1MC Recap: PerfectCube, Mission Academy help customers take action
July 8, 2015 | Abby Tillman
Two local startups took the 1 Million Cups stage to discuss their solutions — each with a goal of helping their customers take action.
PerfectCube started the entrepreneurial program by presenting their data analytics web tool designed for small retail stores and franchise systems.
“We’ve pivoted a half dozen times on what we offer,” said PerfectCube founder Jim Starcev. “But we’ve always stuck with the same market — the small retail market. … We’re wanting to help those companies compete on a larger scale.”
The company’s tool focuses on actionable data, more so than big data, Starcev said. PerfectCube aims to help small retail stores gain insights on their customers so they can take steps to maximize their business.
PerfectCube has built out an initial version of their web-based tool, and is now working on its next iteration. The company hopes to launch version two during the fourth quarter of this year, and secure paying customers at that time.
The startup has also closed an initial round of seed funding, and is currently looking to expand their team, adding a developer and data scientist.
Mission Academy, an online educational platform for missionaries, followed PerfectCube’s presentation. Mission Academy’s platform will provide how-to videos, resources, webinars and online courses to missionaries preparing for mission trips. The resources will be made available in order to help volunteers take appropriate action to plan for and be successful in their work.
“There is a lack of resources out there for missionaries,” said Mission Academy founder Sam Werner. “We’re going to solve this problem — the headaches and the heartaches that missionaries go through.”
Currently Werner is considering a subscription model for the platform, charging between $20 and $30 per month for access to the website’s resources, including help from travel agents and insurance agents who understand the mission field.
Missions Academy is still under development, but Werner stated that he hopes to launch in the fall and is already marketing the concept to missionaries.
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Cornstalks to cardboard: This KS company is turning farmers’ trash into sustainable fiber packaging
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. WILLIAMSBURG, Kansas — One small town just south of I-35 in Franklin County — population 390 — soon will become home to a new world headquarters, said Mark Majors. Williamsburg’s…
Vine Street Brewing drafts ‘Afrodisiac’ Ale: A tribute to love, Black culture
A cross-Kansas City collaboration crafted specifically for the month of February could become a staple at Vine Street Brewing if customers fall in love with the blend as much as its brewers hope. Kansas City’s first Black-owned brewery — in partnership with André’s Chocolates and The Black Pantry — unveiled ‘Afrodisiac’ last week, offering a…
Fans packed Chiefs rally, one didn’t come home; citywide trauma from shooting won’t heal quickly, grief expert says
Trauma and grief come in waves, said Mindy Corporon, foreshadowing a long road ahead for those impacted — directly and indirectly — by Wednesday’s shooting near the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory rally. Like many across the region, Corporon, co-founder of the Merriam-based nonprofit SevenDays foundation, was watching the Chiefs parade on TV when…
Black leaders need to earn a ‘thriving wage’ before they can help others; an Evergy-backed cohort could help them ascend
A new program backed by entrepreneur support groups and Evergy aims to raise household income by at least 30 percent for participating Black professionals, nonprofit founders, and entrepreneurs, said Craig Moore II. “The ultimate goal is making sure you’re a leader who can do more than show up and talk about community — you have the…