Latest Stories
Faith and Freedom Hoops: Startup founder bringing Big 12 alternative to Hy-Vee Arena
As bright LED lights flickered on Mitch Case, he looked up at the empty seats in a quiet Hy-Vee arena. “We have reached out to over 60 kids this year,” Case, a sales engineer at Midwest Machinery and co-founder of Mommy Meals, said of preparations for the KC Hoops Shootout — a first run fundraiser…
Open letter to KCMO: Entrepreneur community makes 0.1 percent budget ask ‘for backbone of our economy’
Editor’s note: The following open letter was produced independently of Startland News by a coalition of small business and entrepreneur support leaders and signed by more than 210 members of Kansas City’s startup and business community. The opinions expressed in this commentary are the authors’ alone. The signatories are provided courtesy of the authors. Mayor Quinton…
Already managing $25M in user debt, KC fintech startup Destiny banks on New York accelerator
Newly launched accelerator programming could help Kansas City-based Destiny Wealth secure customers and funding as the startup makes key pivots. “This accelerator gives us a brand new network,” said Parker Graham, Destiny co-founder and CEO. Part of the newly launched fintech track of the Nex Cubed Accelerator, Graham and Destiny will spend 16 weeks immersed…
Fearing coronavirus? Don’t count out flu season — especially in these 10 ‘sickest’ cities
Expecting a respite from flu-like symptoms and respiratory illness as warm weather approaches? Don’t let your guard down just yet, Kansas City-based Sickweather said Thursday, issuing a “troubling” forecast for cities across the U.S. “Sickweather’s prediction for a prolonged season of flu-like illness is historic because it represents a stark contrast to the notion that…
KC ‘community crusader’ Thalia Cherry joins Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on EBONY Power 100 list
Editor’s note: Thalia Cherry is a board member of STARTLAND, the ecosystem building organization that operates Startland News. This story was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. A Kansas City entrepreneur widely known for sports apparel lines honoring the history of the Chiefs and Monarchs is earning acclaim in her own right. Thalia Cherry…
KC startup helps Nashville tornado survivors escape into VR ‘mental health armor’
Locally built virtual reality tools are helping victims cope after a suspected EF4 tornado devastated part of Nashville early Tuesday morning. “We grabbed headsets and we went to the shelters to see if individuals wanted to escape and relax,” Sarah Hill, founder of Healium, explained of the startup’s reaction to the storm that killed more…
AI, robotics innovator Tesseract Ventures secures $2M investment from UMB Capital
One of Kansas City’s leading startups is making good on a teaser that it’s collaborating with local “titans of industry” to defy the boundaries of space and time through next-generation technologies. Tesseract Ventures — which uses robots, smart spaces, wearables and connected platforms in its mission to make industries smarter, better connected and more efficient…
Whiteboard2Boardroom connections advance innovation for startups like Aware Vehicles
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Sarah Mote is marketing director for UMKC Innovation Center and KCSourceLink. The right introduction, at the right time, can make a world of difference. Tech entrepreneur P.J. Piper came to Kansas City six years ago to scale another venture. What he had: entrepreneurial…
Startup to Watch exit: KC’s Signal Kit found momentum — and a buyer — on West Coast
An edtech firm with deep roots in Kansas City’s startup community is being integrated into its new West Coast owner’s school communications platform, the companies announced Monday. Signal Kit — one of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2019 — was acquired by Santa Barbara, Calif.-based ParentSquare in an undisclosed cash and equity…
Regnier student venture contest widens to high schools, eyeing next generation of innovators
A broader reach is expected to drive the Regnier Venture Creation Challenge in 2020, as the University of Missouri-Kansas City expands the impact-driven contest beyond multiple state lines. “We hope to see even more regional representation in the competition than we’ve had in past years — which has already been pretty regional,” Bryan Boots, managing director…
