Demo day alert: 13 new Comeback KC Ventures fellows set for debut on GEW KC stage

November 9, 2021  |  Startland News Staff

Gavin Dell, Hollywood Animation Academy; Shelly Cooper, SureShow; Jill and Justin Bertelsen, Crib Coaching; and Craig Boyle, What Duh Fog

The first crop of Comeback KC Ventures fellows — entrepreneurs offering solutions from healthtech and edtech products to sports evaluations and an animation academy emerging in response to COVID-19 — is expected to highlight more than a dozen companies Thursday during a GEW KC innovation showcase.

“The demo day will allow early participants in the program a chance to show off what they have been working on and to provide the community the opportunity to celebrate some of the successes coming out of the Kansas City ecosystem,” organizers of the newly announced Comeback KC Ventures said.

Click here to register for the virtual demo day 4 p.m. Thursday during Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City.

Among the presenting entrepreneurs, which includes familiar faces from Digital Sandbox KC, Pipeline, Pure Pitch Rally and other local competitions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Jeff Wheeldon, Virtual Museum

 

Comeback KC Ventures’ 18-month program is led by KC Digital Drive and the UMKC Innovation Center, and focused on supporting entrepreneurs with innovations, products or service lines that are solving needs exposed by the pandemic.

Click here to learn more about the program.

KC Digital Drive also is expected to offer an overview of Comeback KC Ventures during the event, including how others can participate as either startups, advisors or mentors.

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

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

2021 Startups to Watch

    stats here

    Related Posts on Startland News

    Hometown scramble: Noonan collaboration with neighboring Garmin brings startup closer to tournament win

    By Tommy Felts | September 24, 2025

    Kansas City sports tech innovator Noonan’s latest big swing sees the startup paired with a major industry player whose homegrown headquarters exercises its domination in the wearables market from just a few miles down I-35 in Johnson County. Lenexa-built Noonan on Tuesday announced a collaboration with Garmin, a powerhouse in GPS-enabled sports technology — currently ranked…

    GRWM: Founder has more than swag; his platform matches companies with merch Gen Z will actually wear

    By Tommy Felts | September 23, 2025

    A lot of branded swag gets buried at the bottom of a drawer after being collected from a special event or trade show — never again to see the light of day, Ivan Hadzhiev said, noting his new startup is helping companies think outside the bag when they design and distribute promotional products. “We’re making…

    Annie Austen’s newest store opens, building around ‘an actual human being’ and her gut instincts

    By Tommy Felts | September 23, 2025

    That glow within downtown Overland Park isn’t just coming from the freshly stocked shelves at the new Annie Austen storefront; it’s yet another product of the pandemic-pivot entrepreneur’s contagious positivity — lightening the mood just steps away from a massive farmers market overhaul. “There really aren’t any safe options in life. Sometimes the rug gets…

    Meet the competition: AltCap Your Biz unveils finalists for pitch event, $60K in awards

    By Tommy Felts | September 23, 2025

    A popular fall pitch competition for emerging entrepreneurs is returning to Union Station in November with AltCap today announcing 10 finalists for $60,000 in cash prizes — ranging from Kansas City’s first mobile matcha cart to specialty wellness retailers and a dog toy innovator. “The AltCap Your Biz Pitch Competition is so much more than…