Startups Stories

Kamia Kindle Soda Hunt

Destination discount: Mobile business hunt hides prizes across KC (and you can find them without a new app)

A new venture from Soda Pop Graphics founder Kamia Kindle is turning everyday errands into something more interactive, inviting Kansas Citians to play their way through local neighborhoods while helping small businesses see who is actually walking through the door.

KC-backed (and built) AI startup rebrands amid shift to tackling America’s supply chain pain points

With its pivot from video transcriptions to bulk inventory tracking, one of Kansas City’s most-promising, emerging tech startups is rebranding to match the new direction, co-founders Warren Wang and Cole Robertson said. “‘Rebulk‘ feels like the right name for the future we want to build,” said Wang, reflecting on the company’s efforts to use AI-powered…

The end of gear hunting: Wacka wants to automate-away manual price chasing

Late nights. Too many browser tabs. Price comparisons across half a dozen retailers. Waiting weeks for the right moment to buy. Justen Wack knows exactly how outdoor gear purchases usually happen, he said — because the tech founder used to grind through the process himself. It’s a ritual familiar to skiers, cyclists, backpackers and climbers…

C2FO passes half-trillion-dollar mark as businesses pivot to working capital from traditional debt

In a high-cost environment, businesses across the globe are prioritizing “on-demand” liquidity over new debt, said Sandy Kemper, announcing Wednesday that Kansas City-based C2FO has now provided more than a half-trillion dollars in working capital to entrepreneurs worldwide. “Hitting half a trillion of funding with zero credit loss is something fairly unique in the financial…

Keystone Angels takes wing with emerging leader; next up: saving startups from the valley of death

A familiar face in Kansas City’s business ecosystem is stepping into a leadership role aimed at tackling one of the biggest challenges facing local startup founders: access to early-stage funding. In February, Regina Sosa Valdovinos launched into a newly-developed director position at Keystone Angels, an angel investment network focused on connecting founders with investors across…