News Stories

Missouri Hyperloop

Talent pipeline: Missouri Hyperloop could be a light at the end of the tech jobs tunnel

A high-speed Missouri Hyperloop route connecting Kansas City and St. Louis would power a state-spanning metro area with fluid access to tech jobs and talent, as well as a region pumped for economic growth, leaders familiar with the proposed project said. “You could easily live in St. Louis and work in Kansas City, and have…

Cough Detection

Collaboration in the air: Cough detection sensors combine Sickweather, Mycroft tech

You can’t manage what you can’t measure, said Sickweather CEO Graham Dodge, describing the need for cough detection sensors that are slated to be rolled out in public places across Kansas City in 2019. Illness forecaster Sickweather is teaming up with fellow Kansas City startup Mycroft, a leader in artificial intelligence-infused tech, to develop the…

Davide Rossi, FitBark, pet innovators

Pet innovators unleash market built on experiences, evolving relationships with dogs (Photos)

Meaningful relationships are no longer only between people, said Davide Rossi, discussing the rise of pet innovators and an emerging market built on experiences with four-legged family members. “They key thing is to recognize that the relationship between us and our pets has been changing,” said Rossi, co-founder of FitBark, a Kansas City-based pet tech…

Zach Pettet, Fountain City Fintech; and Erika Klotz, PopBookings, KC Mythbusters

Human capital: KC Mythbusters challenges Kansas City to rethink how it supports startups

A thriving startup ecosystem requires more stakeholders with skin in the game, said Eric Jorgenson. That means increasing direct participation — those actively and directly building or investing in startups that can potentially exit and see a talent and capital explosion that results in even newer startups — and de-emphasizing the need for and dependence…

Back2KC

Tech hub arriving: Back2KC effort drives praise from former Kansas Citian now at Uber

Kansas City expatriate Jack Spangler was pleasantly surprised by his hometown’s increased level of innovation, investment and momentum, the Uber thought leader said, reflecting on a recent return trip with the inaugural Back2KC class. “That type of activity definitely wasn’t going on when I was in Kansas and right out of school,” said Spangler, now…