Digital Sandbox KC

LaunchKC winner shows value with $900K pre-seed round, earns critical local support

Kansas City’s DataAppraisal has secured $900,000 in pre-seed funding for its AI-powered proprietary software that helps healthcare organizations unlock the monetary value of their enterprise data, said Tam Tran. And the tech startup’s recent developments come after a year of earning local resources and support, its co-founder and CEO said. DataAppraisal’s unique solution contains two…

Just funded: Four new Digital Sandbox KC companies scaling products beyond survival mode

Freshly announced funding from Digital Sandbox KC is expected to help four Kansas City startups scale their innovations to market with additional access to investors, resources and a growing network of fellow entrepreneurs. Among the first-quarter Sandbox recipients, Basehor-based Mpruv Sports plans to use the new backing as it releases a series of peer-to-peer, on-demand,…

AI-generated bedtime stories are just the first chapter in JQ Sirls epic venture to make the publishing industry more inclusive

Every great children’s story deserves the opportunity to be published, JQ Sirls said, adding his own footnote that more people are qualified than they think to create them.  “I could put 1,000 people in one room and tell them all to write a short story about their childhood. While many of them may have a…

‘Shark Tank’ sets stage for Bryght Labs’ new smart play product rollout amid MO funding uptick

Fresh off a successful appearance on “Shark Tank,” Olathe-based connected gaming startup Bryght Labs hopes to capitalize on that exposure to build momentum, said founder and CEO Jeff Wigh. Wigh and co-founder Adam Roush were featured on an episode that aired in December, pitching their product ChessUp, a patented chess board that uses AI technology…

Just funded: Digital Sandbox KC ‘fuels innovation’ for five emerging tech startups

Scaling past the proof-of-concept stage is key for young startups, so making them fundable by the time their product is built can mean the difference between success and stagnation, said Jill Meyer, announcing the latest round of companies backed by Digital Sandbox KC. The five startups receiving up to $20,000 each include ventures focused on…