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digital divide

Connecting For Good CEO analyzes the area digital divide

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. After my first four months as CEO of Connecting For Good, I’m compelled to share a viewpoint on what the Kansas City digital divide looks like. Knowing the answer to this question is only the first step to tackling digital inclusion efforts, but…

ESPN, MLB Network features Eon Sports virtual reality tech

Eon Sports VR, a Kansas City-based virtual reality firm, is making waves in the world of professional sports after tapping former New York Yankee Jason Giambi as an advisor. Led by CEO Brendan Reilly, Eon Sports’ tech has been featured by the likes of ESPN, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, the MLB Network, Fox Business and…

And the winners of Startland’s $3,000 giveaway are …

In case you didn’t already know, Kansas City startups are a generous bunch. Last week, Startland News asked if any area businesses wanted to participate in a giveaway for those attending the Kansas City Startup Crawl. In true startup fashion, our idea for a giveaway came at the last minute — three days before the…

Digital Sandbox

Digital Sandbox coaches for pitching, funding this summer

School may be out for the summer, but class will soon be in session for area entrepreneurs. The Digital Sandbox KC’s “Summer in the Sand” series has returned for its fourth year of entrepreneurial education and networking. The program — which will feature one event per month from June to September — offers participants the…

competitive advantage kool-aid

Gooding: Stop drinking the ‘competitive advantage’ kool-aid

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Check out more from Grant Gooding here. Your competitive advantage doesn’t exist anymore. Not only is this true but the whole concept of “competitive advantage” as you understand it likely doesn’t exist either. What’s taken its place is a cool new thing called…

Survey dissects area investors’ challenges, interests with startup deals

A recent survey of high-net-worth investors in the Kansas City area has found that most could benefit from independent due diligence and improved communication with other investors. The survey — conducted by KCSourceLink and the Alternative Investment Forum spoke with 80 area investors about their activities in early-stage investment. Mark Meyerdirk, founder of the Alternative…

Meet the new ambassador of area techies: The KC Tech Council

The organization formerly known as KCnext has announced a rebrand that will make it a fully-independent organization focused on tech workforce development, advocacy and industry access. The newly-formed KC Tech Council announced its name change Friday, marking its departure from the Kansas City Area Development Council. While still partnering with the regional economic development group, the…

Events Preview: 1WeekKC edition

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 Zen and the Art of Failure When: May 19 @ 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm Where: Village Square We’re inviting the Kansas…

Kauffman: U.S. entrepreneurial growth on upward trend

For the third year in a row, U.S. entrepreneurial ventures are growing, indicating that domestic entrepreneurship growth has rebounded since the Great Recession, according to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The “2016 Kauffman Index of Growth Entrepreneurship” found the improvement was in large part thanks to startups growing faster in their first five years than…

Greg Kratofil shows how startups can tap new crowdfunding law

Kansas City startups are already interested in tapping new crowdfunding rules that allow them to trade equity for investment funds. Polsinelli tech attorney Greg Kratofil said that he’s fielded several calls from entrepreneurs hoping to raise capital via recent changes to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s equity crowdfunding regulations. The changes, which took effect on…