All Stories

Chris Barnett: Pause what you’re doing for a Magical To-do List thought experiment

By Tommy Felts / January 15, 2020

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Chris Barnett is the former executive vice president of global sales and marketing for EyeVerify (now Zoloz), as well as an advisor to such startups as Ainstein, Pepper IoT, and Yotabites. Barnett is fractional chief sales officer for RiskGenius and founder/principal of Barnett…

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Female coaches face tighter scrutiny, former D1 coach says; docUssist protects careers on the court

By Tommy Felts / January 13, 2020

A new partnership between Overland Park-based docUssist and an “army of female coaches” will help the sports tech startup in its mission to protect the careers and reputations of women on basketball courts across the globe, said Marsha Frese. “Female coaches are one of the most targeted groups with respect to Title IX violations and…

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PayIt, Kansas City

PayIt rings in new year with expanded executive team, repeat GovTech 100 honors 

By Tommy Felts / January 13, 2020

GovTech leader PayIt continues its rapid growth after a massive 2019 funding year, thanks to the hiring of another key C-suite executive — a 20-year veteran in enterprise software sales and leadership. The move puts Neil Graham in the role of PayIt’s first chief revenue officer, and brings the executive team of the industry award-winning…

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Melissa Vincent, Pipeline

Pipeline names OKC startup veteran, podcast host as fellowship’s new executive director

By Tommy Felts / January 9, 2020

A tech startup founder and community builder in the Oklahoma City innovation ecosystem will soon work to open the valve for greater entrepreneurship support in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The Pipeline entrepreneurs fellowship, a network of some of the Midwest’s most successful and high-performance startup leaders, announced Tuesday that Melissa Vincent would take over leadership…

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Lauren Lawrence, Stenovate

Legal tech startup Stenovate earns Fountain Innovation Fund’s second investment

By Tommy Felts / January 8, 2020

The Fountain Innovation Fund is flowing with Kansas City-based Stenovate selected as the second startup to earn its support, the Enterprise Center in Johnson County announced Wednesday.  “Stenovate is an exciting investment for the Fountain Innovation Fund,” explained Maggie Kenefake, managing director of the fund, which chose to back Stenovate based on the emerging startup’s…

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Kristin Rulon, Mind Star Health

Fund Me, KC: Mind Star App ‘needed in my darkest moments,’ says founder, survivor of depression

By Tommy Felts / January 8, 2020

Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs — like Kristin Rulon with her Mind Star Health campaign — to share their crowdfunding stories to gain a little help from their supporters. Who are you? Kristin Rulon, founder and CEO…

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Laura Brady, Royal Street Ventures

$16.4M third fund for Royal Street; KC needs at least one $100M exit each year, leader says

By Tommy Felts / January 6, 2020

A $16.4 million third fund will see Kansas City-rooted Royal Street Ventures claim even more stake in area startups and establish itself as a leader in locally-sourced venture capital, said Laura Brady.  “We have invested in six companies in Kansas City — including two already in Fund III,” Brady, Royal Street’s managing director, noted of the…

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No MO: Kansas City, St. Louis drop off Inc list of ‘50 Best Cities for Starting a Business’

By Tommy Felts / January 6, 2020

Shots fired. A new ranking by Inc. magazine claims startup powerhouse Austin, Texas, is “leading the nation in job creation and high-growth company density — and delish BBQ.” Kansas City? Not even on the list. Inc.’s Surge Cities index — detailing what founders can learn from the 50 Best U.S. Cities for Starting a Business…

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BetaBlox demo day

Meet the 2020 class: BetaBlox demo day returning with events across startup sister cities

By Tommy Felts / January 6, 2020

Audience tickets for BetaBlox’s Overland Park demo day are nearly gone, said Weston Bergmann, just weeks before the incubator program showcases its newest startups across three events in two cities. The “can’t-miss entrepreneurship event” Jan. 20 at the GRID Collaborative Workspace is expected to entail a combination of pitches, expo-style networking, and a panel of…

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Louis Byrd, Goodwim Design

An entrepreneur’s confession: Being a stay-at-home dad is the manliest thing I’ve ever done

By Tommy Felts / January 6, 2020

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. I am the man! Women stay at home and care for the children. Men are the breadwinners. Throughout history, that has been the societal norm. Women take care of home and men are the providers. From the hunter-gather period, until modern times —…

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