Government

10 years later: Google Fiber boosted city’s ‘capacity for collaboration,’ former mayor says

Instant success catalyzed by the arrival of high-speed internet 10 years ago uploaded more than hype for Kansas City, said Sly James, noting Google Fiber’s significant role in reshaping the community as a tech city to envy. Opening unparalleled innovation and civic brand-building opportunities, Google’s selection of Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, as…

Missouri receives $95M from federal initiative to boost startup, small business growth

A newly announced $27 million in federal funds earmarked to support small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs is headed to Missouri, representing the first of three awards approved by the U.S. Department of Treasury — totaling $95 million — to be deployed through the Missouri Technology Corporation. The funding comes via the State Small Business Credit Initiative,…

With boost to $31M in funding, how will state agency power MO innovation? Check out its plan

Two months after Gov. Mike Parson and legislators bumped the Missouri Technology Corporation’s budget back into the double digits, the state-funded investment agency introduced its plan for implementing five new strategies designed to catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship in Missouri. Presented early this month at the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development, MTC released an execution roadmap…

DHS grant boosts more than federal agents’ safety — backing Kenzen’s high-growth expansion

A federal grant program dedicated to innovating new solutions to prevent crisis-level scenarios was a timely fit for Kenzen’s wearable, heat-sensing safety tech, said CEO Heidi Lehmann, detailing the Kansas City startup’s recent funding award and move into “high-growth mode.” Kenzen this summer received a $161,600 grant through the Department of Homeland Security’s Silicon Valley…

KC BizCare awarded $300K by Kauffman for small business census, new ESO accelerator

Entrepreneurial support organizations experience many of the same challenges faced by Kansas City’s small business community, stifling their effectiveness, Nia Richardson noted.  “This includes staffing and resource constraints, lack of business education and practical experience, and fragmented systems of support. Without addressing these structural and systemic constraints, enabling equitable and inclusive small business growth will…