Missouri-built autonomous railcars deploying to Columbia tracks in $16.2M federal tech test
A project meant to demonstrate the viability of autonomous freight railcars along the more than 600 short lines across the U.S. is rolling forward thanks to a $16.2 million federal grant connecting TugVolt technology to Missouri’s Columbia Terminal Railroad (COLT).
Winning element: KU-linked startup mines critical spot-cash support at Pure Pitch Rally
Bri Farris was a little surprised at the backing — and stack of novelty checks — given to Electravera at Monday’s Pure Pitch Rally, she said, even though her startup’s innovative electrochemical process to recover high-purity lithium and cobalt derivatives tracks well with the region’s momentum around critical materials.
How a $10K Folklore grant bloomed at just the right moment for this struggling small business
After her Bloom With Love flower shop flooded in summer 2025, an unexpected grant win from the Folklore initiative served as a sign from the universe to keep going, Olivia Esquivel shared. Her store is now flowering along the KC Streetcar line with new opportunities.
Emerging KC startup Treso raises $3.75M to simplify complex healthcare transactions
Physician practices are expected to run complex businesses, said Ryan Greenhaw, but they’ve been left to piece their finances together on their own — often with tools that are too expensive or disconnected to justify the investment. A new platform backed by KCRise Fund could fill that gap.
Registering momentum: Pitch winner gains traction with care support tech platform
The winning company at Thursday’s Square One small business pitch competition continues to evolve as audiences — along with patients, caregivers, and partners — get a closer look at the Kansas City-built tech platform’s personalized support registries and guided planning, said Amy Steinhour.
Just funded: Digital Sandbox KC awards $160K+ to eight emerging tech startups
Boosting innovators with up to $20,000 in proof-of-concept support can be the catalyst for a company surviving to see its next stage of growth, said Kayla Anderson, announcing eight newly funded startups that are joining the ranks of Digital Sandbox KC.
Innovative leader wins Kauffman’s $75K prize: KC is stronger when it rallies together, school founder says
Accepting the first-ever Kauffman Uncommon Leader Visionary Award, Tysie McDowell pointed to the team who helped her build Crossroads Charter Schools — and challenged those gathered in celebration of her Thursday to create legacies of their own.
Ten Parks Project reveals next site targeted for Mallouks’ $30M investment in accessible play
Planners of a new inclusive playground in Westwood could receive as much as $3 million to transform the space as part of an initiative to create a fully accessible park within 10 miles of every Greater Kansas City family.
MRIGlobal plans North KC lab expansion through KC BioHub’s $38M+ biologics boost
As an influx of $38.1 million in federal Tech Hub and local funds hits the region, a core collaborator within the initiative is expected to cultivate a first-of-its-kind facility in North Kansas City — an expanded physical site for developing critical biomanufacturing and commercialization capacity with the potential to reshape geopolitical threats to U.S. health.
Just funded: Four KC groups split $41K in first awards from KCSourceLink initiative
A regional effort launched by KCSourceLink has funded its first cohort of organizations that are tackling gaps in Kansas City’s entrepreneur ecosystem — prioritizing collaborations that remove barriers to business growth for founders typically underrepresented within resource allocations.
US biotechs gave China control over your medicine; here’s how KC’s $38M+ BioHub initiative could win it back
“Biologic medicines are the drugs of the future: the insulin that manages a child’s diabetes, the immunotherapy that shrinks a tumor, the vaccine that stops a pandemic in its tracks,” said Melissa Roberts Chapman. The problem: China already has a 30-year head start controlling access to those critical medicines.
KC healthtech platform records Series A, closing access gap by embedding research into everyday care
Aton Health is gearing up for its next phase of growth after closing a Series A investment, said founder Tom Sanders, positioning the Kansas City healthcare company to expand its research platform into new medical specialties and markets.
KC BioHub earns $38M+ to position KC as ‘next great biotech ecosystem’ amid global biomanufacturing race
Kansas City is poised to unlock $150 million in federal investment thanks to a winning bid led by the region’s Tech Hub to accelerate biomanufacturing innovation, workforce development, and industry growth across the region.
UMKC-led effort wins potential $160M grant: Feds back KC in race to control tech’s most critical materials
A just-announced award from the National Science Foundation is expected to help Kansas City develop the regional ecosystem needed to boost U.S. production of the metals and critical materials manufacturers require for batteries, aircraft engine parts, semiconductors, medical devices, and other advanced tech.
Just funded: 8 tech products get Digital Sandbox KC boost to strengthen KC’s innovation economy
Project funding and extended resources are expected to help more than a half-dozen emerging startups — including six in the digital health space — whose innovative technology concepts are forging the future of entrepreneurship in Kansas City, said Maria Meyers.
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