Funding

Comeback KC Ventures launches program to fund, accelerate COVID solutions in region

By Tommy Felts / September 14, 2021

A new Kansas City-based program is recruiting 20 fellows — from among the metro’s first-time entrepreneurs and established businesses — for an effort to help accelerate innovations, products or service lines that are solving needs exposed by the pandemic. “The public health crisis posed by COVID-19 ignited a need for rapid change and innovation,” said Jim…

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Valentine Osakwe and Zerryn Gines, Peep Connect

Techstars arrival: Find that ‘ride or die’ investor who answers your 3 am calls, founder says

By Tommy Felts / September 2, 2021

Even in a startup’s early stages, founders need both a roadmap and destination, said Zerryn Gines. “You don’t need to know exactly what you’re doing every step of the way, but if you know where you want to go — then you can connect to the right people and ask the right questions,” explained Gines,…

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Dan Kerr, Flyover Capital

Flyover Capital closes its Tech Fund II over $60M, targeting new seed, post-seed startups

By Tommy Felts / September 2, 2021

Tech startups raising seed and post-seed funding will benefit most from the close of Flyover Capital Fund II, the venture capital firm said, announcing Thursday its oversubscribed close. “The oversubscribed fund brings Flyover Capital’s total assets under management to approximately $110 million,” the Overland Park-based venture capital firm said in a release, outlining plans for…

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Leo Morton, DeBruce Companies

Firebrand Ventures closes $40M seed fund for ‘authentic’ founders in emerging communities; adds Leo Morton as advisor

By Tommy Felts / August 26, 2021

A year after two prominent venture capital firms announced their merger, the consolidated Firebrand Ventures II is officially closed — reaching its $40 million target and having already invested in startups from Detroit, Seattle and Toronto. “Several years ago we raised our first funds — Boulder-based Blue Note Ventures and Kansas City-based Firebrand Ventures I —…

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Brad Starnes, Splitsy

Divide and conquer: Splitsy pulls $70K from crowdfunding, ‘extra bump’ toward launch 

By Tommy Felts / August 19, 2021

Splitsy is ready to cash in on its widespread consumer appeal, revealed Brad Starnes, announcing the close of the startup’s first crowdfunding campaign and what it might mean for its rapidly scaling future.  “We’re sitting at about $130,000 in funding right now,” said Starnes, co-founder of Splitsy, noting a nearly $71,000 chunk of the startup’s…

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