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work sessions

City asks: ‘What do we want to be when we grow up?’ Startups invited to answer Saturday, Tuesday

By Tommy Felts / August 25, 2018

The startup community is a strong group the City of Kansas City, Missouri, should embrace — especially as it crafts local legislation and regulations that will shape the metro for generations, said Sarah Shipley. The Kansas City Startup Foundation board chair’s words come as KCMO officials organize a series of community work sessions, geared toward…

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2018 ScaleUP! Kansas City cohort

ScaleUP! KC announces eighth cohort of firms eyeing serious growth

By Tommy Felts / August 24, 2018

The ScaleUP! Kansas City program has welcomed another large batch of growing companies hoping to accelerate their businesses. ScaleUP announced Wednesday that it accepted 17 Kansas City area companies into its ranks, offering the firms mentorship, resources and connections. The new cohort of entrepreneurs represent varied industries, such as IT, wellness, landscaping, education, architecture and…

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Tech First: Bank’s new pitch event aims to connect investors, startup founders

By Tommy Felts / August 24, 2018

Roots of growth and prosperity are being planted in Kansas City, furthering the advancement of the metro’s tech sector, said Rob Barker. “One of the biggest challenges for these tech companies is finding those investors to speak to,” said Barker, president – Kansas City Region of First Business Bank. First Business, locally based in Leawood,…

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Sheyvette Dinkens, Suite 1886, Wyandotte High School, classroom coworking

KCK business teacher re-imagines school space as student-led classroom coworking

By Tommy Felts / August 24, 2018

Nobody’s going to tell you what to do here, Sheyvette Dinkens said passionately. The Wyandotte High School business teacher recently began transforming her space at school into classroom coworking. “I want students to be able to guide their own education,” she said. “I want to be able to facilitate their learning, and I want them…

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Pepper

GXPI-led $3.25M deal pushes Kansas City IoT firm Pepper over $15M investment mark

By Tommy Felts / August 23, 2018

Pepper topped $15 million in investments this week — adding to its ownership structure through a sizeable deal led by GXPI, the investment arm of Evergy. “This strategic investment by Evergy gives us a great partner in the retail electric utility industry where IoT is beginning to play a critical role,” said Scott Ford, CEO…

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Nearly $5M remains in Kansas angel tax credits as Aug 31 deadline looms; startups urged to apply

By Tommy Felts / August 23, 2018

The clock is ticking for Kansas angel tax credits to be awarded to growing startups in 2018, said Rachèll Rowand. “We are looking for innovative businesses in Kansas that are under five years old,” said Rowand, program manager for the Kansas Department of Commerce, which administers the state’s angel tax program. “The biotechnology industry is…

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big wins across KC

Startland list reflects big wins across KC — but don’t get comfortable, warns founder

By Tommy Felts / August 22, 2018

Kansas City has traction, said Davyeon Ross, but the city and its support network must keep the ball moving. “It’s impressive how much these startups and companies are contributing to the community and the economy,” said Ross co-founder and COO of ShotTracker, reacting to data within Startland’s 2018 list of Top Venture Capital-Backed Companies in…

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Kansas vs Missouri investment

Kansas-vs-Missouri investment record tied to state support for innovation, experts say

By Tommy Felts / August 22, 2018

The Sunflower State appears to set itself apart based on trends indicated by Startland’s 2018 list of Top Venture Capital-Backed Companies in KC. But does Kansas really have the competitive edge? Kansas companies are on average two years older than Missouri companies; they’ve raised more than four times as much capital than their Missouri counterparts;…

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hometown capital

Think globally, invest locally: Are KC dollars worth more than outside capital?

By Tommy Felts / August 22, 2018

Hometown capital is validating, said Darcy Howe, but it isn’t everything. Half of the firms in Startland’s 2018 list of Top Venture Capital-Backed Companies in Kansas City received 50 percent or more of their funding from KC investors — a promising indicator of local support that suggests to outside investors that a company is ready…

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