Funding Stories

Miguel Johns, KingFit

KingFit prescription for growth: DiabetesCare startup becomes a pandemic must-have

WICHITA — A new partnership with a medical giant is adding even more fuel to a momentous 2020 for Kansas-grown KingFit, said Miguel Johns.  The startup has entered an agreement with BioTel Care, the diabetes division of BioTelemetry — a $2 billion publicly-traded company, that aims to improve health outcomes through innovation.  “This partnership opens doors…

Rising startup stars among latest wave of Digital Sandbox’s critical COVID-era capital

Four new Digital Sandbox KC companies reflect a wide breadth of technology, diversity and ingenuity that’s not only typical of the proof-of-concept program, but needed as the startup community attempts a rebound amid the ongoing pandemic, said Jill Meyer. “Our current environment has been a challenging one to navigate for many of our entrepreneurs,” said…

Chris Cheatham, RiskGenius

RiskGenius touchdown: OP insuretech startup scores exit deal with industry leader

Overland Park’s RiskGenius crossed a finish line this week — but work remains as an exit looms, the company announced Tuesday.  Columbus, Ohio-based Bold Penguin — an innovation-driven startup that rapidly increases speed-to-bind for commercial insurance — has agreed to acquire the insurtech company for an undisclosed amount, paving the way for continued dominance as the…

Elango Thevar, Neer; photo by Lauren Pusateri

NEER heads to the Pacific (virtually) for $200K, climate change solutions accelerator

An intensive, 10-month application process is paying off for NEER, as the Kansas City water management startup says aloha to a Hawaii-based accelerator and a significant funding infusion. Joining the ninth cohort of Elemental Excelerator in Honolulu is a boon for NEER, having just completed the gener8tor program in Wisconsin, said Elango Thevar, founder and…

Chris Mathia, Innara Health

Timing ‘couldn’t be better’ for scaling Innara Health’s solution for preemies, CEO says

One of Kansas City’s most under the radar startups is scaling up amid COVID-19 — thanks in part to a share of $250 thousand in non-dilutive funding from a Los Angeles-based accelerator and FDA sponsored pediatric device consortia. “When COVID hit, one of the things I took from that was, ‘When you’re not selling, your process better…