LaunchKC

Mike Hurd with 2018 LaunchKC winners Boddle

LaunchKC earns honors of its own, must still keep hustling, KC eco devo leader says

Receiving the Bronze Excellence in Economic Development Award proves the real market value for programs like LaunchKC, said Drew Solomon. The win has been energizing, said Solomon, senior vice president of business and job development at the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, which partners with the Downtown Council of Kansas City to make the program…

2018 LaunchKC winners

Meet the 2018 LaunchKC winners: $500,000 in grants awarded at Techweek finale

LaunchKC, the hotly anticipated annual pitch contest, capped Techweek Kansas City Friday by awarding a half-million dollars in non-dilutive grant funds to nine winning startups from among 20 finalists. An Atlanta company earned the day’s top prize. The finalist competitors — who beat out more than 586 applicants for a spot on this year’s stage —…

Mark Davis, RealQuantum

Real estate tech firm RealQuantum moving from bootcamp to LaunchKC stage

Lacking the sex appeal of tech and other high-growth, super-charged industries, the world of commercial real estate is ripe for change, said Jeff Weiner. LaunchKC competitor RealQuantum is ready to modernize that landscape, he said. “Serving a critical need that doesn’t really get a lot of attention is a really smart place to be and…

kickoff party

Techweek KC taps into thirst for community at Boulevard kickoff party (Photos)

Revelers networking Monday night at a kickoff party for Techweek Kansas City were so lost in conversation that they frequently had to be reminded of the open bar available to them at Boulevard Beer Hall. The evening event capped the first day of Techweek KC programming, which ran the gamut from a KC Mayoral Tech…

LaunchKC NASA

LaunchKC lands keynote speaker from NASA; Techweek queries two Google developer advocates

Pitch Day for LaunchKC is expected to lift off next month with an opening keynote address from NASA executive Kira Blackwell. Remarks are expected to delve into NASA iTech, a year-long effort to find innovative ideas that address challenges and fill gaps in five critical areas identified by the space agency as having a potential impact…