Back2KC

Lauren Conaway, InnovateHER KC

InnovateHER KC founder leaving KCSF as womxn’s community-building startup scales

It’s time to set InnovateHER KC on the path to long-term growth, said Lauren Conaway, announcing her plans to leave the Kansas City Startup Foundation in early July to lead the womxn-focused startup full-time. “InnovateHER KC’s No. 1 priority right now is building out our community with intention,” said Conaway, founder of InnovateHER KC and…

Back2KC Kansas City Startup Foundation

New home for Back2KC: Kansas City Startup Foundation expands talent pipeline efforts

It’s the Kansas City Startup Foundation’s turn to drive the tour bus, said Darcy Howe, announcing Monday the transfer of the Back2KC talent pipeline initiative to KCSF, the nonprofit ecosystem-building organization that also powers Startland News. The move means KCSF will take ownership of the program for its Oct. 3-4 return, adding a full-time team…

Back2KC

Tech hub arriving: Back2KC effort drives praise from former Kansas Citian now at Uber

Kansas City expatriate Jack Spangler was pleasantly surprised by his hometown’s increased level of innovation, investment and momentum, the Uber thought leader said, reflecting on a recent return trip with the inaugural Back2KC class. “That type of activity definitely wasn’t going on when I was in Kansas and right out of school,” said Spangler, now…

Startup Crawl 2018

First Friday takeover: Startup Crawl draws 600-plus, showcasing KC, risk-takers, creatives (Photos)

Editor’s note: Startup Crawl and Startland News are both programs of the Kansas City Startup Foundation, though the content below was produced independently by Startland. For more information on the relationship, click here. First Friday revelers and curious minds alike were treated to a five-stop Startup Crawl tour of Kansas City’s entrepreneur community — from…

Back2KC

Back2KC effort attempts to bring Kansas City expatriates home to an emerging innovation hub

A first-of-its-kind event is drawing successful Kansas Citians who’ve left the region “Back2KC” Thursday and Friday for a hands-on glimpse at the city’s evolving innovation economy, Darcy Howe said. As managing director of the KCRise Fund — a co-investment fund that works with venture capital investors to support early-stage Kansas City companies — Howe saw…