KCRise Fund invests in PEQ and Dunami
December 22, 2016 | Bobby Burch
The KCRise Fund announced two investments in area firms Thursday to round out its 2016.
Launched in February in conjunction with the KC Rising economic initiative, the KCRise Fund joined ongoing investment rounds in tech firms PEQ and Dunami.
Kansas City-based PEQ is an Internet of Things service enabler that created an operating system for IoT device management. Overland Park-based Dunami created a big data analytics platform designed to offer companies the insights into their business.
While not disclosing the value of their investments, KCRise Fund manager Darcy Howe said she’s thrilled to close the year on a high note.
“The KCRise Fund is ending its first year strong with these most recent commitments, and a third soon to be announced, bringing our total 2016 commitment to more than $2 million,” Howe said in a release. “We are so proud to support some of the Kansas City region’s most promising entrepreneurs and their companies and look forward to finding additional investments in 2017.”
The KCRise fund was created as a solution to the regional challenge of accessing capital. Now with more than $10 million in its coffers, the fund aims to grow to $20 million. KCRise previously invested in SpiderOak and Innara Health.
To qualify for the KCRise Fund, a firm must “have high growth potential” and must reside or have substantial operations between Manhattan, Kan. and Columbia, Mo. The firm must also be seeking at least $1 million in a Series A investment round and have an approved venture capital firm investor in the funding round.
Now with four deals under its belt, Howe’s fund represents a local surge of activity in early-stage business investment. KCRise Fund, Firebrand Ventures, Royal Street Ventures and a few other funds have launched offices or made startup investments in the Kansas City area in 2016.
“We are delighted and honored to have the opportunity to invite the KCRise Fund into the PEQ ownership structure,” PEQ CEO Scott Ford said in a release. “Kansas City is clearly a hub for IoT and to have the community involved directly through KCRise is a great advantage to us.”
Dunami CEO Pat Butler echoed Ford’s excitement.
“At Dunami, we are excited to have the opportunity to partner with KCRise and local investors as we work to revolutionize the way organizations leverage social media and their own data to grow their business.”
Featured Business
2016 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Far from fenced-in city life: Rural Missouri camel rancher takes a trail less ridden
After 35-plus years ranching camels at the foot of the Ozarks, Rod Malchow expressed no regrets about spending more than half his life with exotic animals on a remote Missouri farm — often seeing only his wife, sister and neighbors unless traveling to events offering camel rides. “If I fell over dead tomorrow, I’d have…
Reimagined Lightwell ready to take innovation hub mantle as KC’s tech talent return to the office
A steady stream of foot traffic flows beneath the Lightwell building’s signature feature — a winding overhead natural light design that spans nearly a city block — as employees returning to the workplace help the iconic downtown Kansas City landmark assume its new identity: 21st century innovation hub. “A lot of people will talk about…
Bring your data strategy forward with control, transparency
Editor’s note: The following commentary is sponsored by AdPredictive, which has headquarters in Kansas City, Kansas, and New York. The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Chelsea O’Donnell is senior vice president for business and client development for AdPredictive. Between increasingly strict privacy regulations and maneuvering by big tech, brands of all…
North KC’s Brewkery pours new line of alcoholic kombucha, tapping brand’s inner spirits
“Hard” doesn’t mean adding a boozy bite at the expense of flavor or natural ingredients, said Amy Goldman, announcing a new line of hard kombucha now available exclusively at The Brewkery’s North Kansas City taproom. “We’ve all seen the trend toward low-calorie, low-sugar, and more sessionable drinks. The Brewkery opted to do it our way…