Funding

Education network CAPS snags $145K from Kauffman Foundation

A homegrown education innovation network announced Wednesday it was awarded a $145,000 grant to expand its programming across the nation, courtesy of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) program began in the Blue Valley School District in 2009 and is now expanded to 33 programs encompassing 69 school districts…

WillCo Tech’s sale allows founder guilt-free $200K investment in smart grid startup

Selling a majority stake in his IT consulting firm will allow Kevin Williams to focus on and expand his startup venture, the Kansas City tech entrepreneur said. Although the exact amount was undisclosed, the acquisition by Ohio-based Metisentry earlier this month provided a big enough payoff to fund Williams’ and his wife’s future retirement, as…

After $2.95M round, corporate deal ensures word-of-mouth marketing for RiskGenius

RiskGenius’ $2.95 million series A extension funding round is worth more than its face value, said CEO Chris Cheatham. The round was led by QBE Ventures, an Australia-based firm known as being among the world’s top 20 insurance companies. In addition to the funds, QBE North America will be the first division to fully implement…

Lisa Stehno-Bittel and Karthik Ramachandran, Likarda

Likarda scaling up biotech research firm with $4M angel boost, new lab

An animal’s diabetes diagnosis comes with a heavy burden for the pet’s owners, Lisa Stehno-Bittel said. And it’s not just the cost of treatment, the president and co-founder of Likarda added. “Of those who will try twice-daily insulin injections, within a year, half of those have given up,” she said. “A lot of that is…

CEO: Infusion Express $13.5M round proves realistic investment can come to KC

When Kansas City-based Infusion Express closed a $13.5 million Series B round earlier this month with McKesson Ventures as its lead investor, the move wasn’t a fluke, Don Peterson said. “If you build something really great, the money will find you,” said Peterson, CEO of Infusion Express. “I didn’t call McKesson, they called me. When…