InvestMidwest releases startup lineup for April conference; KC companies set to pitch
March 14, 2024 | Startland News Staff
Eight Kansas City startups are among 40 companies selected to pitch in April at InvestMidwest — reflecting not only a diversity of founder representation, but a wide range of agriculture, health, and digital technology innovations from across the Midwest, said Claire Kinlaw.
Claire S. Kinlaw, InvestMidwest
“The caliber of talent and innovation among the chosen companies is truly remarkable, and we’re excited to provide them with a platform to connect with investors and propel their growth,” said Kinlaw, executive director at InvestMidwest, noting more than 120 applications were received during the highly competitive selection process.
The best-fit companies are those seeking Series A funding, operating in health, agriculture, or information/data technology sectors, and are located in or primarily conduct business in the Midwest.
InvestMidwest is a premier venture capital conference in the Midwest, connecting innovative startups with investors seeking high-growth opportunities. It returns to Kansas City April 17-18 for the first time since 2019, thanks to a pandemic pause and venue rotation that sees the annual conference alternate between St. Louis and Kansas City.
Click here to view the schedule for the conference and to register.
Day 1 for the spring event is planned for the Kansas City Club with a reception that evening at the downtown Kansas City Public Library. Day 2 is set for the conference center at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
Kansas City companies set to pitch at the event include two of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2024 — Poshed On The Go and Storytailor — as well as past LaunchKC and Pure Pitch Rally competitors and Pipeline fellows and Pathfinders:
- AskSAMIE, Kansas City, Missouri (Digital Health)
- Amplifi Vascular, Overland Park, Kansas (Digital Health)
- DataAppraisal, Overland Park, Kansas (Digital Health)
- EzBizPortal, Overland Park, Kansas (Digital Health)
- Poshed On The Go, Overland Park, Kansas (DigitalTech)
- Redpoint Summit, Kansas City, Missouri (Digital Health)
- Spinal Simplicity, Overland Park, Kansas (MedTech)
- Storytailor, Overland Park, Kansas (DigitalTech)
InvestMidwest pitchers also include companies from other other Missouri tech hubs:
- AdSwapper, Columbia, Missouri (DigitalTech)
- Amptify, Saint Louis, Missouri (MedTech)
- Buck Surgical, Saint Louis, Missouri (MedTech)
- Cykyl Springs, Saint Louis, Missouri (MedTech)
- Healium, Columbia, Missouri (Digital Health)
- Impetus Ag, Saint Louis, Missouri (AgTech)
- iSite Media, Saint Louis, Missouri (DigitalTech)
- SAYeTECH, Saint Louis, Missouri (AgTech)
Of the 40 companies selected to pitch at the conference, diversity in founder representation stands out prominently, InvestMidwest organizers said, noting 12 of the selected companies are founded by women, underscoring the growing presence of female entrepreneurs in the startup ecosystem.
Additionally, nine companies are represented by BIPOC presenters, reflecting InvestMidwest’s commitment to fostering inclusion and equity within the industry, the organization said.
Geographical diversity is another hallmark of this year’s lineup, with companies hailing from across the Midwest and beyond. The conference features startups from states as far-reaching as Pennsylvania and Washington. Other represented states include Oklahoma, Nebraska, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, and California, showcasing the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit thriving throughout the region, organizers said.
Click here for a full list of 2024 InvestMidwest companies.
Featured Business
2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
PrairieFood grows power of its micro-carbon ag solution with a pipeline of human connection
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. LAWRENCE — Entrepreneurship is all about networking, Robert Herrington said. “You never know where a pivot or direction is going to come from,” said Herrington, an early member of the Pipeline…
C2FO marks $300B in funding for businesses as entrepreneurs navigate ongoing credit crunch
Rapid marketplace expansion in the first half of 2023 helped push Leawood-based C2FO — the world’s on-demand working capital platform — past the $300-billion mark in total funding to its customers. This record funding amount reflects invoices paid an average of 31 days early via C2FO’s platform. C2FO gets vital, low-cost capital into customers’ hands…
Froyo with a ’tini twist: Entrepreneur collaboration serves alcoholic frozen yogurt in KC
Kansas City is excited by the new flavor combinations popping up as two entrepreneurs give customers a taste of collaboration, said Isaac Collins, teasing a line of alcoholic frozen yogurt that’s already hitting cups in the metro. Through a partnership with KC-based Brain Freeze Mobile Daiquiri, Collins’ Yogurtini locations have begun a series of happy…
How Meshuggah Bagels ‘built a bakery without a recipe’ — now expanding to Liberty, Lawrence
Pete Linde tested 72 bagel recipes before hitting perfection with number 73, said Janna Linde. She knows because she tried every single test bagel. “Pete worked on that recipe for about a year. He had a notebook and took notes on every little tweak and modification he made. I’d see the big hand mixer come…