Startups Stories

Downtown Royals ballpark design by Pendulum Studio

Why an award-winning KC firm designed a downtown Royals stadium (sky pool included) for free

Architecture is more than design — it’s a business, the founder of Pendulum said: the business of balancing what’s possible with what actually works. When Jonathan O’Neil Cole and his team at Pendulum Studio released concepts in July 2020 for a potential — and long-talked-about — downtown stadium for the Kansas City Royals baseball team, the…

Matt Condon, Bardavon

Bardavon set to double (again) in 2021, adding former Cerner executive to surging healthcare startup’s board

Using the momentum from a high-growth 2020, Bardavon Health Innovations announced today an addition to its board of directors that’s more about substance and acceleration than just grabbing headlines and hype, said Matt Condon. “It was a really natural fit,” said Condon, founder and CEO of Bardavon, detailing the leadership development that sees Zane Burke…

Parker Graham, Finotta

Destiny launches full-brand pivot to ‘Finotta’, expanding from debt solution to banking API platform

Established financial institutions are at a crossroads when it comes to competing against online platforms with banking options, said Parker Graham. “Facebook, Google and others have banking capabilities that are so fine-tuned to customer service and customer interaction,” said Graham, founder and CEO of Kansas City fintech startup Finotta, formerly known as Destiny Wealth. “Banks…

Darcy Howe and Ed Frindt, KCRise Fund II

KCRise closes $41M Fund II, plans to invest in 20 high-growth tech companies

A newly closed, oversubscribed $41 million KCRise Fund II is poised to accelerate regional growth with an influx of talent and investment dollars for 20 high-growth technology companies benefitting Greater Kansas City, said Darcy Howe. And the work has already begun, the fund’s founder and managing director added. Before today’s closing announcement, Fund II had…

Brooke Mullen, Sapahn

Pipeline pitch winner sells practical business moves (and leather) with socially conscious ethos

Brooke Mullen’s ability to pivot with silky smooth ease helped the Lincoln entrepreneur build a bridge to surging revenue in 2020, as well as win best pitch Thursday during a showcase of Pipeline’s latest fellowship class. “With a lot of our business being direct-to-consumer and actual live events, we had to completely change as all…