Photos: Innovation Exchange returns with Top KC Startups to Watch celebration
February 28, 2018 | Startland Staff
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!
Featured Business

2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Midwest VC, area startup vet join Firebrand Ventures following $17.7M fund raise
On the heels of smashing its fundraising goal, Firebrand Ventures has added a pair of new team members. The Kansas City-based seed fund is welcoming Cincinnati venture capitalist Wendy Lea as an advisor and Kansas City startup vet Maranda Manning as fund associate, said managing director John Fein. Lea brings a wealth of investment and…
Kansas City Coworking Alliance named world’s best at international Coworky’s
Scoring the title of the world’s best coworking alliance is a big win for Kansas City, Melissa Saubers said. “This is just another way that we can put Kansas City on the map to show that we are the most entrepreneurial city in America,” said Saubers, president of the Kansas City Coworking Alliance. “It’s verification…
Convenience unlocked: Amazon now offering delivery directly to vehicles in KCK
Adding to its area delivery offerings, Amazon is turning trunks in Kansas City, Kansas, into mailboxes. The Seattle-based tech giant on Tuesday introduced in-car delivery options in 37 U.S. cities, allowing its Prime members to receive packages in their parked vehicle. Kansas City, Kansas, and St. Louis are the only cities in Kansas and Missouri…
Big food hall concept Parlor KC plans fall opening in Crossroads
Parlor KC, a collaborative food hall now under construction in the Crossroads Arts District, hopes to serve as a laboratory and incubation hub for area chefs and restaurateurs. Eyeing a fall opening in the east Crossroads, Parlor will offer chefs and restaurateurs a physical space to test dishes and concepts on diners that want variety…










































































