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EDCKC selects 2019 Cornerstone Awards finalists; May celebration to honor Emanuel Cleaver
Innovators and leaders in new construction, redevelopment, capital investments, job creation and expansion projects in Kansas City, Missouri, are set to be honored in late May at the 2019 Cornerstone Awards. The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri, (EDCKC) announced 22 finalists for the honors today. “The Cornerstone Awards are a chance to take…
KC Rising update: Kansas City falling short in economic race with peer markets
Bill Gautreaux sounded the alarm with a mixed refrain meant as a KC Rising call to action: “We’re good, but we’re not good enough.” Throughout a recent KC Rising update on the region’s economic growth, Gautreaux and other KC Rising leaders championed Kansas City’s efforts to move the needle, while also lamenting the slow speed…
Startup advocates rally, demand KCMO invest more of its $1.73B budget in entrepreneurs
If Kansas City leaders want to build a stronger community, they should start by supporting early stage entrepreneurs, said Lesa Mitchell. “I’m simply here to say — we’re not spending enough money … and we need to look at it,” Mitchell, managing director of Techstars Kansas City, told KCMO city council members Saturday during a public…
Edison Spaces selects two startups for its inaugural Jumpstart office space giveaway
The first fruit to bare in an effort of ecosystem elevation, two Kansas City startups have received a jumpstart — courtesy of Edison Spaces, the flexible office space provider announced Friday. “Ultimately, we know the challenges entrepreneurs face when starting a business, because we ourselves faced these challenges,” said Matt Druten, Edison Spaces CEO. A barrier…
A dating app for founders? Hotspots overhead? KCMO mayoral candidates pair up to pitch startup solutions
Bridging the digital divide in Kansas City is simple: Put WiFi hotspots in the trees, quipped Steve Miller, while pitching startup ideas — formed through on-the-spot brainstorming — to a crowd of entrepreneurs. “I love this tree idea … It’s very unique,” laughed fellow Kansas City, Missouri, mayoral candidate and equally off-the-cuff Alissia Canady, Tuesday…
KCultivator Q&A: Darcy Howe helps awaken a sleepy city from its safe spaces, talks rest and refueling
Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Empowering Kansas City entrepreneurs to realize their dreams is in Darcy Howe’s blood, she said with a coy smile, seated in an open meeting space atop the 24th floor of her downtown office. “Kansas City was…
Fishtech securing market position in the face of emerging threats, founder’s own win record
On track to reach $100 million in annual revenue by 2020, it’s full steam ahead for the cyber security freight train Fishtech Group, said serial entrepreneur Gary Fish. “It took me about 14 years to get [to $100 million] in my first company,” explained Fish, founder and CEO of the three-year-old, Martin City-based, data-driven security…
University of Saint Mary launching entrepreneur boot camp to supplement OP campus’ healthcare focus
A new, four-week crash course in entrepreneurism is coming to the University of Saint Mary’s Overland Park campus, with officials hoping the pilot helps healthcare-focused students better connect with needed business skills. “We have a lot of wisdom to share,” said John Shultz, vice president for admissions and marketing at the university, noting a treasure…
Kauffman address leaves DC; Execs say the people (not politicians) will revive entrepreneurship
Everyone should have the opportunity to take a risk, achieve success, and give back to their communities through entrepreneurship, Wendy Guillies said. But it’s a collaborative process that begins at home, she noted. “The reality is we all have a part to play in creating a more prosperous national economy and that starts with growing…
No Coast finalists: Trio of startup heavyweights among KC Tech Council award contenders
Updated: Click here for No Coast winners. KC Tech Council released finalists Wednesday for its No Coast awards — a March 8 celebration of trailblazing innovators across the tech industry in Kansas City — which features a handful of startup founders and companies. “These are the folks who went above and beyond in tech,” KC Tech…
