Latest Stories
Fund me, KC: Leka robot teaches kids with developmental disorders
Startland News is continuing its segment to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs — like Leka CEO Ladislas de Toldi — to share their stories to gain a little help from their supporters. If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by…
The WTF Series: Chatbots to anticipate your needs
On a daily basis, Ben Kittrell translates the jargon-filled world of technology for clients of his tech consultancy. The Words that Frustrate (WTF) series aims to offer readers some clarity in an industry dominated by techies’ confusing argot. At Facebook’s latest developer conference, F8, Mark Zuckerberg announced they are adding Application Programming Interfaces to Facebook…
Report: Missouri boasts three, top-20 startup cities
Kansas City is a top-20 destination to start a business, according to a recent WalletHub report. A study released Monday by the personal finance website ranked the City of Fountains as the No. 16 best city to launch a business. WalletHub compared the relative startup opportunities in the 150 most populated U.S. cities., looking at metrics such…
Bipartisan support sends Kansas’ angel tax credits to governor’s desk
After months of lobbying Kansas lawmakers, Kansas City area entrepreneurs are celebrating a legislative victory Monday that will extend a popular tax credit program for five more years. While now awaiting Gov. Sam Brownback’s signature, Kansas Senate Bill 149 will extend the life of the Angel Investor Tax Credits program through 2021. The $6 million…
Mobility Designed to ‘bottle lightning’ from viral video success
The international spotlight is shining bright on Mobility Designed, a Kansas City startup that’s snagged tens-of-millions of viewers interested in their futuristic crutches. Last week, Mobility Designed’s ergonomic crutch was featured in a Tech Insider video that’s now attracted more than 38 million views around the world. That particular video has now been re-edited and…
Entrepreneurial lessons from the girls of Malawi, Africa
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. While the Kansas City entrepreneurial community continued to percolate in April, I spent two and a half weeks in the poorest country in Africa. Malawi is known as “The Warm Heart of Africa,” and with an average annual income of $255 per…
Byrd: What we can learn from 5 corporate innovation blunders
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Most corporations don’t want innovation, they just say they do. Corporate leaders talk about radical and disruptive ideas, but is that truly all that innovation is? In it’s purest form, innovation creates more effective processes, products and ideas that will in turn increase…
106-years-young Hallmark is evolving with the collaborative economy
The collaborative economy is everywhere. You may have heard it by another name — like the sharing, on-demand, access, peer, freelance or gig economy. You’ve definitely heard of its national headliners Uber and Airbnb, but it also has a local presence with firms like PopBookings, Farmobile and MachineryLink. Since first showing up on radars eight…
The Collective Funds targets Kansas City startups with $10M
The Collective Funds — a new venture capital group in Kansas City — will be exclusively targeting early-stage firms in the area starting as early as this summer. Led by four Kansas City entrepreneurs, the $10 million fund aims to fill an area funding gap as well as inspire a cultural shift among…
Events Preview: Startup Weekend EDU
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 Startup Weekend EDU When: April 29 – May 1 Where: Think Big Coworking Startup Weekend Education (SWEDU) brings together people of…
