Latest Stories
‘Be the Boss’ invites probation, parole clients into entrepreneurial ecosystem
Would-be entrepreneurs who are returning from incarceration shouldn’t feel excluded from Kansas City’s startup ecosystem, Kyle J. Smith said. Be the Boss, a support group launching next month under Smith’s leadership, aims to provide a welcoming environment free from the stigma associated with a criminal history, he said. “When we’re being honest about the elephant…
Wesley Hamilton earns international WeWork award, surprise $18K prize
When he arrived in New York City this week to accept one of four WeWork Community Giver awards, Wesley Hamilton was shaking with pain, he said. “My body was hurting so bad, I knew something great was going to happen,” said Hamilton, a Kansas City adaptive athlete and founder of the nonprofit Disabled But Not…
Fund Me, KC: SlickRinse helps preserve your contact lenses
Editor’s note: Startland News is continuing its segment to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com. Who are you? Brandon Presley, founder of SlickRinse What’s your product? SlickRinse is a new contact lens case that helps you take better…
Amazon narrows finalists for HQ2; Kansas City not on the list
Kansas City apparently isn’t the prime location for Amazon’s HQ2, but area development leaders say the lessons learned from pursuing the online retail giant’s second headquarters not only united the metro, but better prepared it for future bids. “I understand that some Kansas Citians may be disappointed by the Amazon announcement,” Mayor Sly James said…
Pipeline readies fellows, judges, award finalists ahead of Innovators gala
It’s nearly gala time for the Pipeline Entrepreneurial Fellowship and its alumni, as the program prepares to award top honors next week. Eight fellows from the 2017 Pipeline class are set to compete in an Aug. 25 pitch competition, which will culminate with one participant being crowned Innovator of the Year during a sold-out “The…
Truck hailing tech firm Bungii straps down $3M in oversubscribed round
Ben Jackson and his team were so determined to meet their fundraising goal they didn’t notice they crushed it. “One day, we looked up and realized that we were already substantially oversubscribed,” said Jackson, co-founder of Bungii. “We’re super excited and thankful for it. … Our team attacked that goal hard.” Bungii — which created…
2018 Startups to Watch: Mycroft gives voice to corporate outsider tech
Editor’s note: Startland News selected the top Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2018’s companies. To view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch, click here. The in-house, top-tier technology at Mycroft speaks volumes about the competitiveness of the Kansas City company’s open-source…
2018 Startups to Watch: Made in KC hometown goods hub expands
Editor’s note: Startland News selected the top Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2018’s companies. To view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch, click here. Made in KC Cafe wants customers to sip a Kansas City brew, then peruse what local artisans…
2018 Startups to Watch: Cambrian momentum building toward ‘a more important app’
Editor’s note: Startland News selected the top Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2018’s companies. To view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch, click here. Joel Teply and Heather Spalding — the married duo behind Cambrian — might be the only two in…
2018 Startups to Watch: Plexpod finds people are the special sauce for activating spaces
Editor’s note: Startland News selected the top Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2018’s companies. To view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch, click here. A month after Plexpod announced it would grow its footprint to more than 220,000 square feet total…
