overlooked issue in the automotive industry, he shared, and investors are not missing out on the opportunity to back up his solution.  “There is this glaring problem in the market where people with subprime credit, who are trying to buy a car, are going into these specialized dealerships and paying…

Healthtech app bridges care access gap: Recovery takes time, but patients need mobility today

As an occupational therapist for the past 15 years, Dr. Brandy Archie noticed a hole in the healthcare system, she said. “Your medical insurance covers things that accommodate your body, but doesn’t cover things that accommodate your environment,” she explained. That observation led Archie in 2017 to found AccessAble Living in Kansas City — now…

Kansas City startup tapped for $100K investment through Omaha growth accelerator

Particle Space isn’t just big in Japan — it’s seeing momentum and scaling opportunities closer to home: earning a spot in the newest NMotion accelerator and another $100,000 investment for the proptech startup, David Biga said. NMotion powered by gener8tor announced Kansas City-based Particle Space’s selection alongside five other companies joining the inaugural NMotion Growth…

KC, Wichita investors, new backers boost Novel Capital’s efforts to break down funding barriers

Additional funders have joined a seed extension round to help Novel Capital accelerate growth for B2B predictable revenue companies, the company announced Monday, noting further investment by KCRise Fund and Wichita-based Tenzing Capital. Novel Capital’s latest funding round was led by Ulu Ventures, with additional participation from MatterScale and Edovate Capital, as well as its…