Latest Stories

Olathe partnership bears fruit in latest Digital Sandbox cohort

With the buzz of Techweek KC still in the air, Kansas City-based incubator Digital Sandbox reveals the four new startups in their program. Directed by Jeff Shackleford, Digital Sandbox invests up to $25,000 in area companies and provides proof-of-concept resources. Launching in 2013, the incubator has worked with over 300 entrepreneurs and early stage companies…

Coworking studio the GRID marks grand opening in Overland Park

Already popular in downtown Kansas City, coworking options are now expanding further south into the metro area. Jennifer Stearns, community manager at the relatively-new GRID collaborative workspaces in Overland Park, said that coworking has a bright future in not only Kansas City but also in its suburbs. The facility opened their doors in April, but…

Apple encryption

Juan Campos offers ‘growth-hacking’ tips for small businesses’ Instagram

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Two years ago, my business hit a plateau in social media audience growth. I didn’t know how to grow my exposure and was spending thousands of dollars each year on social media managers. The thesis was solid: social media growth would bring more…

Reporting from Ireland: A pint with Pipeline fellow Jeff Rohr

Belfast, Northern Ireland — Keen to tap Irish hospitality and a culture of innovation, members of the Pipeline entrepreneurial fellowship program have incurred no shortage of either in Northern Ireland’s capital city. After a morning of “speed dating” with Irish entrepreneurs, 13 fellows in Pipeline’s 2016 fellowship class joined alumni at Brewbot to continue fostering…

‘5 things on my desk’ with ShotTracker co-founder Davyeon Ross

Startland News and the Kansas City Star have partnered to publish content as part of the Star’s new special section, “Spirit.” This story was originally published in the Star’s Sept. 18 Sunday edition. Kansas City doesn’t need an NBA team for it to stand out in the world of basketball. Working with partners like Golden…

WillCo Technologies hiring 90 people after snagging energy-saving patent

The average american household wastes up to 61 percent of its energy input. Kevin Williams, CEO of WillCo Technologies, said that this is because of the way electrical grids are designed. Although the average consumer requires significantly less power during school and work hours, the grid keeps energy limits consistently high in order to sustain through…

Startland goes to Ireland with the Pipeline fellowship

This week, Startland News is traveling to Ireland with the Pipeline entrepreneurial fellowship program. Startland News editor-in-chief Bobby Burch is with the group as it hosts its finance module — in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Dublin, Ireland — and celebrates its 10-year anniversary. Check out the video below for more information on the trip!

Meet Techweek Kansas City’s 2016 LaunchKC winners

After a morning evaluating 20 pitches at Union Station, a panel of LaunchKC judges revealed the 10 startups that each snagged a $50,000 grant. LaunchKC — which distributes $500,000 via 10, $50,000 non-dilutive grants — drew more than 400 tech startup applicants for the second year in a row. The 20 finalists included 11 from…

KCUR and Startland chat Techweek, Kansas City entrepreneurship

Startland News editor-in-chief Bobby Burch hopped on KCUR’s Central Standard to discuss Techweek Kansas City and challenges facing area startups. Listen to the conversation below. Special thanks to KCUR for sharing its content!

Photo gallery: Techweek’s LaunchKC Top 100 Expo

Hundreds of Techweek Kansas City attendees converged on Union Station Thursday afternoon to explore dozens of startups part of the LaunchKC grants contest. Now in its second year,  the popular grants competition LaunchKC was again met with an enthusiastic response by applicants in 2016, drawing more than 400 applicants. The competition — which will distribute $500,000 via 10, $50,000 non-dilutive…