Site confirmed for ASTRA innovation district; Why the project ‘sends a signal to startups’ and beyond

Concert near the planned ASTRA Innovation District building in Topeka

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. One…

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New in KC: How two OU alumni secured over $1M from NASA, US Air Force for 3D printing startup

Ryan Cowdrey and Blake Herren, Raven 3D Printing

Editor’s note: New in KC is an ongoing profile series that highlights newly relocated members of the Kansas City startup community, their reasons for a change of scenery, and what they’ve found so far in KC. This series is sponsored by C2FO, a Leawood-based, global financial services company. Click here to read more New in KC profiles. Replicating the founding…

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Flyover Capital closes its Tech Fund II over $60M, targeting new seed, post-seed startups

Dan Kerr, Flyover Capital

Tech startups raising seed and post-seed funding will benefit most from the close of Flyover Capital Fund II, the venture capital firm said, announcing Thursday its oversubscribed close. “The oversubscribed fund brings Flyover Capital’s total assets under management to approximately $110 million,” the Overland Park-based venture capital firm said in a release, outlining plans for…

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It’s ‘Teacher Appreciation Year’ as blooom launches 12 months of free services for educators

Chris Costello, blooom

After an especially difficult year for teachers — navigating safety protocols and virtual classrooms, among other pandemic challenges — a Kansas City startup plans to offer its finance and retirement services free to educators for 12 months and at any price level, said Chris Costello. “Many [traditional] plans are needlessly expensive and complicated, which is why…

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