Latest Stories
Exclusive: John Fein departing Techstars to lead new $7M Midwest venture fund
After three years with the Kansas City-based Sprint Accelerator, John Fein is moving on to lead a venture fund that has ambitious Midwestern plans. Fein, who’s served as the managing director at the Techstars-led accelerator since 2014, will serve his last day with the organization on July 31. With decades of fast-paced startup experience, Fein…
Louis Byrd: Are white women now the face of diversity?
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Diversity means different things to different people. For some folks, hearing the word diversity automatically equates to affirmative action and minorities taking jobs away from qualified white men. For others, it simply implies race or ethnicity. Then there’s those who believe it is…
Mid-America Angels set for second consecutive record-breaking year
The Mid-America Angels is poised to make 2016 a record-breaking year. The area investment group already has deployed $1.7 million via seven deals in the first six months of 2016, setting pace for its biggest year of investment in its ten-year history. In 2015, the firm set a record for its amount of capital deployed,…
With a fresh $2M, Athlete Network sets ambitious growth goals
Athlete Network has scored a slam dunk with a $2 million seed round raise. The Lenexa-based firm that created a social network for athletes announced Thursday it had closed its first funding round after bootstrapping for two years, Athlete Network CEO Chris Smith said. The platform aims “to keep athletes competing in life” by enabling…
KC’s ‘entrepreneurial and innovative spirit’ lures Virgin Mobile HQ move
Kansas City’s entrepreneurial vigor again was cited as the impetus of a corporation’s expansion into the area. Virgin Mobile USA announced Friday that it selected downtown Kansas City for the company’s new headquarters as it relaunches its brand under Sprint. Virgin Mobile expects to hire 50 people in a variety of positions by the end…
Events Preview: KCVR Hackathon this weekend!
There are a boatload of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter or curious Kansas Citian, we’d recommend these upcoming events for you. WEEKLY EVENT PREVIEW KCVR Hackathon When: July 15 – July 17 Where: Google Fiber Join us for the KCVR Hackathon! The event is being sponsored…
Beasley: How will smart city infrastructure reflect KC’s aspirations?
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Reality is often stranger than fiction, and even harder to predict. Will our cities march toward the dizzying New, New York of Futurama’s 30th century; the harsh, crowded streets of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner; or even the consumerist, transhumanist society of Warren Ellis’…
Puppies and pilsners: Bar K dog park eyes KC’s riverfront
A proposed bar at Kansas City’s Berkley Riverfront park will enable the enjoyment of a cocktail and your canine. Founded by David Hensley and Leib Dodell, Bar K hopes to be part of a revitalization effort in the riverfront area with Port KC by converting unused green space into a bar, restaurant and dog park….
Digital Sandbox expands to Independence, Mo.
Digital Sandbox KC is expanding into more surrounding Kansas City suburbs. The business incubator has partnered with the City of Independence and the Independence Economic Development Council to help early-stage entrepreneurs grow their businesses in the municipal directly east of Kansas City. Digital Sandbox — which provides up to $25,000 to area businesses for specific projects…
Innovation program challenges civically-minded Kansas Citians
The City of Kansas City, Mo. is again asking for entrepreneurs’ help. Kansas City is now accepting applications for the 2016 Innovation Partnership Program, which provides an avenue for entrepreneurs to develop, test and demonstrate solutions to improve city operations. The city will accept program applications for only 30 days — from July 13 to August 15….
