Latest Stories
Events Preview: Tech CEO Speaker Series, Livestreaming strategy
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…
Firebrand Ventures makes 4 investments in Midwest startups
Kansas City-based Firebrand Ventures is kicking off the summer with a series of startup investments. Led by managing director John Fein, Firebrand has signed a quartet of new deals supporting two pairs of tech startups in both Boulder and Austin. “We’re just incredibly excited to invest in these companies,” Fein said. “We think they’re the…
Kauffman Foundation dishes $840K to 8 area accelerators
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is hitting the gas on its support of area accelerator programs. As part of the 2016 KC Accelerator Challenge, the Kauffman Foundation announced Tuesday that it’s awarded a total of $840,000 in grants to eight local venture accelerator programs. “Our goal is to increase entrepreneurial success in Kansas City through…
Efficiency, innovative home construction are cornerstones for Prairie Design Build
David Schleicher was just looking for something to get back on track. In 2012, the president of Prairie Design Build, a house building company located in Kansas City, had watched his then six-year-old business begin to suffer because of the recent recession. Schleicher was desperately seeking a way to keep his head above water, not…
Listen: When the grind gets gloomy, experts discuss mental health challenges and entrepreneurship
About 72 percent of entrepreneurs have self-reported mental health concerns, according to a study done by the University of California San Francisco. More specifically, about 30 percent of entrepreneurs experience depression and about 30 percent experience ADHD, the same study found. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Startland News and Think Big’s May Innovation…
6 tips and tricks to stay sane while scaling fast
Frequently taking on more demands and shirking personal care, entrepreneurs’ work-life balance often skews toward work. Deadlines, finding clients, making payroll and dozens of other stressors can put entrepreneurs at risk of mental illness or compound existing challenges. Furthermore, entrepreneurs are disproportionately affected by such issues as ADHD, bipolar disorder and depression, according to studies…
Video: How to use the lean model canvas for fun and profit
Editor’s note: Continuing our mission to help area entrepreneurs and startups grow, we’re happy to share with you a video from our friends at Kansas City-based tech agency Crema. Learn more about the agency here. Starting a business, or launching a product is really hard. Most people will tell you to first come up with…
Visualize Kansas City’s digital divide with this new Smart City tool
A canyon between those with consistent access to computers and the Internet and those who don’t, the digital divide is often discussed in the abstract. However difficult to conceptualize in a broad scale, the digital divide in Kansas City has real economic, cultural and social implications in our community. That’s why the City of Kansas…
Legal review: Supreme Court’s unanimous patent troll ruling, effects on KC
A recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court is being hailed as a significant blow to so-called patent trolls. Supreme Court justices unanimously ruled on Monday that patent infringement lawsuits may only be brought against defendants in the state in which the company is incorporated. The ruling dings “patent troll” plaintiffs that shop the country…
Focusing on fun, 1Week KC returns with Startup Crawl, yard games
A week long celebration of Kansas City entrepreneurship plans to build community among area innovators and residents with a festive atmosphere focused on fun. Featuring a startup pub crawl, a yard games tournament, educational events and more, 1Week KC is set for June 16 to 23 with events throughout the metro area. Previously presented by…
