News Stories

This founder’s own pain point became too painful; Why he’s back to embracing the loss that sparked his startup

When healthtech founder Chris Jones pivoted away from the painful memory of losing his son — a catalyst for launching his medical records startup — he shelved a vital piece of the “why” behind both his company and his passion, Jones said. “I never understood what my power was — not just the technology —…

Fashion Arts Fund names new leader as shift toward new vision comes into focus 

A Kansas City nonprofit dedicated to making impact on the city’s fashion scene announced its new executive director Wednesday — stitching a dyed-in-the-wool KC fashion designer into the organization’s new look. Elon Kebede — founder, designer, and creative director for Kansas City, Kansas-based ELU by Elon — is expected to lead the Fashion Arts Fund,…

Pitch event matches queer singles with dates, but there’s a catch: It’s a bestie behind the mic

Singles within Kansas City’s queer community are about to experience a fresh take on matchmaking, said Tiffany Watts, detailing plans for a pitch event this week where lonely hearts could find connections with help from people who already see them best: their friends. The interactive Where to Find Us event is set for Thursday, Nov….

KC-built Raven Space Systems awarded $1.8M contract via Air Force’s innovation arm

A LaunchKC alum’s latest stratospheric news: a hefty U.S. defense contract to produce 3D-printed reentry aeroshells for hypersonic flight testing — a breakthrough technology that’s expected to address some of the of most pressing challenges faced by today’s Air Force. Raven Space Systems on Monday announced the $1,800,000 STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) Phase II contract….

SafetyCulture names new CEO as founder moves into new strategic executive role

A global tech company with its U.S. headquarters in Kansas City is transitioning to American leadership. Kelly Vohs, a New York-based executive and former Green Beret in the U.S. Special Forces, is set to become CEO of the Australian company SafetyCulture Jan. 1 Founder Luke Anear, who long served as the rapidly scaling business’ CEO…