Latest Stories
Meet Project UK, an accelerator helping entrepreneurs from underserved KC communities
Project UK founder Quest Taylor was ecstatic Tuesday when he received news his accelerator earned funding from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. “It was a stamp of approval for the organization,” Taylor said of the accelerator, which was founded in early 2017. “I was not expecting to receive the grant. We really had to prove…
ArtsKC launches new online guide to arts, cultural events
ArtsKC is offering residents in the region a new digital resource that hopes to grow engagement at area arts and cultural events. On Friday, the regional nonprofit organization launched ArtsKCGo.com, an online guide that features information on art, music, theater, dance, film, festivals and other cultural events in the area. Already with hundreds of events…
Hundreds of jobs, millions in payroll, Digital Sandbox details impact
Business incubator Digital Sandbox KC reported Wednesday its substantial effect on growing the area economy through its funding and mentorship of early-stage firms. Since its launch in 2013, Digital Sandbox has funded 85 projects, helping to create dozens of new products from startups. That’s resulted in hundreds of new jobs and million of dollars in…
Career initiative Hire KC Youth to expand metro-wide after $55K grant
Expanding from city hall to include the entire metro, Kansas City Mayor Sly James’ Hire KC Youth program will launch a summer pilot in June, aiming to cultivate more work-ready young people. In collaboration with the KC Social Innovation Center and Full Employment Council, Hire KC Youth is branching out of the confines of city…
Video: How to write a great elevator pitch for investors and your team
Editor’s note: Continuing our mission to help area entrepreneurs and startups grow, we’re happy to share with you a video from our friends at Kansas City-based tech agency Crema. Learn more about the agency here. Crema co-founder George Brooks and Crema product strategist Eric Hurst jump into the topic of crafting an eloquent and effective…
Fast-growing Silicon Valley ‘unicorn’ Rubrik expanding to Lawrence
Rubrik — a rapidly-growing, cloud data company based in Palo Alto, Calif. — is launching a new office in Lawrence and plans to hire up to 20 area engineers. The firm partnered with the Bioscience & Technology Business Center at the University of Kansas to create the Rubrik Center for Excellence. The center will house…
Events Preview: Tech CEO Speaker Series, Livestreaming strategy
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…
Firebrand Ventures makes 4 investments in Midwest startups
Kansas City-based Firebrand Ventures is kicking off the summer with a series of startup investments. Led by managing director John Fein, Firebrand has signed a quartet of new deals supporting two pairs of tech startups in both Boulder and Austin. “We’re just incredibly excited to invest in these companies,” Fein said. “We think they’re the…
Kauffman Foundation dishes $840K to 8 area accelerators
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is hitting the gas on its support of area accelerator programs. As part of the 2016 KC Accelerator Challenge, the Kauffman Foundation announced Tuesday that it’s awarded a total of $840,000 in grants to eight local venture accelerator programs. “Our goal is to increase entrepreneurial success in Kansas City through…
Efficiency, innovative home construction are cornerstones for Prairie Design Build
David Schleicher was just looking for something to get back on track. In 2012, the president of Prairie Design Build, a house building company located in Kansas City, had watched his then six-year-old business begin to suffer because of the recent recession. Schleicher was desperately seeking a way to keep his head above water, not…
