Latest Stories
Kansas Citians help break TEDx world record for fastest sellout of tickets
In the time it takes to walk from Kansas City’s streetcar line to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, TEDxKC sold out. In record time — only four minutes — Kansas Citians devoured hundreds of tickets for the TEDxKC live event on Aug. 18 at the Kauffman Center. Mike Lundgren, curator and founder…
New scholarship opportunities for urban entrepreneurs available in August
The Urban Business Growth Initiative announced it released new scholarship opportunities for urban entrepreneurs in Kansas City beginning in August. Launched in 2013, the initiative offers a variety of programs that fuel urban business growth — whether that be counseling, classes or access to resources. The UBGI helped 92 scholarship award-winners generate $29.5 million in…
In an oversubscribed round, PopBookings raises $1M
Quickly expanding around the nation, the event staffing tech firm PopBookings recently raised a significant round that will push the technology into international markets. Led by CEO Erika Klotz and COO Scott Hanson, the Kansas City-based tech firm recently raised more than $1 million in an oversubscribed round that includes the Missouri Technology Corporation, iSelect…
UMKC nonprofit center lands $396K Kauffman Foundation grant
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation announced Wednesday it will renew its support in University of Missouri-Kansas City organization that helps area nonprofits thrive. The foundation has gifted $396,800 to the UMKC-based Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, whose mission aims to expand the capacity of nonprofit organizations across the greater metropolitan region. The grant will be…
Sprint Accelerator alum and AI firm Centiment to begin KU Med partnership
New York-based artificial intelligence firm Centiment recently announced that the firm has established a research partnership with the University of Kansas School of Medicine. The neuroscience study will focus on two areas of the brain — the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex — and will scan the brains of people while they consume content, looking for…
Report: Missouri is a top 10 state to launch a business
A recent study dubbed Missouri as one of the top 10 states to start a business. The report was assembled by personal finance website WalletHub and aimed to determine which region held the most fertile grounds for launching an enterprise. Evaluating all 50 states’ business environments, access to resources and business costs, the report ranked…
The clock is ticking: LaunchKC grants’ deadline is Friday
Startups in Kansas City and beyond have about 48 hours to apply for LaunchKC grants. The contest — which will allocate $500,000 via nine grants to startups from around the nation — will accept applications until 11:59 p.m., July 7. LaunchKC will dish out eight $50,000 grants and one $100,000 grand prize. The final round…
Events Preview: First Wednesdays, diversity and inclusion
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. Are you hosting a relevant community event? Feel free to add it to the FWD/KC calendar for increased exposure. Once your event…
KCultivator Q&A: Arts champion and fiery uke player Erin McGrane talks Victor & Penny, prejudices, spreadsheets
Editor’s note: KCultivators is a new, lighthearted profile series we’re kicking off to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Check out our features on SEED Law’s Adrienne Haynes, Code Koalas’ Robert Manigold, Prep-KC CEO Susan Wally and community builder Donald Carter. You’re most likely familiar with Erin McGrane when a ukulele accompanies…
ESHIP Summit recap: Largest-ever meeting of ecosystem builders convenes to forge new economic model
At times regarded as a buzzword whose definition is as variable as a startup’s valuation, the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems received stalwart validation last week when the largest gathering of leaders cultivating such communities met in Kansas City. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s ESHIP Summit culled more than 400 entrepreneurial ecosystem builders from around the…
Digital Sandbox selects five new KC startups for its grant program
Kansas City’s top proof-of-concept incubator program announced Thursday it selected five new startups for its newest cohort. Launched in 2013, Digital Sandbox has worked with more than 400 entrepreneurs and startups to date. Led by Jeff Shackelford, the program offers up to $25,000 in grants to startups with a focus of bringing a product from…
Meet five creators and innovators from the Maker Faire KC
In its sixth year, Maker Faire Kansas City welcomed thousands of attendees of all ages from across the nation to Union Station on June 24 and 25. The event featured over 350 makers and garnered sponsorship from local firms such as the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Missouri S&T, JE Dunn, Cerner, KCPT, the Neighborhood Tourist…
Forbes report: Kansas City is a top 5 metro for high-wage jobs
Kansas City is atop yet another national list touting its economic vibrancy. Forbes recently released a report analyzing U.S. cities that create the most high-wage jobs, and Kansas City earned the No. 2 spot. The magazine said the City of Fountains’ low taxes and pro-business regulatory environment helped launch it into the top five cities…
Kansas City legal startup returns with WeWork award, $18K
A co-founder of Kansas City-based Venture Legal is departing from Austin, Texas, on Wednesday with a little more coin in his pocket. Chris Brown traveled to Austin to pitch his company Venture Legal as a finalist for WeWork’s Creator Awards’ South Regional on Tuesday and delivered the winning video pitch in the “Incubate” category. Beating…
Revamped Sprint Accelerator graduates its first cohort of agriculture, digital tech startups
Now in its fourth year, the Sprint Accelerator on Tuesday held a demo day showcasing the seven companies in its 2017 cohort that recently graduated its program. The cohort represents the first graduating class for the corporate partnership-based accelerator program since it parted ways with Techstars, with which it conducted three years of programming. Thanks…
