Funding

Alchemy Sandbox winners are walking away with more than their $5K prizes, founders say

By Tommy Felts / November 24, 2023

The latest round of Alchemy Sandbox competitors showcased the perseverance and resilience entrepreneurs need to be successful in the long run, said Charon Thompson, announcing five winners of the small business pitch competition. “Businesses that continue to do well stay ready so they don’t have to get ready,” said Thompson, co-founder of The Porter House,…

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LaunchKC awards $300K: Six new startups enter the winners’ circle with KC investments

By Tommy Felts / November 15, 2023

Editor’s note: Startland News’ coverage of Global Entrepreneurship Week-Kansas City is made possible by the support of Husch Blackwell. [divide] Emerging entrepreneurs don’t need Silicon Valley to launch or scale their startups, said Holly Andra Small, leader of one of six companies announced Tuesday as $50,000 winners in LaunchKC’s grants competition.  “We were so excited,”…

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Digital Health KC earns $2M federal grant, doubled by matching funds from Kauffman Foundation

By Tommy Felts / November 14, 2023

Three weeks after Kansas City’s designation as a U.S. “Tech Hub,” the region has earned “tremendous funding to jumpstart KC’s digital health cluster,” said Maria Meyers, informally announcing a $2 million federal grant — matched by an award from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The Build to Scale grant was awarded to the University of…

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Pitch competition at GEW Topeka puts $38K on the line for women, entrepreneurs of color

By Tommy Felts / November 14, 2023

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.  [divide] TOPEKA — Building an equitable business community in Shawnee County is critical to economic development in and around the state’s capital city, said Glenda Washington. A pitch competition slated…

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GreenLight Fund’s $1.2M investment brings two nonprofits focused on food security to KC

By Tommy Felts / November 9, 2023

GreenLight Fund Kansas City recently announced a $1.2 million investment spread over four years to bring nonprofit solutions mRelief and Food Connect to the Kansas City region, addressing food security through responsive approaches to dignified food access. The two organizations have already begun work in Kansas City. mRelief uses technology to remove traditional barriers in the Supplemental Nutrition…

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