KC picks who they think will win LaunchKC’s $50K grants
September 18, 2015 | Bobby Burch
Twenty startups are hoping to snag $50,000 during the LaunchKC grant competition.
Nearly 500 companies applied to be part of the contest, which will be announcing the winners at Techweek Kansas City at 3 p.m. Friday. Below are predictions from a few members of the tech, startup and entrepreneurship community meandering around Techweek on who they think will win the grants.
Startland News will report the winners later today, so make sure to check back to see who of our predictors was most accurate. An underlined company denotes who they think will win the people’s choice award. Click here to see what companies won the grants.
Melissa Roberts
Melissa Roberts, marketing director at the Enterprise Center of Johnson County (5 correct)
LaborChart
KC Drone Company
Integrated Roadways
SkillGravity
Edge Up Sports
SquareOffs
Nodal Security
Pycno
Blooom
Ulytic
Rick Usher
Rick Usher, assistant city manager for entrepreneurship and small business with the (5 correct)
Ovatemp
Integrated Roadways
KC Drone Company
REI Hammer
SquareOffs
Blooom
Loadlytics
TapTeach
PopBookings
Ulytic
Grant Gordon
Grant Gordon, president of Solomon Consulting (1st place, tie, 7 correct)
HealthID
KC Drone Company
SquareOffs
Vertisense
Blooom
Loadlytics
PopBookings
TapTeach
VideoFizz
Ulytic
Jason Grill
Jason Grill, senior advisor at Parris Communications (1st place, tie, 7 correct)
Integrated Roadways
HealthID
SkillGravity
Edge Up Sports
SquareOffs
Pycno
Blooom
Loadlytics
PopBookings
VideoFizz
Brian Azorsky
Bryan Azorsky, founder of Tin Man Prints (6 correct)
Ovatemp
Integrated Roadways
HealthID
Edge Up Sports
Mobility Designed
Pycno
Vertisense
Blooom
PopBookings
TapTeach
Kaitin Motley
Kaitlin Motley, technology marketer (5 correct)
Ovatemp
Integrated Roadways
HealthID
Edge Up Sports
Nodal Security
Pycno
Virtutecture
Blooom
Loadlytics
Ulytic
Dustin Abercrombie
Dustin Abercrombie, founder of VeriQuik (1st place, tie, 7 correct)
LaborChart
Integrated Roadways
Edge Up Sports
KC Drone Company
Nodal Security
Virtutecture
Vertisense
Blooom
PopBookings
VideoFizz
Scott Howell
Scott Howell, front-end web developer at Pinsight Media+(1st place, tie, 7 correct)
LaborChart
Integrated Roadways
Edge Up Sports
SkillGravity
SquareOffs
Nodal Security
Pycno
Vertisense
Blooom
PopBookings
Matthew Marcus
Matthew Marcus, founder of 1 Minute Candidate (5 correct)
Ovatemp
SkillGravity
Edge Up Sports
SquareOffs
Pycno
Vertisense
Blooom
PopBookings
VideoFizz
Ulytic
Featured Business
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
PHKC planning to open its retail incubator in mid-May; here’s a first look inside the east side space
A new space for entrepreneurs to test-run their retail businesses is envisioned as a 12- to 16-month stepping stone to their own permanent storefronts or locations, said Dan Smith, and the resource could be open as soon as this spring. “We’re preparing entrepreneurs to open their own brick and mortars on the east side,” said…
Chingu founders, Mean Mule partner for KC’s first soju — a Korean nod to vodka, distilled with culture
Serial foodpreneurs Keeyoung Kim and David Son are launching the Midwest’s first locally distilled premium soju — a pays homage to the traditions of soju, but embraces a new era of cocktail culture. Through a partnership with Mean Mule Distilling Co., the first release of Chingu Soju will be just 15-20 cases of the product. …
WeCode KC, high school partner to launch cybersecurity program for students
A new program from an expanding Kansas City nonprofit plans to expose high school students to job readiness and life skills that prepare them for careers in cybersecurity, right out of high school. WeCode KC, which promotes tech education and creating sustainable career pathways, recently announced a partnership with KIPP Legacy High School to introduce…
WeWork closing Corrigan Station, once a core hub for Kansas City’s startup community
Coworking giant WeWork on Thursday confirmed the planned closure of its Corrigan Station location in Kansas City — a space once closely intertwined with the local startup scene and its flourishing culture of innovation. “As part of WeWork’s strategic restructuring efforts, we have made the difficult decision to end our operations at Corrigan Station,” a…