California retail tech firm opens Crossroads office, hiring 20
December 7, 2017 | Bobby Burch
Retail technology firm PriceSpider is citing the area’s vibrant tech community as the reason behind rooting a new office in Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District.
Headquartered in Irvine, California, PriceSpider said the burgeoning startup community, deep pool of tech talent and Google Fiber’s arrival in 2012 helped push the company to choose the City of Fountains. The firm’s new office is located at 1712 Main St., alongside such tech firms as Think Big Partners and Code Koalas.
Anthony Ferry
Evaluating several tech hubs in the U.S., PriceSpider also appreciated Kansas City’s central location, said CEO and co-founder Anthony Ferry.
“It made sense to establish a Midwest presence that can provide support to clients on the East Coast and in America’s heartland,” Ferry said. “We are happy to join so many rapidly growing technology companies as well as global brand manufacturers such as Honeywell, General Motors and Ford Motor Company in making Kansas City a second home.”
PriceSpider provides its customers with insights into consumer purchasing behavior by using proprietary “spidering” technology that collects a wide range of data from thousands of e-commerce sites. Its “Where to Buy” product integrates with manufacturers’ websites to capture conversion data while giving shoppers access to online and local retailers. The company’s “Channel Reports” tool keeps tabs on competitors, monitoring their prices and view their reviews.
The company now partners with such brands as Activision, Bayer, Canon, LG, Nikon, Samsung, Stanley Black+Decker and more.
Kansas City’s startup community is reminiscent of southern California’s early days, Ferry said. That innovative spirit should help the company build the best products, he added.
“The up-and-coming tech startup scene in Kansas City in many ways mirrors the tech startup scene of decades past in Orange County, California,” Ferry said. “Being in touch with the technology companies at the forefront of so many initiatives in Kansas City is just one more tactic to keep us on the cutting edge. We look forward to connecting with the local area’s tech visionaries.”
The Kansas City branch is the company’s second office, where it plans to hire 20 people. Founded in 2004, PriceSpider now has 80 employees.
PriceSpider is looking to hire senior software engineers with experience in Go, Node.js and C# as well as proficiency in Linux, relational databases and NoSQL databases. PriceSpider is also looking for product and client support roles at the Kansas City office.
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
MO-built app enhances AMBER Alert system, rallying users to search for missing children
People care about saving missing and exploited children, said Josh Schisler — but the current alert system is outdated, leaving members of the public without a clear understanding of how they should respond to alerts. “I think there is no shortage of people who would be happy to take a few minutes from their day…
RNAi-tech startup takes lead from psychotropics, medical cannabis veteran with new CEO pick
ST. LOUIS — Steve Meyer sees opportunity in RNAissance Ag — an offshoot Kansas City-grown TechAccel — especially its portfolio of safe biopesticides and novel RNAi manufacturing technology. “I believe the full potential of RNAi-based solutions in agriculture is yet to be seen,” said Meyer, the company’s new CEO. “This innovative technology not only has…
KC firm invests $56M in LGTB+ owned 10KC to reimagine a more inclusive workplace (that employees won’t want to leave)
A funding infusion from a leading Kansas City venture capital firm comes at a critical time as employees struggle to connect in a hybrid work world, said Ten Thousand Coffees (10KC), announcing its first institutional raise since the company’s 2014 formation in Toronto. Originally bootstrapped, 10KC will use the $56 million investment from Five Elms…
Boulevard, Vine Street hop to ‘inspire our city’ with a brew in honor of KC baseball icon Buck O’Neil
A new ale crafted in collaboration between one of Kansas City’s biggest brands and the city’s first Black-owned brewery is expected to commemorate “a true American treasure,” said Kemet Coleman — as well as send 100 percent of its proceeds to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The Buck O’Neil Barrel-Aged Saison honors the late first…