Posts by Tommy Felts
KCRise closes $41M Fund II, plans to invest in 20 high-growth tech companies
A newly closed, oversubscribed $41 million KCRise Fund II is poised to accelerate regional growth with an influx of talent and investment dollars for 20 high-growth technology companies benefitting Greater Kansas City, said Darcy Howe. And the work has already begun, the fund’s founder and managing director added. Before today’s closing announcement, Fund II had…
Read MoreLove Hate actually: Valentine’s pop-up bar stirs emotions for romantics (and those who see the humor in them)
They’re just a couple of bar owners and friends, standing in front of a thirsty (and isolated) community, asking them to support local businesses — and have a little fun in the process, explained Erica Schulte, one of the minds behind a new Lee’s Summit pop-up bar that promises to put a creative spin on Valentine’s…
Read MoreArtist Q&A: KC musician Lava Dreams brings fans to their feet with her original rhythms
Music gives people an outlet to feel, dance and express themselves, shared 27-year-old musician, Lava Dreams. She’s dreaming of doing the same. Hailing from Kansas City, Julia Hamilton grew up surrounded by music and officially became a solo artist in 2018, now performing as Lava Dreams. In 2020, she released her EP, “GOOD ENERGY +…
Read MoreMissouri could put $1M back into startup support after COVID killed most-recent funding
A budget plan released this week by Gov. Mike Parson includes a $1 million allocation for the Missouri Technology Corporation — a popular public-private initiative boosting startups that saw its investment efforts defunded last year because of COVID-19-related shortfalls. “It is important that we continue to follow through on key investments in workforce development and infrastructure,”…
Read MoreBetaBlox relaunching its popular demo day as part of documentary-style reality TV show
BetaBlox is adding more reality to its demo day — pushing the entrepreneur incubator’s hotly anticipated event to the summer and retooling the format as documentary-style vignettes that feed into casting for a full-season reality TV show. “This opportunity is a win-win-win,” said Weston Bergmann, founder and lead investor at BetaBlox, in a message to entrepreneurs…
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