KC-area startup earns spot in first-ever AWS accelerator for emerging GovTech companies
September 21, 2023 | Startland News Staff
A Lee’s Summit-based startup focused on developing tech for the criminal justice industry has been selected for Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) inaugural GovTech Accelerator cohort.
eHawk — led by co-founders Bart Cooper and Ted Green, a former bail bondsman and trial attorney — is one of 13 companies tapped for the program. The Kansas City-built technology is driven by its RePath platform, which seeks to decrease recidivism, increase operational efficiency, improve participant outcomes, and reinforce adherence to conditions in both pre-trial and post-trial supervision, showcasing a commitment to accountable practices and economical solutions.
The tool allows users to electronically supervise the criminal justice population previously omitted from any electronic monitoring platform.
As part of the four-week AWS GovTech Accelerator cohort, which begins this month, eHawk is set to receive business development resources, as well as AWS tools and technical guidance, to enhance eHawk’s mission. The program culminates with a demo day Nov. 14 at the State of GovTech conference.
The selected startups are focused on a wide range of solutions for first responders, emergency services, corrections, and other public safety agencies, according to AWS.
By leveraging AWS to develop the next generation of GovTech technology, the startups aim to address justice and public safety challenges, such as increasing community engagement, deterring crime, and reducing recidivism, said Kim Majerus, vice president of global education and U.S. state and local government at AWS.
“The AWS GovTech Accelerator was created to support the development of technologies that can address these challenges,” said Majerus. “The 13 startups selected have demonstrated a technology solution that has real-world application, and we are excited to work with them.”
Click here to learn more about the other 12 companies in the cohort, which hail from coast to coast with eHawk the sole Midwestern startup included.

2023 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Events Preview: Gigabit City Summit, Celebrate entrepreneurs
There are a plethora of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter, or curious community member — we recommend these upcoming events for you. Are you hosting a relevant community event? Feel free to add it to the FWD/KC calendar for increased exposure. Once your event…
Rack Performance beefs up with seed investment from former Perceptive Software execs
Lenexa-based Rack Performance has raised a seed investment round that will fuel the exercise tech startup’s sales and development. Rack Performance has raised $300,000 from perceptiveEQUITY, a new early-stage investment firm that’s managed by three former executives at Lenexa-based Perceptive Software, which was purchased by Lexmark International for $280 million in 2010. Lexmark recently sold…
Six takeaways from the digital transformation at Hallmark
It’s not just tech startups that innovate and disrupt. One of the Kansas City area’s largest firms, Hallmark Cards, recently launched a digital transformation. In 2015, the greeting card giant funneled thousands of products that were popular on the shelves to online sales. The firm also updated its social media practices to attract younger customers.…
Report: Kansas City’s tech workforce is growing faster than most big cities
Techies around the nation have flocked to Kansas City at a rate faster than many major cities, including New York City, Chicago, San Diego and others according to a recent report. CBRE’s annual Tech Talent Report found that between 2011 and 2016 Kansas City’s tech workforce grew 39 percent, adding about 15,000 new tech staffers…


