Startups Stories

LaunchKC accelerator

New industry-specific LaunchKC accelerators expected to bring more dollars, winners

Applications for this year’s LaunchKC program are going vertical, said Drew Solomon, announcing plans for three industry-specific accelerators — two of which will launch new funding-rich demo days in the fall. “We’ve always wanted to grow and expand not only the competition, but the program as a whole,” said Solomon, chair of the LaunchKC program….

Reggie Gray, Black Privilege, KCSourceLink video

WATCH: Faces of KC entrepreneurship find strength in numbers, community resources

A new video from KCSourceLink highlights the faces of Kansas City entrepreneurship — featuring makers, innovators, tech founders and social entrepreneurs — and their connection to the resource network and ecosystem infrastructure in Kansas City. “It takes very special people to be able to put everything on the line,” says Reggie Gray, executive director of Black…

Brendan Reilly, Dan Scott and Richard Neal, Lelex Prime

Time to see green: 3 startups spring into Digital Sandbox KC proof-of-concept program

The path from concept to commercialization has three reinvigorated travelers this spring, Jeff Shackelford said Thursday, announcing the latest early-stage entrepreneurs to join Digital Sandbox KC. The program’s newly joined startups include a tech-driven legal solution and two companies using artificial intelligence to innovate their industries, said Shackelford, executive director of Digital Sandbox KC. “As…

Zenernet defying the status quo, taking on industry giants with OP-fueled solar startup

Overland Park-based Zenernet is soaking in renewed interest in solar, powering its push to become an industry player on the national stage, said JP Gerken. “The growth potential [for solar] is endless,” said Gerken, founder of solar power service provider Zenernet. “I think we’ve barely scratched the surface on what the potential is with residential…

Wesley Hamilton, Crossfit partner on gym space flexing adaptive athletes alongside able-bodied peers

A first-of-its-kind, all-inclusive gym is emerging to reshape what fitness feels like for adaptive athletes, said Wesley Hamilton. “This vision of what we’re about to create here at Crossfit Memorial Hill is magnificent,” said Hamilton, founder and executive director of Kansas City-based nonprofit the Disabled But Not Really Foundation (DBNR), which partnered with the local…