Digital Sandbox selects five new KC startups for its grant program
June 29, 2017 | Meghan LeVota
Kansas City’s top proof-of-concept incubator program announced Thursday it selected five new startups for its newest cohort.
Launched in 2013, Digital Sandbox has worked with more than 400 entrepreneurs and startups to date. Led by Jeff Shackelford, the program offers up to $25,000 in grants to startups with a focus of bringing a product from idea to commercialization.
Shackelford said that the program continues to grow.
“We continue to be amazed by the quality and creativity of Kansas City companies,” Shackelford said in a release. “Now, through our partnerships with Olathe, Independence, St. Joseph and Great Plains Energy, we have the opportunity to help even more early-stage entrepreneurs.”
Earlier this Month, Digital Sandbox announced that it has embarked on a partnership with St. Joseph, Mo.-based incubator Innovation Stockyard. The program previously established partnerships with the cities of Olathe, Kan. and Independence, Mo.
Since the program’s launch, Digital Sandbox has created more than 480 jobs and established over $38 million in follow-on funding.
Here’s more about the five companies:
- 2020 Adventures is a travel company designed the make the process of planning small group trips easier, with personalized itineraries.
- AgVision is an ag tech, artificial intelligence startup that monitors food intake by cattle at feedlots, with the goal of reducing the number of sick animals.
- Billdrill is a website where customers can submit how much they pay for TV, Internet, cell phone and home security services and compares their rates against other area providers.
- Idle Smart created a “smart” thermostat for trucking fleets to save fuel, cut down on pollution and keep drivers comfortable, as well as reducing overnight idle time. Idle Smart was featured as a top startup to watch in 2017.
- Luxe is a provider of amenity services for multi-family housing communities. The firm’s mobile app offers apartment communities a concierge platform for residents to book and manage apartment tailored services.
Featured Business
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Designed with minimal parking, KC Current wants you to carpool to team’s next home match
A just-announced tech tool aims to help KC Current fans make sustainable and affordable transportation an easier choice on matchday as the hometown team continues a string of development wins at its new riverfront stadium. Current Carpool — a new feature from the free WAY TO GO trip planning and carpool matching app — connects…
Crossroads small biz owners to Royals: Come back with a better plan (and put it in writing)
It didn’t have to be this way, said Crossroads business owners, blaming Tuesday’s failed stadium sales tax initiative on what they viewed as a lack of transparency and legally binding agreements, too many last-minute deals and changes, and a disregard for community input. Most, however, hope the conversation isn’t entirely finished. Jackson County voters this…
These founders just earned Digital Sandbox KC funds; next comes proving their concepts
A trio of newly funded Digital Sandbox KC companies includes a closely-guarded startup launched by an exited Pipeline founder who also helped bring headline-grabbing sports tech to the forefront of the Kansas City innovation scene. Mission Hills, Kansas-based Chemniscient (pronounced kemʹniSH(Ə)nt) is currently operating confidentially and is not disclosing any product information to the public…
Voters hand Royals, Chiefs a resounding defeat on sales tax that would’ve funded stadium projects
Editor’s note: The following story was published by KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR member station, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for KCUR’s email newsletter. The 3/8th-cent sales tax extension would have helped build a new Kansas City Royals stadium downtown as well as fund renovations…