Introducing 2017’s Top 10 Under-the-Radar startups in Kansas City
August 29, 2017 | Startland News Staff
Whether they’re intentionally lying low or just working too hard to stop and share their stories, Kansas City is full of inconspicuous innovators.
Consider this list of 10 firms as a spotlight into the shadows of promising, but little-known Kansas City startups.
As we stated in last year’s list, “under the radar” is a relative term — we had to hear of these startups somehow. Even though we might have already written about some of these companies, many still operate in relative obscurity within the broader Kansas City business community.
This list hopes to shed light on promising firms that either you have never heard of or might have an interest in learning more about. Let us know what you think or if you have recommendations for other “under-the-radar” startups.
Without further ado, here are 2017’s Under the Radar startups in no particular order.
Happy Food Co.
Founding Year: 2015
Founders: Kiersten Firquain and Jeff Glasco
Elevator pitch: Happy Food Co makes it easy to enjoy great local food at home, preparing fresh meal kits with everything you need to whip up a restaurant-quality meal in no time flat. FOR MORE ON HAPPY FOOD CO., CHECK OUT THIS PROFILE …
Kiersten Firquain and Jeff Glasco
ZOHR
Founding Year: 2015
Founders: Komal Choong and Anoop Choong
Elevator Pitch: Zohr offers a simpler way to get your tires changed by delivering and installing them at your home or office.
FOR MORE ON ZOHR, CHECK OUT THIS PROFILE …
ZOHR co-founders Komal Choong and Anoop Choong
MusicSpoke
Founding Year: 2014
Founders: Jennifer Rosenblatt and Kurt Knecht
Elevator Pitch: MusicSpoke is online sheet music marketplace for self-published composers.
FOR MORE ON MUSICSPOKE CHECK OUT THIS PROFILE …
Kurt Knecht and Jennifer Rosenblatt
Venture360
Founding year: 2013
Founders: Rachael Qualls and James Pierce
Elevator Pitch: Venture360 powers the venture capital industry from application to exit.
FOR MORE ON VENTURE360, CHECK OUT THIS PROFILE …
James Pierce and Rachael Qualls
OneHQ
Founding Year: 2012
Founder: Kyle J. Ginavan
Elevator Pitch: OneHQ solves complex operations, sales, marketing and accounting problems for insurance agencies, insurance brokerages, insurance carriers, broker dealers and registered investment advisors.
FOR MORE ON ONEHQ, CHECK OUT THIS PROFILE …
The OneHQ team
TradeLanes
Founding Year: 2015
Founders: Vijay Harrell, Delvin Higginson, Brandon Jimenez, Corey Myers and Jack Shelton
Elevator Pitch: TradeLanes is a software-as-a-service that enables shippers, merchants and traders to better control their supply chain. FOR MORE ON TRADELANES CHECK OUT THIS PROFILE …
Vijay Harrel and Delvin Higginson
Dunami
Founding Year: 2012
Founders: Pat Butler, Tony Marshall and Mark Schwalm
Elevator Pitch: Dunami helps clients find relevant audiences and identify those with the most influence.
FOR MORE ON DUNAMI, CHECK OUT THIS PROFILE …
Pat Butler, Tony Marshall, Steve Davis and Mark Schwalm
Sprout Solutions
Founding Year: 2016
Founders: Gretchen Henry and Jim Taylor
Elevator Pitch: Sprout Solutions provides software services for professionals in the animal feed industry, including both mill operators and merchandisers. FOR MORE ON SPROUT SOLUTIONS CHECK OUT THIS PROFILE …
Jim Taylor and Gretchen Henry
RiskGenius
Founding Year: 2012
Founders: Chris Cheatham and Doug Reiser
Elevator Pitch: RiskGenius organizes the world’s insurance information. Our machine learning algorithms structure insurance policy information and serve it up to carriers, brokers and regulators in our RiskGenius platform.
FOR MORE ON RISK GENIUS, CHECK OUT THIS PROFILE …
The RiskGenius team
OYO Fitness
Founding Year: 2014
Founders: Paul Francis
Elevator Pitch: Fitness where you are right now. OYO provides On Your Own fitness.
FOR MORE ON OYO FITNESS CHECK OUT THIS PROFILE …
Paul Francis
Featured Business
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Kelce, Mahomes opening ‘experiential modern steakhouse’ in KC (just in time for a three-peat Super Bowl run?)
Two Chiefs stars are teaming up for a new restaurant concept within Loews Hotel Kansas City — calling plays on the upscale steakhouse project with plans to open by early 2025. The collaboration with Super Bowl champions Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce would mean 1587 Prime — an immersive dining experience with a name inspired…
Lawmakers want to divest TikTok from Chinese influence, not kill the popular app, says Davids
A nationwide ban on TikTok, a video sharing app popular with young people and an increasing number of brands, is edging closer with legislation to curb the China-linked platform passing Wednesday in the U.S. House. U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, was among lawmakers supporting the move, voting “yes” on the bill and urging ByteDance, TikTok’s…
InvestMidwest releases startup lineup for April conference; KC companies set to pitch
Eight Kansas City startups are among 40 companies selected to pitch in April at InvestMidwest — reflecting not only a diversity of founder representation, but a wide range of agriculture, health, and digital technology innovations from across the Midwest, said Claire Kinlaw. “The caliber of talent and innovation among the chosen companies is truly remarkable, and…
Royals ballpark plan gains support among longtime Crossroads advocates, though questions linger
Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Kansas City PBS/Flatland, a member of the KC Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, The Kansas City Beacon, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story. The Kansas City Royals’ controversial Crossroads ballpark plan has qualified support from some longtime…