Latest Stories
ShareWaves harnesses 810 WHB sports radio to aid nonprofits, boost youth athletics in KC
When young people quit sports, it’s the beginning of a downward spiral with effects that ripple throughout lifetimes, said William Brandmeyer. The trend is avoidable, the leader of the ShareWaves Foundation said. “Young people are dropping out of sports before high school because there’s too much pressure. They aren’t having fun anymore,” said Brandmeyer, vice…
Already feeling FOMO for Global Entrepreneurship Week? Here are KC’s can’t-miss events
Hundreds of events geared toward makers, innovators and job creators are expected to pop up later this month in one of Kansas City’s historic cultural epicenters. “The 18th and Vine District has a rich history of entrepreneurship and has served as a hub for makers, dreamers and doers for decades,” said Jenny Miller, chief organizer…
Wrap up: Miss FUND Conference Kansas City? Don’t forget to craft your narrative
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Brandon Warrington is an attorney at Husch Blackwell in Omaha. This op-ed is sponsored by Husch Blackwell. Kansas City’s inaugural FUND Conference buzzed with startups and emerging companies, from social ventures still in the ideation phase to companies having just finished their Series…
Check in: Full Scale’s $1M investment pledge already impacting startups like Mixtape, DivvyHQ
Nearly nine months after pledging to invest $1 million worth of Full Scale’s development resources in Kansas City startups, impact already is clear among numerous companies, said Matt DeCoursey, who has leveraged a podcast and “Suite and Greet” networking to build deeper connections to the local innovation community. “We have the ability to help a…
Co-founder trio invests $4.75M in KC RentTech startup Simplifyy, aiming for 500 percent growth in use
It’s about motivation, said Robert Henrichs, describing the co-founders of Kansas City-based Simplifyy’s decision to invest $4.75 million in the RentTech startup. “There is a lot of confidence around the venture because the founders have years of industry experience and recognize it is primed for disruption,” said Henrichs, who is responsible for marketing at Simplifyy….
Venture deal rooted in Kauffman Fellows aligns Novel Growth, Flyover Capital behind Wisconsin urban tech startup
Two funds are better than one, Carlos Antequera said, announcing a one-of-a-kind partnership between top venture firms with Kauffman Fellows roots. “Since our inception, our mission has been to provide innovative growth capital options for technology entrepreneurs,” Antequera, co-founder of Novel Growth Partners, said of the Mission, Kansas, revenue-based financing firm’s collaboration with Overland Park-based…
Collaboration Awaits: Blacktech Weekend aims to connect black innovators with a lasting network
The most important aspect of Blacktech Weekend’s return to Kansas City Friday: connecting individuals from different segments of the entrepreneur cityscape, said Denayja Reese. “Across industries, we want them to collaborate with each other and continue to build community as well as bring in folks who are outside of the community into the fold,” said…
New in KC: BacklotCars funding round lures Windy City tech talent back to KC
Editor’s note: New in KC is an ongoing profile series that highlights newly relocated members of the Kansas City startup community, their reasons for a change of scenery, and what they’ve found so far in KC. Click here to read more New in KC profiles. As Kansas City’s startup scene came online in 2012, Lindsey…
Lawrence-based Sweet Jane magazine offers safe space for women to get candid about cannabis
Satisfying her own curiosity, Katy Ibsen penned an article on cannabis opportunities for publishers. “There were niche magazines being published, there were B2B magazines being published, there was ‘High Times’ and ‘Dope,’” Ibsen, now founder, editor and publisher of Sweet Jane magazine, said of her research for the piece. A 10-year publishing vet with a…
Cannabis founder’s advice: Weed out the bad seeds; run green startups like real businesses
Cannabis might seem like it presents a Wild West frontier for entrepreneurs looking to strike green, said Michael Wilson, but would-be founders must cultivate a plan grounded in common sense — and the law. “In the industrial hemp or marijuana space, if you want to build a successful business, run it like a real damn…
