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
Ideem locks in $2.4M seed round for trust tech spinout driven by Toby Rush, startup veterans
The Ideem team has a clear vision for how to make two-factor authentication easy and invisible for users, serial tech entrepreneur Toby Rush said, noting an early investment round will help the rapidly emerging startup double-down. Ideem announced a $2.4 million seed round Tuesday, backed by Sovereign’s Capital, Quona Capital, Everywhere Ventures, Hustle Fund, Oread…
New role at Endeavor Heartland scales Craig Moore’s concierge ecosystem building
In a move that highlights Kansas City’s growing influence within the global landscape, innovation booster Craig Moore has taken on a new role with a Northwest Arkansas-based network for high-impact entrepreneurs — bringing his ecosystem-building superpowers to a broader scale. As senior manager of entrepreneur experience at Endeavor Heartland, however, Moore isn’t abandoning his roots…
Thai Orchid opens Northland location with homey street food set to wow its new neighbors
Even though the new Thai Orchid restaurant in Kansas City’s Northland proudly pays homage to the Rojjanasrirat family’s culinary legacy in Mission, its second-generation owner wants to shock the taste buds of diners who are unfamiliar with the business’ story. “I want the reaction of the people who try our food to be, ‘Wow! That’s…
C2FO accesses $30M investment with World Bank-backed IFC to expand KC firm’s working capital platform
A just-announced capital infusion for Leawood-built C2FO reflects a shared commitment with global partners to boosting jobs and strengthening economic opportunities — notably for micro, small and medium enterprises in emerging markets worldwide. The $30 million funding round features investment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and existing…
