Latest Stories
RideKC builds Uber-like app for Kansas Citians with disabilities
For Kansas City residents with disabilities, it’s difficult to rely on bus schedules to get from place to place — even with paratransit options. Starting May 1, Kansas City residents with disabilities will have access to an on-demand option. The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority recently developed the ride-hailing app RideKC Freedom On-Demand, which will start…
Mobility Designed raises nearly $900K from iiM, local investors
The seed round for Kansas City-based Mobility Designed is approaching seven figures following the support of a local investment firm. Overland Park-based Innovation in Motion (iiM) recently joined the medical device startup’s round, which is approaching $900,000 and comprised mostly of individual investors. Led by CEO Liliana Younger, Mobility Designed created the M+D Crutch, a…
KC Smart City wins ‘Oscar of Innovation,’ a gold Edison Award
Validating a bold technology plan by a variety of public and private organizations, Kansas City’s Smart City initiative recently won a prestigious Edison Award for innovation. The City of Kansas City, Mo., Sprint, Cisco, Think Big Partners and other organizations won a gold award in the category of connected collaboration from the Edison Awards in…
PayIt lands partnership with the Sunflower State
Financial tech startup PayIt announced Monday that it will work with the Sunflower State as its innovation partner. The Kansas City-based firm will work with Kansas’ Office of Information Technology Services, offering its web and mobile app that streamlines financial interactions between citizens and government agencies. PayIt CEO John Thomson said he’s excited to partner…
Calling startups: KCMO wants to find new innovation partners
The City of Kansas City, Mo. is once again looking for entrepreneurs to help develop new innovations to improve the quality and efficiency of city services. The city is now accepting applications for its Innovation Partnership Program, which is now in its third year of working with entrepreneurs from around the world. The program offers…
Kauffman Foundation allocates up to $7M for inclusive entrepreneurship effort
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has launched a grant program that hopes to fuel business growth among underrepresented entrepreneurs. As part of the Zero Barriers movement, the Kauffman Foundation is accepting RFPs for Inclusion Open, a grant program that aims to enable champions of underrepresented entrepreneurs to expand their services to topple barriers. “We know…
Events Preview: Transportation in KC, WordPress conference
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…
Photo gallery: KC’s biggest coworking studio Plexpod Westport Commons
Launched in 2015, Plexpod Westport Commons recently opened its doors after completing phase one of the project to revamp a middle school to become a coworking campus. Read more about the project, or take a video walking tour here.
KCultivator Q&A: Ex-detective Donald Carter talks duck brains, Kendrick Lamar, MLK Jr.
Editor’s note: KCultivators is a new, lighthearted profile series we’re kicking off to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. If you have suggestions on people or have feedback, let us know what you think! For Donald Carter, kindness is serious business. After a decade-long detective career with the Kansas City Police…
DivvyHQ founders named finalists for prestigious EY Award
The two men leading the fast-growing tech startup DivvyHQ have been named finalists for the Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 Award in the Central Midwest. DivvyHQ co-founders Brody Dorland and Brock Stechman both were named finalists for the award on Thursday, lending credence to the duo’s tech. DivvyHQ created a planning and collaboration platform…
