RECAP: 1 Million Cups features MotaVera and YouSpin
June 10, 2015 | Abby Tillman
Kansas City’s 1 Million Cups event was on display this week with a full room and a camera crew on hand, recording content for an upcoming website update.
The two featured startups — MotaVera and YouSpin — rose to the challenge of the added pressure, and introduced attendees to their respective startups.
First to present was MotaVera, an online platform that enables college students to connect with small- and medium-sized businesses for internships and job opportunities. Truman State University students recognized a need for the product while looking for internships and jobs themselves.
“I saw this problem,” MotaVera co-founder Nep Orshiso said. “I saw that it was a real problem, and I saw my peers having trouble with [finding jobs]. It was very easy to relate to them.”
The MotaVera team wanted to create a job platform that is different from other available solutions, including the career service center at their school.
“We focus on the small- to medium-sized opportunities,” said Orshiso. “The small opportunities are generally overshadowed.”
MotaVera will be mobilizing student representatives who will target other student groups to promote the platform, and the opportunities listed on it. MotaVera plans to launch their minimum viable product by the end of 2015.
Following MotaVera was YouSpin, an interactive, virtual jukebox system for bars, clubs and restaurants. Founder Adell Hendon created the solution to help engage patrons by allowing them to influence the type of music that is played at a particular venue.
“You can pick songs from your phone,” said Adell. “Everyone gets to vote on the songs they want to hear. … Those most popular will play first, and everyone gets to hear what they want to hear.”
YouSpin is currently offering its beta version, and will be available for $600 per month. It includes a platform for customers to chat with other bar patrons, vote on music, get drink specials and learn about upcoming events.
Featured Business
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Fund Me, KC: Maker of first girls wrestling shoe launches new feat — a pair for the champions
Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses or lend a helping hand to others. This is an opportunity for business owners and innovators — like Kansas City’s Deb North and the newly launched Champion1 girls wrestling shoe — to share their crowdfunding stories and…
UMKC unveils innovation studio, inviting students, entrepreneurs to collaborate within $32M research center
In a hiring environment where college graduates are expected to possess honed skills for even entry-level positions, a state-of-the-art innovation studio in the heart of Kansas City allows students access to technology to actually build products within their chosen professions. “We have never had a facility like this — with the diversity of equipment and…
An absent-minded workplace gaffe, a nationwide Starbucks controversy; why the CEO ‘leadership jersey’ demands fearlessness on diversity, inclusion
Editor’s note: The following story is sponsored by Morgan Stanley, a New York-based multinational investment bank and financial services company, and is a follow-up to this summer’s “Nothing to Fear” virtual panel discussion on diversity and inclusion efforts. The conversation was led by Carla Harris, vice chairman and managing director at Morgan Stanley, with moderator Channa…
Fulcrum herds oversubscribed $13.2M round for KC cattle tech startup with KCRise Fund, iiM in the corral
A Kansas City-based precision livestock company will use its fresh Series A funding harvest to accelerate genetic progress and sustainably deliver more protein with fewer inputs, its top executive announced Tuesday. “Our mission is clear, and we are grateful for the support of our investors who join us on our journey to ensure meat and…