Photos: Innovation Exchange returns with Top KC Startups to Watch celebration

February 28, 2018  |  Startland Staff

IXKC TSW 2018 (28 of 76)

So … What’s your spirit animal?

Eleven startup founders and leaders joined Startland News and the Kansas City Startup Foundation on stage Tuesday for a rebooted Innovation Exchange experience — complete with casual conversation, jazz and few unexpected queries.

Saluting the Top Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2018, the rapid-fire, Q&A-style event showcased the innovative ideas behind the firms Startland thinks will be the year’s biggest newsmakers. Among the honorees were Plexpod, PayIt, Bardavon, Rx Savings Solutions, Swell Spark, Mycroft, Super Dispatch, Made in KC, RFP365, Ruby Jean’s Juicery, and Cambrian.

Plexpod’s Westport Commons coworking community literally set the stage for Innovation Exchange, with Startland and KCSF also tapping top startups Ruby Jean’s Juicery for food and drinks for about 175 guests, and Swell Spark for commemorative plaques for the honorees.

Huge thanks to our sponsors of the Innovation Exchange, including the Brain Family, NBKC, Polsinelli, GXP Investments, Plexpod and Think Big Partners.

Watch for details on the next Innovation Exchange, coming in March! In the meantime, enjoy photos from Tuesday’s event below.

Cheers!

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

2018 Startups to Watch

    stats here

    Related Posts on Startland News

    Houston-based fund leads effort to restore KC’s iconic Garment House with $3.2M already invested

    By Tommy Felts | January 14, 2025

    A strategic investment in Kansas City history is expected to bring new purpose to a downtown building known locally as The Garment House — creating what developers envision as an eclectic, but contemporary experience. Revitalization Unlimited — a fund dedicated to preserving historically significant U.S. real estate and legacy industrial businesses in local communities —…

    Score a high-end ‘Kingdom Coat’ in time for KC’s love story with the Chiefs; popup sews in fashion designer’s own lifelong fandom

    By Tommy Felts | January 10, 2025

    Kansas City fashion designer Christian Michael Shuster’s latest collection is skipping the runway and hitting the gridiron, he shared. The lead designer and president of the christianMICHAEL fashion label — known for his outerwear and signature diamond-quilted fabric — has kicked off his “Kingdom Coats” collection just in time for the NFL playoffs and the…

    Mildred’s new South Plaza spot serves brothers opportunity to scale brand’s cozy legacy

    By Tommy Felts | January 9, 2025

    It already has one of downtown Kansas City’s best breakfast sandwiches. Now Mildred’s is opening another home-spun spot in the South Plaza neighborhood. Mildred’s — a breakfast, brunch and lunch operation with locations downtown and in the Crossroads — plans a 7 a.m. Friday opening at 5060 Main St., in the former Mission Taco Joint…

    Irish favorite won’t reopen after chef’s killing; Brady & Fox could never be replicated, building owner says

    By Tommy Felts | January 9, 2025

    The restaurant space previously home to East Brookside’s Brady & Fox is now available for lease, its owner confirmed, noting the building has been dark since the shooting death of beloved Kansas City chef Shaun Brady, a steadfast leader within the local Irish community. “We’ve been working with the family and we have all agreed…