Demo day alert: 13 new Comeback KC Ventures fellows set for debut on GEW KC stage
November 9, 2021 | Startland News Staff
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:
- Shelly Cooper, SureShow — Read her Startland News profile here.
- Quest Moffat, Kadogo — Read his Startland News profile here.
- Craig Boyle, What Duh Fog — Read his Startland News profile here.
- Gavin Dell, Hollywood Animation Academy — Read his Startland News profile here.
- Doug Hohulin, School of Nursing VR Training
- 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.
Featured Business

2021 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
LISTEN: Fermenting a clean future through products from meat alternatives to skin creams and baby formula
On this episode of Startland News’ Plug and Play Topeka founder podcast series, we chat with Francesca Gallucci of Natáur, a Baltimore-based biotech company that’s reimagining how essential nutrients are made. Combining synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and eco-friendly fermentation, they’re producing bio-based taurine (and other naturally occurring sulfur compounds) without relying on petroleum. Gallucci takes…
KCMO slashes fees for outdoor dining permits, launches dining trail for grant winning projects
Kansas City has officially eliminated outdoor dining permit fees, reducing the cost from $850 to zero, thanks to the momentum created by a city-led initiative to encourage investment in outdoor dining experiences, city leaders announced this week, unveiling new plans to promote funded businesses and their projects. Launched in 2024, the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Program…
World Cup will produce KC small biz millionaires in just weeks, leaders say, but it’s only the start
Kansas City can’t look at the World Cup in 2026 as one big event where businesses are going to make good money for a while, and then everything goes back to normal, said Wes Rogers. “This has to be the beginning of the next chapter of our city,” the 2nd District Councilman for Kansas City,…
Missouri Starters Coalition debuts effort to boost homegrown jobs, future founders
Entrepreneurs across Missouri gained a new champion this week as regional and national advocates launched a new coalition to support builders in the face of systemic, confidence-shaking roadblocks as they seek to drive job creation and higher lifetime incomes. The Missouri Starters Coalition on Thursday unveiled its founding members — Back2KC, Cortex, E-Factory, Keystone Innovation…
