Latest Stories
KCMO creates live-viewing platform of smart city data
Officially launched about nine months ago, the Kansas City Smart City initiative has produced as much enthusiasm as it has technological possibilities. The $15.7 million public-private project — which has transformed Kansas City’s downtown into a lab of Wi-Fi connectivity on and around the 2.2-mile streetcar line — is now further empowering citizens. The City…
Events Preview: Life Equals graduation, Coding & Cupcakes
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. Weekly Events Preview The Marketing Series: SEO Made Easy with Brandon Kenig When: Feb. 8, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Where: Sprint Accelerator…
Animal tech startup FitBark fetches huge Australian pet insurer
Animal tech firm FitBark is headed Down Under thanks to its landing of a big Australian partner. The Kansas City-based company announced that it’s partnered with PetSure, Australia’s largest pet insurance underwriter to help launch its wearable dog activity tracker to the Aussie market. PetSure opens FitBark up to 360,000 policyholders, a network of 22…
Kansas City hosting NIST national smart cities conference
Kansas City’s smart city creds are on the national stage. The National Institute of Standards and Technology selected Kansas City as the first city to host a national conference that encourages collaboration and establishes standards for smart cities. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Think Big Partners and the City of Kansas City, Mo. will host Global…
With investors clamoring for more, Blooom raises $9.15 million
One of the area’s top startups, finance tech firm Blooom has landed a significant round of financing to accelerate its online tool to boost users’ retirement savings. The firm announced Monday that it raised $9.15 million in an oversubscribed Series B round that features some behemoths in finance tech investing. The round was co-led by…
Celebrity Apprentice features Kansas City fitness startup OYO Fitness
A trio of celebrities were briefly among the sales staff for a surging fitness tech firm in Kansas City. In a recent episode of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice, musician Boy George, basketball hall-of-famer Lisa Leslie and former Queer Eye for the Straight Guy expert Carson Kressley helped sell for Kansas City-based OYO Fitness. OYO founder Paul…
New effort aims to cultivate, connect SaaS salespeople in KC
A champion of sales talent development in the Kansas City area is hoping to create a movement in Kansas City to help business development professionals learn from one another. Founded in 2016 by Mike Poledna, KC SaaS aims to provide networking and development opportunities for SaaS firms. In addition to hosting free panel conversations five…
To cultivate area ecosystem, Kauffman launches ‘KC Connector’ project
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is setting out on a mission to better connect people cultivating Kansas City’s entrepreneurial and education communities. The Kauffman Foundation is asking Kansas Citians to nominate the area’s unsung heroes” for its new Community Connector Project. Inspired by similar initiatives that have been implemented in Portland, Philadelphia and Louisville, the…
VIDEO: KCAI President Tony Jones on art and tech
The Kansas City Art Institute’s new David T. Beals Studio for Art and Technology is a state-of-the-art facility that’s serving the school’s more than 600 student-artists. Watch the video below to hear Tony Jones, president of KCAI, discuss the facility as well as the intersection of art and technology. To read more about the studio,…
Cutting-edge facility comes to life at the Kansas City Art Institute
Artists have a knack for bearing ideas outside the realm of convention. But what happens when a creator is not only equipped with the latest technology to augment a medium, but cross-pollinates with other artists concocting complimentary creations? Who knows. And that’s exactly what the Kansas City Art Institute is excited to learn with its…
