Funding Stories
$100K in microgrants awarded across 23 struggling, but resilient minority businesses
Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial sponsor of Startland News. This report was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. A COVID-era resiliency fund that quickly closed applications after receiving a deluge of response from entrepreneurs in need has awarded microgrants to 23 minority businesses on both sides of the state…
Kansas City’s Top VC-Backed Companies in 2020
The 2020 Top Venture Capital-Backed Companies List reflects a range of success stories and COVID-era challenges among Kansas City’s community of growth-stage, venture-backed companies. The list — updated annually by Startland News and its parent organization, Startland — shows that while few companies were spared from COVID-19’s impact, many of Kansas City’s leading entrepreneurs continued to grow…
LEANLAB awards $50K in seed grants to 19 Black and Latinx innovators in education
Entrepreneurs should reflect the communities they serve, said Katie Boody — a charge even more critical when innovative work touches Kansas City’s diverse public school systems, she added. “I know firsthand how challenging launching a startup can be for anyone, and especially for founders of color,” said Boody, co-founder and CEO of LEANLAB Education, announcing the…
LEANLAB boosting its K12 Fellowship with $2M in new Chan Zuckerberg, Gates Foundation grants
Buoyed by a fresh $2 million in high-profile grants, LEANLAB Education is resuming its innovation research program for schools — this year, focusing its K12 Fellowship search first on the needs of COVID-era pilot schools rather than matching them with already-selected entrepreneur solutions. “We’ve seen remarkable ingenuity and innovation from schools this past year,” said…
100 requests in two hours: $100K resiliency fund closes applications for minority biz relief grants
Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial sponsor of Startland News. This report was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. Overwhelming response to a new resiliency grant fund for minority-owned businesses hit by COVID-19 exposes a humbling reality, said Sarah Mote. Applications for the grants — funded by the Ewing Marion…
