Latest Stories

Iconic KC Heart pivots to #StayHomeKC campaign after KCADC’s winning Super Bowl run

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. It’s a sign that transcends the times, said Chase McAnulty,…

Firsthand from a founder: Applying for a SBA disaster loan? Come prepared with startup financials

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Serial entrepreneur Bo Lais is the founder of Lula, co-founder of the KC Collective founder network, and a current fellow in Pipeline Entrepreneurs. This op-ed is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community,…

Kansas City, March 2020

Rallying relief: Millions in local stimulus dollars planned through public-private, civic efforts from Topeka to KC

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. The impacts of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on startups, small businesses and…

Innovation lab pivots to CollegeMatch tool after teens prompt developers to ditch, do-over concept

Editor’s note: Anita Newton is a board member of STARTLAND, the ecosystem building organization that operates Startland News. This story was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. Hiring a teen advisory board to assist the development of CommunityAmerica Credit Union’s new CollegeMatch tool proved helpful — though the team had to scrap everything to…

Transportant tech turns school buses into mobile WiFi hotspots, sack lunch delivery amid COVID-19 shutdowns

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Educators are getting real as design thinking strategies become the…

White House expected to endorse Kansas City-built COVID-19 exposure tracking app

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. The White House is expected to announce its support for…

Megan Darnell and Zach Anderson Pettet, Fountain City Fintech 2019 demo day, nbkc bank

nbkc discontinues Fountain City Fintech as accelerator leader leaves for San Fran startup

A trendsetter in the fintech space, nbkc bank confirmed Wednesday it was discontinuing its popular Fountain City Fintech accelerator after two cohorts. The news follows the departure of the accelerator’s leader, who has joined a San Francisco startup eying Kansas City for its next hiring hub. “This is the first time in my life that…

Swap selfie for selfless: ‘afloat’ app allows users to send, receive care in times of need

Community-centered social platforms have the power to encourage connection and leave users with good feelings, said Sarah-Allen Preston. But most social media falls short. “That [current] connection that we have so much of at our fingertips … it feels inauthentic and it makes us frazzled and it’s inhibiting our ability to actually connect with people….

Johnny Wolff, Homeroom

$200K funding infusion helps Homeroom expand its ‘coliving’ footprint across KC, beyond

Flexing a finalized $200,000 funding round, Prairie Village-based coliving startup Homeroom is poised to dominate the Midwestern half of an emerging industry, said Johnny Wolff. “I think in 2016 [coliving] was a little niche maybe, but it feels like the market is really emerging and establishing itself — it’s a really interesting space to be…

Daupler

Demand for Daupler spikes amid COVID-19 as more GovTech customers work from home

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. While fears over the economic impact Coronavirus (COVID-19) could have…