Latest Stories
ESHIP Summit recap: Largest-ever meeting of ecosystem builders convenes to forge new economic model
At times regarded as a buzzword whose definition is as variable as a startup’s valuation, the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems received stalwart validation last week when the largest gathering of leaders cultivating such communities met in Kansas City. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s ESHIP Summit culled more than 400 entrepreneurial ecosystem builders from around the…
Digital Sandbox selects five new KC startups for its grant program
Kansas City’s top proof-of-concept incubator program announced Thursday it selected five new startups for its newest cohort. Launched in 2013, Digital Sandbox has worked with more than 400 entrepreneurs and startups to date. Led by Jeff Shackelford, the program offers up to $25,000 in grants to startups with a focus of bringing a product from…
Meet five creators and innovators from the Maker Faire KC
In its sixth year, Maker Faire Kansas City welcomed thousands of attendees of all ages from across the nation to Union Station on June 24 and 25. The event featured over 350 makers and garnered sponsorship from local firms such as the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Missouri S&T, JE Dunn, Cerner, KCPT, the Neighborhood Tourist…
Forbes report: Kansas City is a top 5 metro for high-wage jobs
Kansas City is atop yet another national list touting its economic vibrancy. Forbes recently released a report analyzing U.S. cities that create the most high-wage jobs, and Kansas City earned the No. 2 spot. The magazine said the City of Fountains’ low taxes and pro-business regulatory environment helped launch it into the top five cities…
Kansas City legal startup returns with WeWork award, $18K
A co-founder of Kansas City-based Venture Legal is departing from Austin, Texas, on Wednesday with a little more coin in his pocket. Chris Brown traveled to Austin to pitch his company Venture Legal as a finalist for WeWork’s Creator Awards’ South Regional on Tuesday and delivered the winning video pitch in the “Incubate” category. Beating…
Revamped Sprint Accelerator graduates its first cohort of agriculture, digital tech startups
Now in its fourth year, the Sprint Accelerator on Tuesday held a demo day showcasing the seven companies in its 2017 cohort that recently graduated its program. The cohort represents the first graduating class for the corporate partnership-based accelerator program since it parted ways with Techstars, with which it conducted three years of programming. Thanks…
Steve Case to KC entrepreneurs, investors: You can’t sit back now
To nudge more Kansas Citians off of the sidelines and into its budding entrepreneurial ecosystem, former AOL founder Steve Case spoke Friday to a group of local investors at a luncheon. KCRise Fund managing director Darcy Howe hosted a fireside chat with Case for a crowd of investors, potential investors and entrepreneurs. Case told the…
Ginsburg: Fundamental — but routinely botched — elements of a winning pitch
Editor’s note: A five-year mentor at UMKC’s Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Byron Ginsburg has heard and counseled many entrepreneurial pitches as an attendee and a judge. His current UMKC mentees, Emily Moon and Kelsey Carlstedt of By Grace Design, won first place and $20,000 in the 2017 Regnier Venture Creation Challenge. While…
Events Preview: Sprint Accelerator Demo Day, TechHire KC
There are a plethora of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter, or curious community member — we recommend these upcoming events for you. Are you hosting a relevant community event? Feel free to add it to the FWD/KC calendar for increased exposure. Once your event…
Sustainable River Market development project booking tenants with virtual reality tours
Jonathan Arnold believes that choosing quality over quantity doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, he said it makes great business sense. Arnold, principal at Arnold Development Group, is working to transform modern real estate development with a more sustainable future. “At its heart, sustainable development means doing more with less,” Arnold said….
