Techstars co-founder Brad Feld launches $25K matching gift for Startland News donor campaign

October 14, 2020  |  Startland News Staff

The Brad Feld Challenge for Startland News' Give A Start donor campaign

Editor’s note: The following is an update to Startland News’ Give A Start — an eight-week donor campaign seeking reader support for the nonprofit newsroom. Click here to donate.

One week into Startland News’ donor campaign — the nonprofit newsroom’s first big ask for readers’ financial support — the digital publication is announcing the Brad Feld Challenge.

Brad Feld and Amy Batchelor, Anchor Point Foundation

Brad Feld and Amy Batchelor, Anchor Point Foundation

Brad Feld — startup community pioneer, author and Techstars co-founder — revealed today he and his wife, Amy Batchelor — author and venture capitalist — are providing a $25,000 matching gift from their Anchor Point Foundation to Startland News’ Give A Start donor campaign.

They’ll match reader contributions up to $25,000.

Click here to learn more about the Give A Start campaign. Click here to donate.

“Since 2015, Startland News has helped Kansas City entrepreneurs shout their triumphs from the rooftops — a critical piece of storytelling as the local startup community evolves beyond good ideas written on napkins to the home of powerhouse startups and nine-figure exits,” Feld said in a FeldThoughts blog post announcing the matching gift.

“A thriving startup community also explores its failures, the ongoing challenges plaguing entrepreneurs, and how innovators not only can learn from them but also accelerate past the roadblocks to success,” he continued. “Startland News has been unafraid to identify and confront these issues and grow along with its ecosystem. When the nonprofit newsroom recognized the economic and racial inequity represented in its coverage of mainstream entrepreneurs, it expanded the scope of stories to include more innovators from outside the world of high-growth, high-tech startups and actively opened its platform for the voices of diverse risk-takers, creatives, makers, and small businesses.”

Click here to read Brad Feld’s full announcement of the challenge.

Click here to read more about Brad Feld’s thought’s on diversity as a culture add for startups.

Tommy Felts, Startland News

Tommy Felts, Startland News

“[Brad’s gift] means the impact of your donations just doubled!” said Tommy Felts, Startland News’ editor said in an email today to subscribers. “Brad gave a start to countless tech startups — many in Kansas City — through Techstars and beyond. Now he’s helping us Give A Start to even more through Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom.”

A monthly or one-time gift to Startland News can help the three-person team of journalists keep its momentum moving alongside the people they cover — from solopreneurs and artists to startup founders with hundreds of workers — amplifying the stories of Kansas City innovation, Felts said.

Click here to donate and join the Brad Feld Challenge.

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

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

2020 Startups to Watch

    stats here

    Related Posts on Startland News

    He retired after an exit; now this govtech veteran is back in a CFO role for KC-scaled PayIt

    By Tommy Felts | July 23, 2025

    As Kansas City-built PayIt scales across North America, a new financial leader is expected to help guide the company in its game-changing efforts to help government agencies modernize, serve their residents, and improve operating efficiency. Steve Kovzan, a nearly 30-year veteran of leadership across government technology and finance spaces, is now chief financial officer at…

    KC Tech Council celebrates tax fix in Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ that boosts growing businesses

    By Tommy Felts | July 23, 2025

    A tax fix included in the recently signed “One Big Beautiful Bill” — sprawling legislation meant to overhaul taxes in the United States — marks a major win for Kansas City’s tech and innovation economy, said Kara Lowe. At issue: a long-awaited change to Section 174 research and development expensing that now allows businesses to…

    Thank a community leader; Nominate them to win $50,000

    By Tommy Felts | July 23, 2025

    Editor’s note: The following is a paid message from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Allison Greenwood Bajracharya, a fourth-generation Kansas Citian, is chief impact and strategy officer for the Kauffman Foundation. In communities around the country, people are doing uncommon things in the most common places — parks, food pantries, classrooms, soccer fields, and church…

    Crossroads distillery asks KC to make a toast in honor of founder lost in weekend motorcycle wreck

    By Tommy Felts | July 22, 2025

    Update: A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to support the family of the late Jeff Evans. Click here to learn more or to donate.  With doors temporarily closed early this week (July 21-22) to mourn the loss of co-founder Jeff Evans, the team behind Mean Mule Distilling is asking its community to “grieve with us,…