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Rick Usher: How can KCMO balance policy and micromobility technology?

October 11, 2018

Update: On Thursday, KCMO City Manager Troy Schulte authorized Bird to deploy up to 500 scooters, as authorized in the city’s interim operating agreement. Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. This piece by Rick Usher was originally published by the National League of Cities, and comes days after Kansas City…

Hunting access to capital? Do your homework first, Techweek panel says

October 11, 2018

Imagining overnight startup success is as unrealistic as wanting to become a winning athlete or megastar musician overnight — it all takes time and practice, said Juan Campos. “If you actually have the ambition to create a multimillion dollar company, then the people that are the most successful at that didn’t just wake up one…

Real estate tech firm RealQuantum moving from bootcamp to LaunchKC stage

October 11, 2018

Lacking the sex appeal of tech and other high-growth, super-charged industries, the world of commercial real estate is ripe for change, said Jeff Weiner. LaunchKC competitor RealQuantum is ready to modernize that landscape, he said. “Serving a critical need that doesn’t really get a lot of attention is a really smart place to be and…

ShotTracker benchmark: KC tech gets waiver to be used courtside by coaches at Hall of Fame Classic

October 9, 2018

A score in the basket of history, Merriam-based ShotTracker has landed another monumental first, the company announced Tuesday, further positioning it as a leader in the Kansas City tech space. “ShotTracker is proud to drive this next stage of growth in college basketball,” Davyeon Ross, co-founder and COO said of the company’s latest NCAA collaboration…

Sprint Accelerator founder teases plans for ‘innovation district’ to fill Jazz-to-Crossroads gap

October 9, 2018

Kevin McGinnis sees potential in the creativity gap along the 18th Street corridor that connects the Jazz and Crossroads Arts districts, he said. The former Sprint executive and founder of the Sprint Accelerator teased plans Tuesday for a collaborative innovation district that could bridge societal gaps and further develop community in the startup ecosystem. “I’m…

Techweek KC taps into thirst for community at Boulevard kickoff party (Photos)

October 9, 2018

Revelers networking Monday night at a kickoff party for Techweek Kansas City were so lost in conversation that they frequently had to be reminded of the open bar available to them at Boulevard Beer Hall. The evening event capped the first day of Techweek KC programming, which ran the gamut from a KC Mayoral Tech…

Is KC scaring away disruptive tech? Mayor candidates revive sharing economy debate

October 9, 2018

A wave of technology is coming — and Kansas City should be ready, said Steve Miller, entering the fray between mayoral candidates over regulating the sharing economy. Appearing Monday at a KC Mayoral Tech Forum to open Techweek Kansas City, Miller compared navigating the regulatory waters around such emerging services as Airbnb, Uber and Bird to…

Pure Pitch surprise twist: Techweek competition adds pre-teen innovator to KC startup lineup

October 8, 2018

In a surprise announcement Monday, organizers of the Pure Pitch Rally announced the third annual pitch competition would feature the Kansas City pre-teen innovator behind the Storm Sleeper. Update: Click here to find out who won big at the Pure Pitch Rally. Julia Luetje — a Barstow School student from Leawood, who at 10 years…

David Myers: Don’t do it alone! Why your startup should outsource its accounting

October 8, 2018

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary about workplace culture are the author’s alone. David Myers is a longtime business strategist who recently relocated from Springfield, Missouri, to Kansas City. Batman had Robin. Sherlock Holmes had Dr. John Watson. Captain Kirk had Spock. Every superhero has a great sidekick, and the same should go…

First Friday takeover: Startup Crawl draws 600-plus, showcasing KC, risk-takers, creatives (Photos)

October 6, 2018

Editor’s note: Startup Crawl and Startland News are both programs of the Kansas City Startup Foundation, though the content below was produced independently by Startland. For more information on the relationship, click here. First Friday revelers and curious minds alike were treated to a five-stop Startup Crawl tour of Kansas City’s entrepreneur community — from…