Gallery: Lean Lab fellows set to disrupt KC education
July 20, 2015 | Bobby Burch
Already improving education for about 2,400 area students, the Lean Lab recently set loose another group of innovators hoping to transform Kansas City education.
The Kansas City-based education innovation incubator on Friday held its Launch Day, the culminating event of its incubator fellowship. The incubator conducted a five-week ideation program that assisted 10 fellows building prototypes of projects to improve Kansas City education and student outcomes, which is then tested within area schools.
Lean Lab co-founder Carrie Markel said there’s a common theme that’s emerged in Kansas City education in recent years, and it’s one that is hurting students’ performance and future. She anticipates through the Lean Lab’s second cohort that students and education will quickly improve.
“All those who work within the (education) system have expressed a lack of time, resources, and ability to connect with others in this work,” Markel said. “We believe that the solutions from Cohort 2 will have a profound impact on our city’s schools, the effects of which will not only be immediately apparent, but will compound over time to help build a world-class city renowned for education and innovation.”
Hosted at the Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator, the Launch Day event drew more than 100 people interested in witnessing the latest in education innovation.
Below are some photos of the event, and details on the projects now being tested in area schools. Enjoy!

2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
AlphaGraphics expansion boasts $1.4M investment, plans to create 16 new KC jobs
A production crew known for eye-catching, colorful designs splashed across Kansas City — including its own East Crossroads headquarters — is expanding its physical and human footprint, marking a key investment in the metro’s growing creative and professional services sector, local leaders said. AlphaGraphics on Tuesday announced an investment of more than $1.4 million and…
Goodwill’s adult high school launches first day; work continues toward long-term campus
The region’s first-of-its-kind adult high school opened classes Monday, offering a glimpse into programming and projected outcomes for the Goodwill-run Excel Center now operating out of space at Metropolitan Community College’s Penn Valley campus. “The opening of the Excel Center is a major step, not just for our organization, but for the entire region,” said…
Arch Grants taps homegrown founders, Missouri startup recruits for $1.6M in awards
ST. LOUIS — The Missouri maker behind a keychain designed to save lives from opioid overdoses is among nearly two dozen companies — together awarded $1.6 million — selected for the latest Arch Grants program. The innovation economy nonprofit on Thursday honored 19 startups, alongside three new members of its expanded Arch Grants Fellows Program.…
LISTEN: Gripp helps farmers get a handle on multiple ag apps with dead-simple record keeping platform
On this episode of our 12-part Plug and Play Topeka podcast series, we explore how agtech startup Gripp is bringing structure and simplicity to farm operations. Its helps farmers connect their teams, track equipment and assets, and turn everyday routines into shared knowledge. Having grown up on a Wisconsin farm, co-founder and CEO Tracey Wiedmeyer…
