Latest Stories
LaunchKC, the $500K grant competition, opens applications
The popular LaunchKC grants competition is back for more and is now accepting applications. LaunchKC — which attracted nearly 500 applicants in its inaugural 2015 competition — dishes out 10, $50,000 non-dilutive grants to tech entrepreneurs from around the globe. “We are searching for the best and brightest startups or early stage technology businesses to apply…
Police offer behind-the-scenes insight on Royals’ World Series parade
It’s November 3, and the Kansas City Royals have just won the World Series after a surprisingly short five games. The last time the Royals brought home a trophy that size was 1985. Fans are ready to party — a crazy, once-every-30-years kind of party. How does a police department ensure the safety of an…
Video: Witness a high-tech response to mock active shooter situation
Kansas City Police on Thursday hosted a live demonstration of a high-tech, drone-enabled response to a mock active shooter situation in Kansas City. The event, which was part of the inaugural Smart City Tech Summit, featured such public safety tools as gunshot detection tech, drones, social media monitoring, data analytics and more. Here’s a video recap of the…
Events Preview: #OneDayKC
There are a boatload of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter or curious Kansas Citian, we’d recommend these upcoming events for you. WEEKLY EVENT PREVIEW #OneDayKC When: April 1 @ 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Where: Kauffman Foundation At #OneDayKC, college and high school students this day…
Kean: From Hong Kong to Kansas City, coffee’s the constant in startup life
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. My story began in 2012 as the startup scene in Kansas City was just blossoming. An ever-expanding group of motivated individuals from diverse backgrounds were launching awesome companies, and tech events were occurring more often and with bigger turnouts. When Matt Berkland…
Five years later: Google Fiber celebrates a Kansas City milestone
Five years ago today, the Kansas City area heard the news that it would receive a transformative, residential gigabit Internet service. Hundreds of cities lobbied to be the first to receive Google Fiber, but ultimately, Kansas City, Kan. won the highly-sought-after service. And the world learned that on March 30, 2011. Five years later, Google…
Mayor Sly James’ vision for Kansas City: Innovation and entrepreneurship
In an address to constituents Tuesday, Kansas City Mayor Sly James broadly painted his vision for Kansas City and outlined what success for the area would look like. And at the cornerstones of his ideas for the next decade? The future of Kansas City hinges upon innovation and entrepreneurship. “With Google Fiber and the smart,…
SparkLabKC nixes spring program, eyes management change
One of Kansas City’s top business accelerators is canceling its spring program amid a series of changes, including a potential management mixup. Founded in 2012, SparkLabKC will not be offering what would’ve been its fourth spring program as it evaluates its future. Through three separate classes, the organization has helped accelerate 30 area startups with…
We have liftoff! LaunchCode to boost Kansas City tech talent
About 3,500 tech firms need to fill 2,300 open positions in the Kansas City area, according to KCnext. Usually, that means businesses, both large and small, spar over the same people, snatching up programming talent wherever possible, including from their local neighbors. It makes for more than just awkward networking events among tech executives —…
Gooding: Narrow your focus to win on an exit
At the time it wasn’t quite so obvious, but now I realize that I was incredibly fortunate to spend the first part of my career in small-market mergers and acquisitions. Turns out it’s an arena where one can acquire an incredible depth and breadth of business knowledge. On an almost daily basis, I was learning…
