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
LEANLAB earns another top-tier funder with $76K+ grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
A hefty new grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will allow LEANLAB Education to expand its incoming 2019 K12 Fellowship from six to 10 innovation teams, Katie Boody said. The $76,500 in funding also allows the education accelerator to grow beyond pilot sites to form the Visionary School Network and award honorariums to…
KC’s Zego acquired by San Diego firm; CEO’s smart home tech innovation to continue
Two years after leaving the successful energy company he founded for the quick pace of startup life, Adam Blake is again making a big exit. His smart home technology firm, Zego, has been acquired by a San Diego-based leader in the property management industry, the startup announced Tuesday. Terms of the deal with PayLease were…
Fund Me, KC: ‘Scarlet Knight’ returns to inner city streets with a moral dilemma about abuse of power
Startland News is continuing its segment to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs — like Juaquan Allen with his Scarlet Knight campaign — to share their crowdfunding stories to gain a little help from their supporters. Who are you? My name is Juaquan “Jay” Allen. I’m a…
Blade & Timber opening new axe-throwing experience at Power & Light in late summer
Blade & Timber hopes to stick its cutting-edge axe-throwing concept in the bullseye of Kansas City entertainment, opening a new 11-lane facility in the Power & Light District by the end of the summer. “We are excited to continue growing our brand nationally, while staying true to our roots,” said Ryan Henrich, co-founder of Blade…
Super Dispatch hires experienced startup driver as COO to navigate its global growth map for 2019 and beyond
From the fifth employee at Webmail.us to No. 50 for KC-based Super Dispatch, a startup leader with a long track record of building innovative operations has joined the executive team alongside founder and CEO Bek Abdullayev. “Super Dispatch is taking off,” said Ben Hubbard, the company’s new chief operating officer. “They have things figured out…
H&R Block co-founder, legend of KC entrepreneurism Henry Bloch dies at 96
Henry Bloch’s contributions to Kansas City will last generations, business leaders said Tuesday, as word spread of the H&R Block co-founder’s death. “Henry Bloch was an absolute champion of Kansas City in everything he did,” said Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. “From business endeavors involving H&R Block,…
Most-funded tech startups: $100M-plus investment puts PayIt on the map with C2FO
Companies in the Midwest and South are making major plays for investment dollars, according to CB Insights, with Kansas City’s PayIt and C2FO earning spots on the latest map of the nation’s most well-funded tech startups. “The tech boom has diffused beyond the traditional hotbeds of California, New York, and Massachusetts, across the entire United…
Prime Digital Academy pledges $20K in scholarships to boost inclusion in KC tech
A coding boot camp that freshly arrived in Kansas City this winter plans to underwrite $20,000 in scholarships specifically for individuals who are part of demographics underrepresented in the coding profession, said Rachael Bromander. “At a time in the market where tech talent is scarce and growth is booming, programs like Prime represent a way…
First couple of KC Dapper Rap launching first-of-its-kind coworking space for city’s urban core
A new self-style space in Midtown is expected to offer hair, beauty and wellness entrepreneurs an opportunity to cowork under one roof without the burden of securing financing or paying for utilities, said Lauren Euston. “If you are a busy stylist or busy wellness professional and you are working hard to reach the next level…
BacklotCars parks another $25 million in Series B round led by NY-based investor
KC-fueled BacklotCars will further its mission to disrupt the wholesale automotive space, thanks to the close of a $25 million Series B funding round, the company announced Monday. Led by New York-based growth equity firm, Stripes, the round brings BacklotCars — which seeks to ease pain points for automotive wholesalers — to $38 million in…