Funding Stories

Sarah Hill, Healium, StoryUp, a portfolio company of Missouri Technology Corporation

Missouri wants to match investors’ funds for promising young startups; founders have until Monday to apply

A pair of competitive startup funding programs backed by the State of Missouri are poised to boost companies with Show Me potential, said Jack Scatizzi as the deadline rapidly nears for this year’s IDEA Funds. “We invest both state and federal funding into the most promising high growth-potential startups,” said Scatizzi, executive director of the…

Sandy Kemper, C2FO

C2FO closes $140M funding round amid record growth, expanded focus on underserved companies

Editor’s note: C2FO is a financial supporter of Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. Kansas City fintech powerhouse C2FO grows best when it’s accelerating access to capital for those traditionally underserved by the banking industry, said Sandy Kemper, announcing a $140 million funding round for the Leawood-based company. Led by Third Point Ventures — a multi-stage investor…

Comeback KC Ventures fellows: top, Dr. Shelley Cooper, Diversity Telehealth and Come On Now!, Ryan Grobler, IAQuality, Jill and Justin Bertelsen, Bertelsen Education and Crib Coaching; middle, Joel Stephens and Brandon Fuhr, XReps, John Black, MediView; bottom, Martin Bukowski and Eliot Arnold, Moodspark, Quest Moffat and Alejandro Andrade Salazar, Kadogo

Accelerator taps first 7 startups to help bring KC back from the edge of global health crisis

Seven Kansas City tech startups have taken the leap to launch new technologies and startups in response to challenges posed by COVID-19 — and have received technical and financial assistance through Comeback KC Ventures to accelerate their efforts.  “These innovations were conceived after two years of the coronavirus pandemic revealed and ignited a need for…

Maxfield Kaniger, Kanbe's Market

Kanbe’s Markets selected for $30K in marketing services from surging Crux KC team

Kanbe’s Markets is expected to harvest boosted visibility and functionality thanks to a newly announced donation of $30,000 in pro bono marketing services from one of Kansas City’s fastest-growing agencies. Crux KC selected the nonprofit for its annual “Crux for a Cause” initiative, which is expected to provide an entire year of services from a…

Aishah Augusta-Parham, SEPOW

Yelp for DEI: New tech gives public a tool to share discrimination concerns in real-time, empowers companies to monitor, improve

Aishah Augusta-Parham’s tech platform has a goal rooted in impact: help business owners become more mindful of diversity, equity, inclusion efforts in their day-to-day operations — better ensuring their customers do business with companies and brands that embody shared values.  “We are the Yelp of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Augusta-Parham said, detailing the mission behind…