Startland News Staff
Sometimes we share credit. The “Staff Writer” byline appears on stories reported, written, or edited collaboratively by members of the Startland News team — especially for quick hits and breaking news.
Recent Stories by Startland News Staff
Mayor announces 500 paid summer internships for at-risk KC youth; employers urged to signup
An effort backed by Kansas City’s mayor and a coalition of nonprofit groups hopes to reduce violence impacting KCMO’s at-risk teens by expanding employment opportunities. The “Working for Youth” formula announced Thursday: 500 paid summer internships to grow the city’s capacity to train, coach and employ young people — specifically focusing on 10 percent of…
Pulmonaer Analytics joins Spencer Fane Startup Lab to advance digital asthma solution
A leading Kansas City health tech startup is the latest company to join Spencer Fane’s three-month startup lab aimed at addressing the young venture’s legal needs as it develops a digital platform and app to improve asthma outcomes. “I deal with adult asthma every day of my life,” said Sunti Wathanacharoen, founder of Pulmonaer Analytics….
Zaarly to cease operations Friday ‘after 10 years of grinding’ as a top KC startup
Leaders at a Prairie Village tech startup announced Monday their decade-long mission to fix a broken piece of the economy would come to a close later this week. Zaarly — an online marketplace to hire accountable home service providers — is expected to cease operations Friday, according to a message from Bo Fishback, co-founder and…
Meet the charcuterie board of dairy, agtech startups joining the latest DFA accelerator
A returning, Kansas City-based accelerator program focused on innovative dairy products and emerging agtech will be a living, breathing lab for seven newly selected companies, said Doug Dresslaer. Facial recognition software for cows, nanotechnologies to help treat mastitis and a single-serve, snack-sized cheese bar are among the startups now convening virtually as part of the…
Holograms, nextgen streaming and immersive edtech: Meet T-Mobile’s new accelerator class, the future of 5G
Innovation around 5G technologies continues at the forefront of the T-Mobile Accelerator, as the longtime Kansas City-based program kicks off its three-month 2021 virtual cohort with an international cast of diverse companies. The eight handpicked startups are expected work directly with technologists and business leaders at T-Mobile to build a new wave of 5G tech…
KC proptech startup Simplifyy gets $5M Series A boost toward expansion plans; next up: DFW
A Kansas City startup vying to replace traditional property management is rapidly expanding its services into new markets thanks to a multi-million dollar Series A round, CEO Jake Lisby announced Wednesday. Led by UnitLeader, a San Diego-based venture capital group, the $5 million round comes after Simplifyy co-founders Lisby and Paul Worcester spent nearly three…
Digital Sandbox touts two Black women-led companies with latest round of funding
The selection of Bodify and Interplay for the latest round of Digital Sandbox KC funding doubles down on the proof-of-concept program’s commitment to bring diverse innovative ideas in the Kansas City region to life, said Jill Meyer. “We’re always thrilled to welcome entrepreneurs with smart, scalable ideas to the Sandbox,” said Meyer, senior director of…
Boulevardia cancels 2021 music, maker festival; awaiting full COVID comeback before summer party’s return
One of Kansas City’s premier summertime events — and the first major local festival canceled because of the pandemic in 2020 — won’t be back this June after all, organizers announced Tuesday. “When the decision was made last year to cancel Boulevardia, we said, ‘The comeback is always stronger than the setback.’ This statement has been…
Kauffman Foundation: $1.9T relief plan signed by Biden a ‘significant step,’ but challenges linger beyond bill’s scope
Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial sponsor of Startland News. One of the nation’s premier advocates for entrepreneurs and small businesses on Thursday lauded the passage and signing of a massive COVID relief bill — which it said signals a step toward closing gaps in access to a more prosperous life….
Kauffman Foundation’s new plan for American entrepreneurs demands inclusive growth
Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial sponsor of Startland News. While a stimulus plan being debated by Congress includes funding to stabilize existing business — it’s not enough, the Start Us Up coalition said Tuesday, echoing a call to action by one of the nation’s leading advocates for entrepreneurs. “Congress needs…