Latest Stories
Pure Pitch Rally palms $20K to KC startups
Kansas City already has the right lineup for its own tech rally, Karen Fenaroli said. “We have the investors, we have the start-up talent,” Fenaroli, founder of Fenaroli & Associates and organizer of Pure Pitch Rally, said. A pitch competition next month attempts to connect the two, offering winning entrepreneurs an opportunity to nab $1,000…
Indie craft, maker fair Strawberry Swing returning Sunday with KC love
One of the largest indie craft fairs in the Midwest is expected to draw thousands of Kansas Citians to discover local makers and creators. Strawberry Swing’s summer event, set for Sunday at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art lawn, aims to showcase vendors from Kansas City, as well as parts of Arkansas, Iowa, Oklahoma and more….
‘Software is eating the world,’ LaunchCode instructor appeals to aspiring techies
Ambitious techies in the Kansas City area might soon have an opportunity to realize their aspirations with a course coming soon from the nonprofit LaunchCode. Based in St. Louis but with an office in Kansas City, LaunchCode aims to grow the tech workforce of select communities by offering programs to educate those eyeing a career…
Events Preview: Gigabit City Summit, Celebrate entrepreneurs
There are a plethora of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter, or curious community member — we recommend these upcoming events for you. Are you hosting a relevant community event? Feel free to add it to the FWD/KC calendar for increased exposure. Once your event…
Rack Performance beefs up with seed investment from former Perceptive Software execs
Lenexa-based Rack Performance has raised a seed investment round that will fuel the exercise tech startup’s sales and development. Rack Performance has raised $300,000 from perceptiveEQUITY, a new early-stage investment firm that’s managed by three former executives at Lenexa-based Perceptive Software, which was purchased by Lexmark International for $280 million in 2010. Lexmark recently sold…
Six takeaways from the digital transformation at Hallmark
It’s not just tech startups that innovate and disrupt. One of the Kansas City area’s largest firms, Hallmark Cards, recently launched a digital transformation. In 2015, the greeting card giant funneled thousands of products that were popular on the shelves to online sales. The firm also updated its social media practices to attract younger customers….
Report: Kansas City’s tech workforce is growing faster than most big cities
Techies around the nation have flocked to Kansas City at a rate faster than many major cities, including New York City, Chicago, San Diego and others according to a recent report. CBRE’s annual Tech Talent Report found that between 2011 and 2016 Kansas City’s tech workforce grew 39 percent, adding about 15,000 new tech staffers…
How the Kansas City Chiefs became the No. 1 NFL team in social engagement
Most Kansas City Chiefs fans are likely aware that they hold the Guinness World Record for the “loudest crowd roar at a sports stadium.” But what fans may not know is how that same enthusiasm and energy translates to the Kansas City Chiefs’ social media engagement. Using a variety of platforms, the team’s social media…
After 2014 departure, Lyft operations return to KCMO
Kansas Citians now have more ridesharing options than just Uber. After nearly a three year hiatus, the ride-sharing giant Lyft on Sunday re-launched its operations in Kansas City, Mo., including Kansas City International Airport. Lyft’s arrival represents more local competition among Uber and Lyft, and more choices for riders in Kansas City. Lyft already was…
Grietens seeks entrepreneurs’ input on how to make Missouri more innovative
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens is seeking input from the Show Me State’s entrepreneurs, investors on how the state can foster more innovation. In June, Greitens launched a task force to spur startup activity and innovation in the State of Missouri. Over the past month, the Innovation Task Force hosted a handful of workshops throughout the…
