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.
IPO alert: EquipmentShare hits Nasdaq; Missouri unicorn says its staying true to its long-term vision
COLUMBIA, Mo. — With EquipmentShare’s debut Friday on the stock exchange, the Missouri-built leader in connected jobsite technology is advancing a decade-long blueprint for its growth, as well as productivity, efficiency and collaboration across the construction industry, said Jabbok Schlacks. “Our vision since we founded EquipmentShare more than 10 years ago was to transform the…
Meet 8 startups that just locked in move-faster funding from Digital Sandbox KC
An effort to “super-charge” innovative, emerging tech in Kansas City is helping more than a half-dozen companies with exceptional growth potential get their solutions to customers faster, said Jill Meyer, announcing the latest cohort of Digital Sandbox KC-funded startups. “These next great innovations are solving real-world problems and identifying gaps that their technologies can fill,”…
Filling rural eco devo gap: $2.15M grant promotes new growth for small food and farm businesses after federal cuts
Fresh-cut funding from the rural-focused Patterson Family Foundation is expected to boost food work in Kansas and western Missouri — strengthening businesses rooted in small communities with innovative resources and programs. New Growth, a nonprofit rural community development corporation based in Appleton City, Missouri, announced a $2.15 million Patterson grant backing the organization’s mission to foster…
Pitch competition winner says funds will help scale impact for neurodiverse children, their parents
Ivory Duncan teared up thinking about all the neurodiverse young people and their parents that she can champion now that she’s won $6,000 in the most recent pitch competition from The Porter House KC. The founder of Embracing Neuro-Diversity — a former educator and assistant principal — is building bridges between homes and schools to…
NXTUS launches pilot competition for startups in Northwest Arkansas, fueled by $500K Walton grant
WICHITA — A Kansas-built innovation program is hitting the road — applying its successful model to Northwest Arkansas in a bid to expand growth opportunities for more early-stage companies and make the region a proving ground for technology that boosts health and economic vitality. Wichita-based NXTUS this week announced HealthCatalyst NWA, a pilot initiative that aims…
Missouri releases $33M+ in federal funds to MTC to support startups, small businesses
A second tranche of federal funding allotted through the Biden-era American Rescue Plan Act is expected to help economic development leaders target stronger small business growth, expand access to capital, and support high-growth entrepreneurship across Missouri. More than $33 million is being deployed to the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) via the State Small Business Credit…