Startups Stories

Transportant’s newest partnership gets KC startup’s smart dashboard onto more school buses

Buses equipped with advanced technology from Transportant are expected to enhance safety for students and drivers — as well as peace of mind for parents and school administrators — thanks to a new multistate partnership. RWC Group, a commercial truck and bus dealership that serves five states, on Wednesday announced a new collaboration with Lenexa-based Transportant…

Meet the Small Biz of the Year finalists: KC Chamber surprises Top 10 Mr K contenders

The Kansas City Chamber just unveiled its hotly anticipated Top 10 finalists for the 2024 Small Business of the Year honor — surprising leaders from a wide range of industries with their tickets to the next round of the city’s most prestigious business competition. “This year, 60 candidates applied for awards, and we were awed…

Injuries pushed this dancer from the stage to his startup; ClassKid keeps his craft in the spotlight

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro.  TOPEKA — A career as a professional dancer only momentarily upstaged Austin Roberson’s childhood ambitions to become an inventor, the Kansas startup founder said. Roberson — the entrepreneur behind ClassKid,…

UMKC pitch competition brings validating relief, cash prizes for emerging founders with big ideas

A popular UMKC pitch competition awarded more than $80,000 in cash prizes to student and full-time entrepreneurs Friday — validating new ideas and emerging ventures alike.  “I never saw anything like this when I was in college,” said Dr. Brandy Archie, founder of AskSAMIE, who competed in a category especially for established startups at the University…

Startup Weekend winners could have a billion-dollar solution for struggling taxpayers

Organizers of Missouri Startup Weekend predicted this year’s winner could be poised to be the competition’s next billion-dollar alumni. Solvtax presented the weekend’s winning pitch: a solution for avoiding financial implications through better business and personal property tax management. The idea struck a chord with entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs in both the audience and judge’s…