Latest Stories
Two startup support programs helped Lelex Prime score Fountain Innovation Fund’s first investment
An interconnected, resource-rich startup ecosystem is paying off for Lelex Prime — contributing to the fast-growing artificial intelligence company’s development and boosting its chances to win the Fountain Innovation Fund’s first cash infusion, said Brendan Reilly. “The Digital Sandbox helped us land this investment,” said Reilly, co-founder and principal at Lelex Prime, which joined the…
Before signing the lease: Examine your startup’s culture, protect against surprises
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Ryan Biery, SIOR, is senior vice president of brokerage at Copaken Brooks, a commercial real estate agency in Kansas City. That moment when they hand you the keys. That’s a good moment for your startup or small business. It’s a sense of excitement,…
UMKC celebrates Maria Meyers for driving social entrepreneurship, ecosystem building in KC
Kansas City’s most tenacious advocate, Maria Meyers has built far more than a legacy for herself, proclaimed Mary Bloch. “I first met Maria Meyers in the mid-90s when we were both involved in the renovation of Union Station,” Bloch, civic leader and daughter-in-law of H&R Bloch founder Henry W. Bloch, said as she recognized Meyers,…
Entrepreneur of the Year: Michael Rea says building a startup takes a ‘strong stomach’
The road to startup success isn’t a clear path for anyone, acknowledged Michael Rea, and it takes a founder’s persistence to reach his or her desired destination. “Many people set out on an entrepreneurial journey, but few complete it,” Rea, founder and CEO of Rx Savings Solutions, told a crowd gathered Friday night for the…
Launch Health check-up: Spoke Health aims to give consumers value-based choices in care
Editor’s note: The following is part of a series of stories on the six cohort companies of the Launch Health Accelerator, powered by Nueterra Capital and sponsored by LaunchKC. Click here to read all the stories published in this series. Medical experiences are taxing — Spoke Health aims to cut the stress and give patients…
Launch Health check-up: Healium by StoryUp leverages new connections to stress its healing power
Editor’s note: The following is part of a series of stories on the six cohort companies of the Launch Health Accelerator, powered by Nueterra Capital and sponsored by LaunchKC. Click here to read all the stories published in this series. More than a million dollars in funding and a relationship with the founder of Tinder…
Saturday MRKT invites creatives, makers to vibe in a space with vintage grocery store feel
A crossroads for creative collisions is planned this weekend amid a celebration of street/pop culture, said Justin Ikerionwu. “[We want to] bring together the different members of the creative and entrepreneur community and through … conversations and overall just a great vibe, they can interact and form future collaborations,” said Ikerionwu, organizer of the Nov….
Launch Health check-up: Sickweather uses accelerator to diagnose its startup progress
Editor’s note: The following is part of a series of stories on the six cohort companies of the Launch Health Accelerator, powered by Nueterra Capital and sponsored by LaunchKC. Click here to read all the stories published in this series. Just because your company’s been around the block doesn’t mean you’re done learning, said Laurel…
Launch Health check-up: WellBrain uses cohort to reduce its own pain points in fight against opioid epidemic
Editor’s note: The following is part of a series of stories on the six cohort companies of the Launch Health Accelerator, powered by Nueterra Capital and sponsored by LaunchKC. Click here to read all the stories published in this series. Launch KC offers hands-on programs, designed with intention, Sumeet Maniar said. “I’ve done startups before and…
Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club revives now-closed beachy haunts, celebrates era of the side hustle
Tiki Bar culture is a quirky niche for a Kansas City-based side hustle, admitted Bryan Azorsky, but rapidly evolving online tools that eliminate middlemen help make such passions profitable and scalable. “I think the future is really people having more than one job in a way. They may have their main job and then they…
