Latest Stories
Concerned tech leaders pen amicable yet stern letter on KCMO’s proposed Airbnb, Homeaway rules
An advocacy group representing the area tech industry has offered a series of concerns on how the City of Kansas City, Mo., could regulate home-sharing services like Airbnb or Homeaway. In a letter to the Kansas City Council regarding proposed regulations on homesharing, the KC Tech Council said the area now has an opportunity to…
Prairie Char, Integrated Animal Health sweep international ag, bio tech competition
Two tech firms based in Lawrence, Kan., swept the top awards at a recent national agriculture and biotech conference. Beating out more than 500 international competitors, Prairie Char and Integrated Animal Health snagged first and second place, respectively, at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s annual entrepreneurial showcase. “What this says is that Kansas is very…
Chris Brown: Where to Incorporate? Delaware, Missouri or Kansas?
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. This article is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Readers with legal questions should consult an attorney. Entrepreneurs often think they need to incorporate in Delaware. In this article, we’ll look at whether that is the best decision (hint – often…
Vibrant clothing, mission guides socially focused startup By Grace Designs
A social impact firm with the mission to empower women in Ghana and India recently beat out more than 40 other firms to win the Regnier Venture Creation Challenge, earning it $20,000. Co-founded by Emily Moon and Kelsey Carlstedt in 2015, By Grace Designs is a nonprofit that sells handmade, culturally-authentic clothing online, offering vibrantly…
Blooom announces layoffs, new strategic focus on consumers
Refocusing its outbound efforts to solely target consumers, financial tech startup Blooom has laid off nearly a third of its staff and a top executive has resigned. The Leawood-based company recently announced that it has let go of 10 employees as it moves resources away from marketing to enterprises and will refocus on direct-to-consumer marketing….
Report: KC is a tech hub but labor shortage is hampering growth
Each day, Kansas City is better positioning itself to be the Midwest’s tech hub. But for Kansas City to realize its full potential, tech leaders, policymakers and the community need to do more to cultivate homegrown talent, KC Tech Council president Ryan Weber said. “Attracting talent from another city is a very small game — and…
KC tech startup partners with Children’s Mercy to help diagnose, manage care
Kansas City-based Engage Mobile Solutions developed a mobile app assisting pediatricians at Children’s Mercy Hospital, treating children facing acute illnesses and injuries. The tech firm created “CMPeDS: Pediatric Decision Support” to provide healthcare professionals with evidence-based guidelines to manage patients who are facing acute illnesses such as infections, or children who are experiencing acute injuries,…
UMKC eyes ‘final four’ of Enactus contest attracting thousands of student entrepreneurs to KC
Kansas City will soon become the entrepreneurial epicenter for a national, collegiate competition and conference challenging young innovators to do good in their communities. From May 21 to 23, Kansas City will host more than 2,000 entrepreneurial college students for the Enactus United States National Exposition. Founded in 1975, Enactus challenges students from more than…
Kauffman VP hops on national TV to discuss gaps in entrepreneurship
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s vice president of entrepreneurship recently took to national television to examine declining startup rates. CNBC recently featured Victor Hwang to discuss the trend in declining startup rates, including generational gaps, cultural shifts, limited access to capital and the impact of regulations. “It’s hard to pin it down exactly,” Hwang told…
Techstars KC is moving into WeWork Corrigan Station
Techstars Kansas City on Monday announced the location of its new accelerator facility. Starting July 1, the accelerator group will set up shop on the 5th floor of WeWork Corrigan Station. The 40,000 square foot coworking space is located in the heart of the Crossroads Arts District, piggybacking off of the district’s entrepreneurial momentum. “If…
