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
Kimberly Gandy: Proof a startup can emerge stronger from its founder’s cancer diagnosis
Cancer needn’t mean can’t, Kimberly Gandy said. When the Play-It Health founder and CEO was diagnosed with an aggressive, mid-stage cancer in May 2016, her startup found itself at a crossroads. Gandy had just joined the Kansas City-based Pipeline fellowship and her company was poised for growth through its web- and mobile-based health regimen tracking…
Code Ninjas uses karate format to punch into KC youth STEM scene
Students often want more than their schools can offer, said Jason Hansen, of Code Ninjas. For some, that’s competitive sports teams or specialty athletics, he said. Others yearn for greater STEM-based learning opportunities — like those offered at Hansen’s Leawood center. “It’s just like you might have a dance studio, or a baseball academy,” Hansen…
Landlocked, Marknology startups ‘killing it on Amazon,’ KC founder says
Landlocked is a brand many Kansas Citians recognize on sight, founder Andrew Morgans said. Marknology is the behind-the-scenes engine that sells it. While his dual companies — an apparel startup known for its popular hybrid pennant tee and a bootstrapped digital marketing firm specializing in Amazon sales — complement one another, the pairing is an…
Lula raises $420K, fueling expansion of home service offerings
A $420,000 funding round from Kansas City area investors will accelerate tech startup Lula to expand in Kansas City and soon two more large metros, CEO and founder Bo Lais said. The Overland Park-based firm is eyeing Phoenix and Dallas as its next service areas, but it first plans to focus on marketing its on-demand…