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Matthew Condon, Bardavon, Clete Brewer, NewRoad Capital Partners, and Paul Morris, Bardavon

Bardavon bid to revolutionize workers’ compensation just got a $15 million boost

By Tommy Felts / November 17, 2018

Timing is everything, said Matt Condon, announcing this week $15 million in new financing to help scale his Overland Park-based company’s reach into markets from coast to coast. “Our national expansion is coming at a time when employers across the country are recognizing that they must play a lead role in the transformation of health…

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Davin Gordon, AltCap

KCultivator Q&A: Mother inspires Davin Gordon to remove ‘can’t’ from the conversation

By Tommy Felts / November 16, 2018

Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The KCultivator Series is sponsored by WeWork Corrigan Station, a modern twist on Kansas City office space. Kansas City’s future depends on whether the business community invests in homegrown talent, Davin Gordon said. “It doesn’t have…

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Godfrey Riddle and Jennifer Lapka, Rightfully Sewn, AltCap winner

AltCap winner launching its first Rightfully Sewn-label little black dress at TEDxKC Women

By Tommy Felts / November 16, 2018

Winning $10,000 in this week’s AltCap Your Biz Competition will help Rightfully Sewn expand, Jennifer Lapka said — a move coming on the heels of the social endeavor releasing the first dress under its own label to support the Crossroads-based seamstress training program. “It’s a stylish, well-made LBD (little black dress) that women can wear…

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TechWalk

On the TechWalk runway: This is what real KC Women in Tech look like   

By Tommy Felts / November 15, 2018

Tech careers are available to everyone, said Ventura Rangel. Kansas City Women in Technology, a nonprofit dedicated to growing the number of women in technology careers, played host to its second annual TechWalk fashion show, showcasing female tech professionals on the runway, said Rangel, event director for KCWiT. The goal is to inspire young girls…

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Lawrence-based Ainstein predicts radar tech will push self-driving automotive advances

By Tommy Felts / November 15, 2018

From Kansas, Ainstein’s radar technology can have a profound impact on industries across the globe, said Zongbo Wang. “We wanted to design radar that can be very affordable and play different roles in the industry,” said Wang, CEO of the radar tech firm. “Over the past three years, we’ve experienced a time of tremendous growth.”…

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Andy Talbert, Snow Pops

Hustle in the making: Startups scaling ‘maker’ concept with high-growth models (Photos)

By Tommy Felts / November 15, 2018

Andy Talbert is in no way crafty, the Snow Pops co-founder said. “At all,” he emphasized, eliciting laughter from the crowd at Startland’s “Hustle in the Making” Innovation Exchange. The event — sponsored by Plexpod and Polsinelli — explored the evolving spectrum of startup businesses that could be considered “makers” in modern entrepreneurial culture. Kansas…

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Kevin McGinnis, Keystone Community Corporation, innovation district

Innovation district will look to black community for insight, McGinnis tells GEW crowd

By Tommy Felts / November 13, 2018

Developing an innovation district takes a village, Kevin McGinnis told a packed room of Global Entrepreneurship Week attendees — a cross-section of Kansas Citians eager to learn more about how his proposed Keystone innovation district could re-shape diversity and inclusion efforts in the startup space. “I’m not going to suggest that I’m bringing a bunch…

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CoCreate KC

Fiercely independent, together: CoCreate KC feeds talent through coworking pipeline

By Tommy Felts / November 13, 2018

A new coworking space in the Crossroads — CoCreate KC — plans to mix commercial and fine artists to stoke creative energy, with each member able to lend their talents to the founding firm, BrandWell Partners, said Brad Lang. “There are so many Kansas City, successful freelancers out there working on the ground,” said Lang, co-founder…

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top 10 GEW

Top 10 remaining GEW events: Midwest funding, women startup leaders, social media marketing

By Tommy Felts / November 13, 2018

Nearing the midpoint of Global Entrepreneurship Week, snowy weather turned to sunny skies — welcoming entrepreneurs and curious citizens alike to a wide range of activities rounding out the week. Wednesday is expected to feature some of the week’s most popular workshops and panels, according to KCSourceLink data, with three of the leading events running…

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Shanti Elangovan, InquirED

VIDEO: Education startups earn $60K in LEANLAB grants at revamped Launch[ED] Day

By Tommy Felts / November 12, 2018

The work doesn’t end with LEANLAB Education’s Launch[ED] Day celebration, said Katie Boody. Four of the accelerator’s fellows will continue their startups’ research thanks to $60,000 in grant investments. The entrepreneur-led education ventures took the stage Thursday to pitch their companies to the Launch[ED] crowd at Plexpod Westport Commons, as well as to describe the…

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