Startups Stories

Innovation index: Cross-newsroom startup data partnership puts Kansas City on the map

Finding relevant, actionable information on innovation happening in one’s own backyard can be tough, said Christopher Wink, announcing Kansas City’s inclusion within a new resource for navigating innovation communities. “Every metro region, every state has some website or page — ‘This is where you start if you’re going to join the KC tech community or…

This duo plans to takedown one of female wrestlers’ most ‘mortifying’ foes: the wrong kind of exposure

Two women-owned Kansas businesses are teaming up to ensure that female wrestlers don’t get pinned by a wardrobe malfunction mid-match, shared Deb North and Frankie Elder-Reedy. It’s a pairing that shows for these sole sisters, entrepreneurship is more than an individual sport. Topeka-based Yes! Athletics is going to the mat with the Apex high-impact sports…

Next-gen threats loom: Cybersecurity veteran weaves solution for businesses of all verticals, sizes

Short-handed and dispersed teams face growing risks as they amass technology, said Chuck Crawford, detailing how technology debt and sprawl lead not only to underutilized tech and siloed environments — but open the door to cybersecurity threats. Such next-generation challenges require the expertise of an industry veteran like Crawford, who launched Loom Security in April…

InvestMidwest returns to St. Louis May 6-7 for Midwest venture capital forum’s 25th year

ST. LOUIS — About 50 startups — including some of Kansas City’s most high-profile emerging companies — are expected to pitch to more than 100 investors May 6-7 when the InvestMidwest conference turns St. Louis into the gateway to innovation.  “On the 25th anniversary of InvestMidwest, it’s great to be back in St. Louis where it…

Tech veterans launch startup studio to back next-wave SaaS products with founder-led thinking

Backed by years of entrepreneurial wins, the team behind Full Scale and the exited Stackify just announced a new product studio and startup lab concept — purpose-built for what founder Matt Watson called the post-playbook SaaS era. “Founders today are facing a new set of realities,” said Watson, serial entrepreneur, podcast host, and co-founder of…