All Stories

Kansas City, March 2020

Rallying relief: Millions in local stimulus dollars planned through public-private, civic efforts from Topeka to KC

By Tommy Felts / March 24, 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 impacts of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on startups, small businesses and…

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Innovation lab pivots to CollegeMatch tool after teens prompt developers to ditch, do-over concept

By Tommy Felts / March 21, 2020

Editor’s note: Anita Newton is a board member of STARTLAND, the ecosystem building organization that operates Startland News. This story was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. Hiring a teen advisory board to assist the development of CommunityAmerica Credit Union’s new CollegeMatch tool proved helpful — though the team had to scrap everything to…

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Transportant tech turns school buses into mobile WiFi hotspots, sack lunch delivery amid COVID-19 shutdowns

By Tommy Felts / March 21, 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. Educators are getting real as design thinking strategies become the…

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White House expected to endorse Kansas City-built COVID-19 exposure tracking app

By Tommy Felts / March 19, 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 White House is expected to announce its support for…

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Megan Darnell and Zach Anderson Pettet, Fountain City Fintech 2019 demo day, nbkc bank

nbkc discontinues Fountain City Fintech as accelerator leader leaves for San Fran startup

By Tommy Felts / March 19, 2020

A trendsetter in the fintech space, nbkc bank confirmed Wednesday it was discontinuing its popular Fountain City Fintech accelerator after two cohorts. The news follows the departure of the accelerator’s leader, who has joined a San Francisco startup eying Kansas City for its next hiring hub. “This is the first time in my life that…

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Swap selfie for selfless: ‘afloat’ app allows users to send, receive care in times of need

By Tommy Felts / March 18, 2020

Community-centered social platforms have the power to encourage connection and leave users with good feelings, said Sarah-Allen Preston. But most social media falls short. “That [current] connection that we have so much of at our fingertips … it feels inauthentic and it makes us frazzled and it’s inhibiting our ability to actually connect with people.…

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Johnny Wolff, Homeroom

$200K funding infusion helps Homeroom expand its ‘coliving’ footprint across KC, beyond

By Tommy Felts / March 18, 2020

Flexing a finalized $200,000 funding round, Prairie Village-based coliving startup Homeroom is poised to dominate the Midwestern half of an emerging industry, said Johnny Wolff. “I think in 2016 [coliving] was a little niche maybe, but it feels like the market is really emerging and establishing itself — it’s a really interesting space to be…

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Daupler

Demand for Daupler spikes amid COVID-19 as more GovTech customers work from home

By Tommy Felts / March 17, 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. While fears over the economic impact Coronavirus (COVID-19) could have…

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Chicken Laab & Hearty Yellow Curry, Anousone, Strang Hall

Adapting, but preparing for the worst: Curbside KC site helps restaurants pivot to takeout-only mandate

By Tommy Felts / March 17, 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’s restaurant scene already is struggling amid Coronavirus (COVID-19)…

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Clarence Tan and Edna Martinson, Boddle

Boddle offers free access to its edtech platform as remote learning surges during COVID-19 school shutdown

By Tommy Felts / March 17, 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. Widespread school shutdowns because of Coronavirus (COVID-19) doubled Kansas City…

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