All Stories

Thou Mayest pivots away from panic: ‘Good goes so much farther than just bitching’

By Tommy Felts / April 1, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Today isn’t payday for Bo Nelson. But he’s still roasting…

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Wendy Guillies, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Kauffman Foundation commits $2.8M to COVID-19 community response efforts in KC

By Tommy Felts / March 31, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland…

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‘Businesses need help now’: AltCap unveils $5M COVID-19 relief loan fund with Kauffman, civic, private backing

By Tommy Felts / March 31, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland…

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U.S. Capital, photo courtesy of the KC Tech Council

Are VC-backed startups excluded from federal aid? KC Tech Council urges SBA rethink rules

By Tommy Felts / March 31, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Legislation signed into law last week to provide broad assistance…

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Nicholas Franano, Artio

Investors pump another $8.8M into KC medical device startup, bringing funding total to $20M+ 

By Tommy Felts / March 31, 2020

A Fairway-based medical device company is getting to the heart of its entrepreneurial journey, securing a fresh $8.8 million in Series A financing, Dr. Nicholas Franano announced Tuesday. The additional influx to Artio — rebranded from “Metactive” earlier this winter — brings the startup’s total capital raised to more than $20 million. The company has…

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Philip Hickman, Plabook; Nomi Smith, PMI Rate Pro; Max Schanker, SWOT; and Jerren Thornhill, The Guy Experience

Digital Sandbox KC deploys funding to four new startups as uncertainty becomes ‘new normal’

By Tommy Felts / March 31, 2020

Startup leaders’ needs — and the development of their ideas — don’t stop with the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), said Jill Meyer, announcing the latest round of funding selections for Digital Sandbox KC. “We know our entrepreneurs are facing so much uncertainty in this current situation,” said Meyer, senior director of technology ventures at the UMKC…

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Buttman illustration by TJ Hanscum

Mysterious comic character resurfaces, offering an escape from unpredictable times

By Tommy Felts / March 29, 2020

Buttman is missing? Well, he might just be out hunting toilet paper like everyone else. About a month before Kansas City workers were forced to abandon their downtown offices in response to the city’s Stay At Home order and ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, a strange series of “missing” posters papered the Crossroads Arts District. Illustrator…

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Andy Page and David Alburty, InnovaPrep

‘Never used like this before’: KC-built biosurveillance, sensor tech, disinfectant firms poised for team COVID-19 battle

By Tommy Felts / March 29, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Kansas City companies are expected to play a role on…

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Hyleme George, IgniteX accelerator

LaunchKC, Black & Veatch open COVID-19 grants competition with $250K (or more) for startups

By Tommy Felts / March 28, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. A newly announced grants competition could boost both the health…

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COVID-19, Fusion Medical Animation

Biotech firm seeks to advance novel exosome isolation-based therapy for COVID-19 into clinical trials

By Tommy Felts / March 28, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. As the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak grows, Clara Biotech is…

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