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Concert near the planned ASTRA Innovation District building in Topeka

Site confirmed for ASTRA innovation district; Why the project ‘sends a signal to startups’ and beyond

By Tommy Felts / September 3, 2021

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. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. One…

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Valentine Osakwe and Zerryn Gines, Peep Connect

Techstars arrival: Find that ‘ride or die’ investor who answers your 3 am calls, founder says

By Tommy Felts / September 2, 2021

Even in a startup’s early stages, founders need both a roadmap and destination, said Zerryn Gines. “You don’t need to know exactly what you’re doing every step of the way, but if you know where you want to go — then you can connect to the right people and ask the right questions,” explained Gines,…

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Ryan Cowdrey and Blake Herren, Raven 3D Printing

New in KC: How two OU alumni secured over $1M from NASA, US Air Force for 3D printing startup

By Tommy Felts / September 2, 2021

Editor’s note: New in KC is an ongoing profile series that highlights newly relocated members of the Kansas City startup community, their reasons for a change of scenery, and what they’ve found so far in KC. This series is sponsored by C2FO, a Leawood-based, global financial services company. Click here to read more New in KC profiles. Replicating the founding…

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Dan Kerr, Flyover Capital

Flyover Capital closes its Tech Fund II over $60M, targeting new seed, post-seed startups

By Tommy Felts / September 2, 2021

Tech startups raising seed and post-seed funding will benefit most from the close of Flyover Capital Fund II, the venture capital firm said, announcing Thursday its oversubscribed close. “The oversubscribed fund brings Flyover Capital’s total assets under management to approximately $110 million,” the Overland Park-based venture capital firm said in a release, outlining plans for…

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Chris Costello, blooom

It’s ‘Teacher Appreciation Year’ as blooom launches 12 months of free services for educators

By Tommy Felts / August 31, 2021

After an especially difficult year for teachers — navigating safety protocols and virtual classrooms, among other pandemic challenges — a Kansas City startup plans to offer its finance and retirement services free to educators for 12 months and at any price level, said Chris Costello. “Many [traditional] plans are needlessly expensive and complicated, which is why…

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Heather Decker and A.J. Mellott, Ronawk

Voting now open: Startup’s stem cell scaling solution vies for ‘Coolest Thing Made in Kansas’

By Tommy Felts / August 31, 2021

An Olathe biotech lab is once again growing “Coolest Thing Made in Kansas” honors with its breakthrough technology to help researchers produce stem cells at a massive scale to help fight pandemics and global diseases. T-Blocks were announced Tuesday as one of the Top 32 contenders in the Kansas Chamber’s annual Kansas-made tournament, which highlights…

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Jeremy Elias, TrackMy Solutions

KC startup releases ‘eVaccine passport’ with state registry verification, alerts for booster shots

By Tommy Felts / August 31, 2021

Employers and event organizers hoping to promote safety amid the flourishing Delta variant and the threat of fraudulent CDC vaccine cards have a new tool, said Jeremy Elias, announcing a Kansas City-built solution to track and confirm individuals’ COVID-19 vaccine statuses. TrackMy Verivax empowers businesses to capture data, track compliance, report on vaccine administration and…

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Arvelisha Woods and India Monique, Mattie’s Foods

A Bible parable helped connect vegan foods to Made in KC cafes; here’s how two sisters planted the seed

By Tommy Felts / August 28, 2021

Now served at Made in KC cafes across the metro — from the brand’s popular marketplaces to the new Outta the Blue oasis and downtown trolley cafe — vegan goods from Mattie’s Foods arrive on plates thanks to growing hunger for more healthy options, as well as the wholesome ingredients of a community-built business. Between…

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Sherri Corwin, Mixed Mutt Creamery

Midtown ice cream shop for pups churns out treats, therapeutic ‘doggo date’ spot for pets, people

By Tommy Felts / August 27, 2021

Bad days especially call for ice cream, Sherri Corwin said, recalling one of her favorite self-care rituals and the way it became her freshly creamed, Midtown-scooped startup — a venture that’s left tails across the metro wagging for waffle cones.  “People really do love their pets,” said Corwin, who in February opened Mixed Mutt Creamery —…

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Faye Steiner-Woods, Red Hare Leather

How an artisan leatherworker in KC’s historic northeast is making space for more than a hobby

By Tommy Felts / August 27, 2021

Faye Steiner-Woods returned from a trip to Brooklyn, New York, inspired — eager to prove quality doesn’t have to mean expensive when creativity is used as currency.  “I wanted to purchase this really expensive, $50 keychain, and it just seemed ridiculous,” Steiner-Woods laughed, recalling their impulse to buy — and the origins of a business venture,…

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