Novel Capital teams with Crux KC to offer growth-focused marketing to early-stage tech companies
March 31, 2025 | Startland News Staff
An exclusive partnership between two Kansas City-based innovators is expected to help remove a traditional financial hurdle to business growth, said Ethan Whitehill, president and chief strategy officer for the KC Chamber-lauded marketing firm Crux KC.
The collaboration between Crux and Overland Park-headquartered capital provider Novel Capital is expected to offer B2B SaaS and tech companies a path to non-dilutive flexible financing for essential marketing services.
“This partnership is a game changer, not only for Crux and Novel Capital, but to the entire market as a first-of-its-kind funding tool with flexible terms for marketing services and fractional chief marketer guidance,” said Whitehill. “We are excited to dive into these innovative, entrepreneurial startups and help them make smart marketing investments that establish their brand, scale marketing ops and rev up sales.”
Capital, sales development and marketing are three major challenges every tech venture faces to get their business off the ground, he continued. With Novel Capital’s simple, flexible model providing finding to early-stage SaaS companies ready to grow, and Crux’s expertise in marketing and sales, founders get the startup fuel they need to accelerate growth.
Click here to learn more about Crux’s partnership with Novel Capital, which leverages real-time data and AI to provide analytics, fundraising strategy, and non-dilutive capital to B2B SaaS and tech companies.
A three-time finalist for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year or “Mr. K” award, Crux’s experience in the technology-as-a-service category — offering fractional CMO services backed by a team of specialists — includes client relationships with TreviPay, Super Dispatch and RX Savings Solutions.
“Crux’s growth-focused business approach aligns perfectly with our vision for the founders we work with every day,” said Keith Harrington, co-founder and chief operating officer of Novel Capital alongside fellow serial entrepreneur Carlos Antequera. “At Novel, we’ve funded more than 150 entrepreneurs with more than $100 million, fueling their growth and helping them deliver on their ambitions. By removing the barrier to entry for reliable financing and strategic marketing through this partnership, we are giving founders an alternative to banks and VCs as well as the chance to build something bigger than they ever imagined.”
Crux’s exclusive marketing services partnership with Novel Capital has already begun with both companies working together to identify high-growth enterprise SaaS and tech clients who would benefit from financed marketing services.
Featured Business

2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
This hard swap plays easy: How one KC producer juggles community, breaking the club music cookie cutter
Tyler Jordan’s new spin on DJing: amplify fellow artists and unite people through music, he shared. Jordan — who produces electronic music and DJs under the name Oblivinatti (a mashup of his favorite video game growing up, The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, and his interest in conspiracy theories) — is evolving his sound production business Vibration…
Art and technology too often butt heads, festival planners say; River Market event paints a reality where they coexist
The River Market Art Festival is back after a 20-year hiatus — with a nod to the past and an eye toward the future, shared The AI Hub’s Taylor Burris and James Spikes, startup founders who are hosting the event in partnership with the River Market Community Association. The revival of the art festival —…
PayIt co-founder: No one-size-fits-all formula for scaling one of KC biggest startup ideas
Mike Plunkett’s journey with PayIt came to an early, but critical crossroads when a wealthy entrepreneur offered half-million dollars to support the Kansas City-built govtech venture, he recalled. The catch: this investor insisted on imposing control and veto power as they committed more funds. Despite being low on funds, the PayIt team — led by…
