Latest Stories
ShotTracker raises $10.4M round featuring former NBA Commissioner David Stern
Merriam-based ShotTracker is fueling its global expansion via a large funding round featuring several high-profile investors. The sports tech company announced Wednesday that it raised a $10.4 million Series A financing round led by Ward.Ventures, NBA commissioner David Stern and two-time National League home run champion, Ryan Howard. The round also includes Greycroft, Elysian Ventures,…
KCSourceLink All-Star nominations open for ‘E Day at the K’ 15-year celebration
Who helped your business? Likely a future KCSourceLink All-Star. A celebration recognizing KCSourceLink’s 15 years as a top resource for entrepreneurs also will pay homage to the community builders who’ve made an impact through the organization’s Resource Partner Network. KCSourceLink is now taking nominations for 15 All-Star awards, which honor past and present partners. (Nominees…
KCultivator Q&A: Melissa Roberts talks tough (love), hot milk soup and mansplaining
Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The KCultivator Series is sponsored by WeWork Corrigan Station, a modern twist on Kansas City office space.Expertise requires experience, said Melissa Roberts. “I’ve had so many diverse roles and I’ve taken something from each of them,” the political…
April Boyd-Noronha: VR Rocks in KC youth competition at Bloch Venture Hub
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. High school-aged virtual reality enthusiasts from across Kansas City recently gathered for a VRoKCs hackathon at Bloch Venture Hub. I was invited to judge the teams, which each delved into VR — an emerging trend in STEM that essentially allows a user to…
Fund Me, KC: Wag-N-Bag converts game hauler into ready-to-play tailgating entertainment
Editor’s note: Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” feature to highlight area entrepreneurial efforts to accelerate businesses or projects. If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com. Today’s featured campaign is from Wag-N-Bag, a product created by brothers Brad and Tyler Hull. Your name and…
First look: Creative Studios concept expands Made in KC’s view of brands as partners
Warm sunlight bathes a future ceramics shop. A vintage Thomas Cusack Co. mural advertisement peeks from behind the plaster wall of an in-the-works photography space. Views from the second and third floors reveal a city skyline in creative transition. Amid the freshly hung drywall and still-curing, stained hardwood staircases, Tyler Enders steps quickly between rooms…
Teenage inventor creates retro game console that fits in your palm
For teenage entrepreneur Ernest Pereira, gaming is going small. The 18-year-old innovator is releasing a limited run of his retro game console, the Duinodrive, before shipping off to the Naval Academy in the summer. The Duinodrive — which can fit in the palm of your hand — comes in a kit that users assemble themselves…
Beth Ellyn McClendon: If you want investors, skip LLCs and form a C-Corp
Editor’s note: Beth Ellyn McClendon is a seed-stage investor with board and advisory board experience. She previously worked in design and product management for Google Mapping, Android, YouTube, Cisco and Netscape. The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. So, you’re planning a startup, you’ve got a good lawyer and now you’re thinking…
Popular TEDxKC won’t return in 2018; organizers to focus on women, youth events
TEDxKC — one of the largest and most-popular independently-organized TEDx events in the world — won’t be back for 2018. While TEDxYouth@KC and TEDxKCWomen are expected to return in 2018, hitting pause on TEDxKC’s “general ideas” event will allow organizers to reflect on accomplishments, missteps and milestones, said Mike Lundgren, co-founder of TEDxKC. “We asked two…
Fitbit integrating Sickweather illness forecasting into new wearables
Sickweather is stepping into the wearables market. A new partnership with industry leader Fitbit is expected to see the Kansas City-based startup’s illness forecasting technology integrated into Fitbit’s new products. “Smartwatches provide a powerful platform to deliver important health tools that help our users manage conditions more conveniently than ever before,” said James Park, co-founder…
