Discover the stories shaping the future of Kansas City.
From emerging startups to the people making headlines, catch up on the latest in entrepreneurship and innovation across Greater Kansas City.
Homeowners need a handbook for maintenance, founders say; their app puts to-do’s in the past
Tanuj and Rupal Gupta are taking what they know about preventative care from their medical backgrounds and applying it to homeownership, the husband-and-wife duo shared.
Speed pitch event accelerates founder funding IQ; venture capital isn’t always the right move, investors say
During the event, more than a dozen entrepreneurs rotated through small pods of investors for eight-minute conversations: one minute for the founder to lay out the company and opportunity and seven minutes for investor questions, feedback, and discussion.
How are founders building faster with less? MidxMidwest match-making earns credit alongside AI
When Scott Coons scaled his company into a $650 million global business with more than 3,000 employees worldwide, the Perceptive Software founder felt like he had to do it alone, Coons told a crowd Thursday at MidxMidwest.
Rock Island Bridge adding OneKC Roof branding as eco devo leaders celebrate 50 years of wins
A high-profile addition to one of Kansas City’s most popular new destinations is more than a marker of KCADC’s half-century anniversary, David Campbell said; the OneKC branding atop Rock Island Bridge showcases shared identity, economic strength and regional partnerships.
Rebecca Gubbels promoted to top ECJC exec role after years shaping efforts to boost entrepreneurs
A longtime entrepreneurship and banking advisor is advancing to the top leadership position at the Enterprise Center in Johnson County, succeeding Jeff Shackelford, who will retire as president and CEO by the end of the year.
Full Scale built growth, loyalty around cheaper overseas tech talent; Go inside its offshoring experiment
Full Scale developers earn unusually high incomes relative to the Philippine economy, founder Matt Watson said, creating opportunities that would otherwise be difficult for many workers there to access. That’s a convenient trade for an American CEO whose business benefits from the gap between overseas and US employees.
French company bringing 100 jobs to KC for sustainable autotech facility in Riverside
A new Kansas City-area operation is expected to grow OPmobility’s North American manufacturing footprint while strengthening its ability to serve customers across the Midwest and broader U.S. market, regional and company leaders said Tuesday.
Weight of the world (cup): Global visitors, weekday wanderers stress test Rock Island Bridge’s summer outing
“We built it believing that people would find it delightful to be hanging out over a historic railroad bridge with food and drink and live music and all the creature comforts, but you never really know until you know,” Rock Island Bridge’s founder and CEO said.
Digital Sandbox partners with trio of KC resource hubs to boost startups beyond funding
The next round of tech entrepreneurs to earn proof-of-concept support from Digital Sandbox KC also will receive access to startup resources at KC Digital Drive, Keystone CoLAB, and Enterprise Center in Johnson County, said Jeff Zhao.
KC BioHub earns $38M+ to position KC as ‘next great biotech ecosystem’ amid global biomanufacturing race
Kansas City is poised to unlock $150 million in federal investment thanks to a winning bid led by the region’s Tech Hub to accelerate biomanufacturing innovation, workforce development, and industry growth across the region.
Feast for five senses: DJ-curated ‘fast fine’ Italian spot set to be first tenant for $35M Plaza development
A crowd-pleasing modern Italian restaurant — which takes customers from happy hour to high-energy dinner to live DJ-curated late nights — is coming to the Country Club Plaza.
Sisterhood of entrepreneurs: World Cup small biz effort forged unexpected bonds between founders
Business owners backed by the City of Entrepreneurs initiative are getting more than they bargained for, said Jackie Nguyen, describing the scene during the FIFA World Cup when she looked around Union Station and found herself surrounded by a freshly connected sisterhood — a family — of entrepreneurs.
Kansas City business owner wins Verizon’s live pitch competition timed to World Cup
Liz Benditt scored the final goal Friday, securing victory in a national pitch competition that began with more than 500 contenders before narrowing to a live, Shark Tank-style round at New York New Jersey Stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup final.