Digital Sandbox helps entrepreneurs fight summer slump
June 16, 2015 | Abby Tillman
With summer knocking at the door, Digital Sandbox KC is taking initiative to provide resources and instruction to keep entrepreneurs engaged and on-point.
Digital Sandbox, a proof-of-concept program that expedites area businesses’ projects, will host the third-annual “Summer in the Sand Series” as a way of prompting discussion around relevant topics for entrepreneurs.
“The Summer in the Sand Series is a dynamic way to engage the startup community and provide relevant and valuable educational support,” Digital Sandbox Director Jeff Shackelford said in a release. “We will bring experts, experienced business owners and investors who can address the specific needs of the entrepreneurial community.”
Digital Sandbox’s summer series will include four events, each held at the Sprint Accelerator, starting at 3:00 p.m.
- June 24 – Maria Meyers of KCSourceLink will speak about the funding landscape in Kansas City and will explore funding mechanisms available to early-stage companies in the local startup community.
- July 15 – Digital Sandbox’s Shackelford will advise entrepreneurs on how to make effective pitches.
- August 19 – A panel of successful business owners in Kansas City — including Stuart Ludlow of RFP365, Danny O’Neill of The Roasterie, and Babir Sultan of Royal Loyal — will review creative ways of achieving early customer acquisition.
- September 16 – A lineup of angel investors will discuss what they look for when making capital investment decisions. The panelists include Tom DeBacco of Flyover Capital, Lance LeMay of OpenAir Equity Partners, Jill Meyer of the UMKC Small Business Technology Development Center, and Rick Vaughn of Mid-America Angels.
Since its inception in 2013, Digital Sandbox has helped create 23 new businesses, 181 new jobs and its businesses have received $17.7 million in follow-on funding.
“This [series] is another way to connect valuable resources and to strengthen the ecosystem that makes Kansas City a great place to start a business,” Shackelford said.
Registration for the Summer in the Sand series is now open and is required for admission.
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Nour’s extends flavor of 39th Street’s ‘restaurant row’ to long-vacant neighborhood cafe
After a lengthy stint developing corporate dining concepts, Kansas City chef Marwan Chebaro has spent two years planning his return to public dining. Set to open in June, Chebaro’s new Nour’s restaurant will showcase his native Lebanese cuisine and culture while helping bring the community together, he said. The venture at 3855 Warwick Blvd., in…
Entrepreneur duo uses KC Current blueprint to acquire Danish football, build multi-club portfolio
A just-announced deal to purchase a premier women’s football club in Denmark reflects Angie and Chris Long’s unwavering commitment to investing in women’s soccer at the highest level, the couple said, noting they’ll continue their work to raise the bar for players, supporters, and communities both nationally and internationally. Ballard Capital, a sports entertainment-focused investment…
How tech can put humanity back in hiring: Interview app brings beta test to Kansas City
Automation in the hiring process is leaving critical details — and quality, diverse talent — out of the jobs market, said Chelsea Parker, a Kansas City human resources innovator whose new Interview app aims to reconnect recruiters and applicants on a human level. “Interview is the TikTok of LinkedIn,” said Parker, the HR trendsetter behind creating an…
Time runs out for Missouri angel investor tax credit push as legislators close session early
A last-minute effort to pass legislation to boost Missouri entrepreneurs and innovators was thwarted earlier this month when state lawmakers abruptly ended their legislative session, said Jason Wiens, who led advocacy for the creation of a new Show-Me State angel investor tax credit. Amid “escalating partisan tensions” May 14 — and headline grabbing speculation about how…