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NBKC Bank Headquarters

nbkc bank launching FinTech accelerator with at least $50K for each startup

By Tommy Felts / June 20, 2018

Leveraging an area aptitude for innovation in finance, nbkc bank is launching an accelerator program for early-stage financial technology startups from across the globe. The Kansas City-based community bank has partnered with the LaunchKC grants contest to offer the Fountain City Fintech Accelerator, which will soon welcome applications for its inaugural class. The 75-day program…

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Choir Bar Swell Spark

Watch: Choir Bar debuts ‘One Day’ video from its first reverse karaoke singalong event

By Tommy Felts / June 20, 2018

The excitement was palpable Saturday as Choir Bar launched into song for the first time in River Market, said Matt Baysinger. Now organizers are ready to share the singalong experience with the world. “People are so dang impressive,” said Baysinger, co-founder of Swell Spark, which debuted the Choir Bar concept in hopes of it becoming…

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Ben Rendo, president, Mighty Good Solutions, Pizza Saver

Another slice in stock: Walmart picking up KC startup’s Made-in-the-USA Pizza Saver

By Tommy Felts / June 20, 2018

Mighty Good Solutions leaves no ideas to waste, said co-founder Ben Rendo. The Crossroads-based company’s Pizza Saver product — baked from a simple premise — is its latest offering to earn a deal with the world’s largest retailer. “We just try to focus on products that are going to make everyday life better,” Rendo said…

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Youthfront's Imagine Argentine

Imagine Argentine: How 10 students hope to transform a KCK neighborhood

By Tommy Felts / June 20, 2018

It’s about making Argentine better, said Emma Jones and Sergio Garcia. Both middle schoolers are members of Imagine Argentine’s 10-student cohort. The social entrepreneurship program is dedicated to solving social challenges in Argentine, Kansas, said Kurt Reitema, director of justice initiatives for Youthfront, a KC-based youth ministry organization. The cohort meets each day during the…

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ECJC unveils new $5M seed fund for regional startups

By Tommy Felts / June 19, 2018

Kansas City has a new fund targeting Midwest startups. The Enterprise Center in Johnson County is leading a bi-state initiative that’s working to capitalize the $5 million Fountain Innovation Fund. The fund — built by the Midwest Seed Consortium — aims to increase the number and pace of scalable firms by investing in the most…

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KCSourceLink All-Star Voting Winners

All-Star voting winners: E-Day at the K celebrates KCSourceLink, its network (Photos)

By Tommy Felts / June 19, 2018

KCSourceLink’s Entrepreneur Day at the K heralded the work of the support organization’s sprawling network of partners. But the tailgate party at Kauffman Stadium didn’t let founder Maria Meyers go unnoticed. Reading from a proclamation announcement marking Monday as “KCSourceLink Entrepreneur Day” in Kansas City, Missouri, Nathan Kurtz, entrepreneur advocate at the Ewing Marion Kauffman…

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Mayor Sly James Living Cities

Vote now: KCMO competing for spot in accelerator focusing on gender, racial inclusion

By Tommy Felts / June 19, 2018

KCMO already is a five-star city, Mayor Sly James says, but a new accelerator program could make it even better. “Kansas City’s startup community is growing and innovating, but women and people of color are being left behind,” James says in a pitch video for Living Cities City Accelerator program. A coalition of local organizations,…

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Go print yourself! Overland Park doob shop turns selfie concept into 3D replicas

By Tommy Felts / June 18, 2018

A new shop in Overland Park is supplanting the selfie with the mini me. After first opening shops in Los Angeles and New York City, the Germany-based 3D printing firm doob has arrived in the Kansas City area to 3D print people, groups and pets. The technology, process and results capture moments in time customers…

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Entrepreneur who left KC: Lack of funding, competitive pay drove me away

By Tommy Felts / June 18, 2018

Editor’s note: Jacob McDaniel is an entrepreneur and former resident of Kansas City. This letter was penned by McDaniel in response to Zach Pettet’s op-ed on Kansas City being an underground tech hub. Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. While I don’t personally know a ton about FinTech, I do know a…

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Reggie Gray, Black Privilege

KCultivator Q&A: Reggie Gray finds magic in connecting entrepreneurs with Black Privilege, no excuses

By Tommy Felts / June 15, 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. He’s left his “Magic Man” persona behind, but Reggie Gray can’t quite shake the performer inside him, he said. “Whenever I…

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