Patterson Fellows launches as an extension of its founder’s entrepreneurial foundation
A new fellowship for selected founders is designed to identify, support, and accelerate high-impact entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions to challenges faced in rural communities — backed by a $300,000 investment in each entrepreneur over three years by the Patterson Family Foundation.
Library’s small biz pitch competition returning with Kauffman backing, cash prizes
The pitch event is now accepting applications for another “Shark Tank-style” gathering. Founder Zoe Mays said the previous competition’s $5,000 grand prize was a game changer for Scream Queens, her vegan ice cream business.
KC-built startup brokers $18M funding round as benefitbay pushes market trends to the norm
A just-announced $18 million Series A round for benefitbay is more than just investor or market validation, said Brandy Thompson; it’s a signal that the solution she built in Kansas City is no longer part of a niche conversation with consultants and employers — too often requiring lengthy explanations about why the model matters.
Leaked discount codes cost online sellers millions; KC startup sweeps their profits back
Kansas City startup Veeper built its business around discounts, explained co-founder Jordan Williams; now, it’s helping ecommerce brands stop such deals — and fraud often linked to influencer marketing — from eating into profits.
Resonus earns MTC investment, vote of confidence as startup accelerates its go-to-market plans
A Kansas City govtech startup is among eight Missouri innovators selected to receive a share of $6.1 million in equity-based investments from MTC’s state-sponsored venture capital program, the agency announced Tuesday.
Just funded: Digital Health KC taps 8 KC startups for new ‘Accelerate’ project grants
A $332,750 tranche of newly announced project-based funding is designed to propel promising digital health companies toward their next critical milestones, said Dick Flanigan, emphasizing pathways from technology advancements to product validation.
Full-circle victory for UMKC grad who retook the stage to win RVCC with her startup
Winning the top prize for community startups at the Regnier Venture Creation Challenge was a transformational way to cap Antoinette Redmond’s UMKC experience, the Neuru founder said Friday, after earning $20,000 of the record $180,000 awarded to student and community entrepreneurs.
Great Jobs KC awarded $3.8M+ Patterson grant to expand rural workforce training into Kansas, Missouri
A three-year grant from the Patterson Family Foundation is expected to help Great Jobs KC bring life-changing training and wraparound support services to workers in rural counties on both sides of the state line, said Earl Martin Phalen.
Techstars prescribes $220K investment, credibility boost for KC healthtech startup
“It’s a point of validation that somebody else thinks highly enough of the vision we’ve set,” said Dr. Brandy Archie. “We think we can grow to be a force and make a big change in the world, and they back that with dollars and see that possibility.”
Just funded: Meet 6 new Sandbox startups poised to impact digital health, AI innovation
A fresh round of novel technology concepts — ranging from deterring AI-powered surveillance to supporting families raising autistic children — are among the latest to earn proof-of-concept backing from Digital Sandbox KC.
Winning chemistry: KC GIFT pitch competition rewards joy on stage, work behind the scenes
Earning a $30,000 grand prize over the weekend closed out a six-week process for LaToya Ebony Sirls and other founders who were pushed to refine not just how they present, but how they build.
Kauffman funds 46 more project, research grants; many boosting early entrepreneurship
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation recently announced its latest tranche grantees, investing in community-centered solutions that dovetail with its strategic focus on college access and completion, workforce and career development, and entrepreneurship.
Redbud VC drops $25M Fund II in its attempt to ‘out-hustle the market’ for top talent, Midwest unicorns
A new $25 million fund for Columbia-based Redbud VC is expected to help identify and develop top-tier, pre-seed innovators before they head to the coasts to find more abundant capital, said Brett Calhoun. “There isn’t an underground hacker house pumping out unicorn founders,” said Calhoun, general partner at Redbud VC, in a blog post. “The…
Meta delivers on data center investment pledge with 13 grants to KC community orgs
A just-announced grant cabled into Meta data center communities is expected to help a Kansas City-based production crew known for invention competitions to shine a national spotlight on middle school innovators from Clay and Platte counties. Make48 — a TV series that exposes the real life challenges of taking a product “from napkin design to…
Bracket bash winner nets $50K in pitch doubleheader; three KC startups score spots among final four
Kansas came in clutch Tuesday — doubling the grand prize pool for this week’s Gamechangers and Champions pitch competition just before tipoff. Its jersey-clad winner scored $50,000 and a top seed among investors gathered for the state’s bracket bash for emerging entrepreneurs. “When you’re in a startup business, money never hurts, non-dilutive money even more…
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