Funding

Lawrence cybersecurity startup raises $1.85M pre-seed round led by KC’s Flyover Capital

By Tommy Felts / June 28, 2023

A startup focused on detecting hidden malware and preventing costly ransomware attacks announced a power-packed pre-seed funding round to push its pending launch — with the backing of a trio of high-profile regional investors. The investment in cybersecurity pioneer Invary was led by Flyover Capital, with additional participation from NetWork Kansas GROWKS Equity program, and…

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Fund Me, KC: Zanago founders seek support to close funding gap for real estate transparency platform

By Tommy Felts / June 26, 2023

Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses or lend a helping hand to others. This is an opportunity for business owners and innovators — like Louis Byrd and Arlene Byrd from the social impact tech company Zanago — to share their crowdfunding stories and potentially…

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Pitch contest winners salute PHKC as fourth cohort wraps; $15K in prizes awarded to small businesses

By Tommy Felts / June 22, 2023

A winning night at The Porter House KC’s pitch event this week expands opportunity for more than just the company taking home the biggest check, said Taylor Burris. AI Hub — led by Burris and her husband, James Spikes — earned first place and $8,000 in the competition, which also marked the completion of PHKC’s…

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KCRise Fund closes $34M Fund III with ‘hyper-local’ focus; Here are its first four investments

By Tommy Felts / June 22, 2023

A third venture capital fund — expected to invest $34 million in 20 more tech startups across the Kansas City region — builds on KCRise Fund’s thesis that high-growth local companies are the key to investor success, said Ed Frindt. It’s a competitive advantage that swells with each wave of funding, he added, announcing the…

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$16M round for health tech startup growing AI agents to perform administrative tasks

By Tommy Felts / June 21, 2023

A Seattle company with a talent hub in Kansas City announced Wednesday a $16 million seed round that includes investment from KCRise Fund and a promise to leverage conversational artificial intelligence alongside human talent to boost workplace productivity. Outbound AI emerged from stealth mode in 2022 to a market hungry for solutions, said Stead Burwell,…

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