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Today’s political climate demands not only a better-informed public, but accurate tools to help voters arm themselves with timely information, said Sara Baker, co-founder of Fast Democracy. The Kansas City-based startup — one of four early-stage businesses recently accepted into Digital Sandbox KC — aims to help people “touch their democracy” through its non-partisan web…
Read More >The U.S. Department of Defense isn’t just bullets and bombs, said Jack Harwell. A five-day October event — “Encountering Innovation,” which is organized by the DoD and the Small Business Development Center’s Kansas office — gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch innovative solutions to a panel of the DoD’s “tech scouts,” said Harwell, advisor at…
Read More >In a deal that further validates the vibrancy of the Midwest tech scene, leaders at Kansas City-based Flyover Capital are lauding the sale of its second portfolio firm since its launch in 2014. Flyover — a venture capital firm whose mission is to fuel the next generation of tech startups in the Midwest — is…
Read More >Techweek KC has released a diverse docket of events, panels and speakers that aim to inspire and mobilize the area’s tech and entrepreneur community. Now in its fourth year, Techweek KC returns Oct. 8-12 with national tech, venture capital, nonprofit and blockchain leaders, said Drew Solomon, senior vice president of business development at the Economic…
Read More >“This room should mirror our city,” said Sly James, repeating a common refrain used throughout his time as Kansas City mayor. But as he addressed a crowd of freelance workers taking part Monday morning in the city’s launch of the Digital Workforce Development Initiative (DWDI), the remark came with a less-frequent follow-up. “And it does,”…
Read More >The smokin’ popularity of Kansas City’s Burnt Finger BBQ has been less of an explosion and more of a slow char, said Megan Day — culminating in a new line of fully cooked barbecue products set to debut Aug. 14 on the Home Shopping Network. “Classic 10-year overnight success,” joked Megan, one half of the…
Read More >CitySmart can’t afford to waste its potential on the waiting game, said CEO and founder Donald Hawkins. “Entrepreneurship teaches you to be extremely effective with limited time,” Hawkins added, as he anticipated a wave of change that would soon wash over his Kansas City-born startup. Founded in 2017, CitySmart is a white label, SaaS platform…
Read More >Startland News is continuing its segment to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs — like KC Pinoy Founder Chrissy Nucum — to share their stories to gain a little help from their supporters. Who are you? I’m Chrissy Nucum, owner and operator of KC Pinoy. What does…
Read More >Moving day has arrived for Startland News and the Kansas City Startup Foundation. The nonprofit digital magazine and its parent organization are set to establish new roots in the Crossroads arts district by the end of this week. Their destination: Plexpod Crossroads. “Readers shouldn’t see an interruption in news from Startland — as something of a…
Read More >For the brothers behind Cheddies, maintaining the integrity of their real-cheddar cheese cracker through the transition to larger manufacturing is paramount as the firm scales, they said. “It really is a guilt-free experience,” said Tomas Pergola, describing the snack he created with his brother, Francisco. “A lot of times we feel the need to indulge…
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