Government

Ryan Weber, KC Tech Council

Eyeing jobs potential, KC Tech Council celebrates MO governor’s signing of STEM education bill

By Tommy Felts / November 1, 2018

Support for STEM and the Missouri tech space is uploading in Jefferson City, Ryan Weber said in light of successful legislation that will reformat the way high school students benefit from technology courses. A bill increasing access to computer science courses — which gained a second life during a special session in September after previously…

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Kansas Driver License office, Mission, iKan

Skipping the line: PayIt driver’s license renewal tech iKan puts DMV stigma in reverse

By Tommy Felts / October 23, 2018

The market is hungry for consumer-grade digital experiences, said John Thomson, founder and CEO at Kansas City tech startup PayIt. Tuesday’s launch of the firm’s iKan driver’s license renewal technology is a step toward satisfying motorists starved for time and frustrated with inconveniences like long lines and packed parking lots at licensing offices. “Kansas residents…

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Cough Detection

Collaboration in the air: Cough detection sensors combine Sickweather, Mycroft tech

By Tommy Felts / October 18, 2018

You can’t manage what you can’t measure, said Sickweather CEO Graham Dodge, describing the need for cough detection sensors that are slated to be rolled out in public places across Kansas City in 2019. Illness forecaster Sickweather is teaming up with fellow Kansas City startup Mycroft, a leader in artificial intelligence-infused tech, to develop the…

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Mike Hurd with 2018 LaunchKC winners Boddle

LaunchKC earns honors of its own, must still keep hustling, KC eco devo leader says

By Tommy Felts / October 13, 2018

Receiving the Bronze Excellence in Economic Development Award proves the real market value for programs like LaunchKC, said Drew Solomon. The win has been energizing, said Solomon, senior vice president of business and job development at the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, which partners with the Downtown Council of Kansas City to make the program…

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Be fearlessly honest about diversity gap, Atlanta expert tells KC Techweek panelists (Photos)

By Tommy Felts / October 11, 2018

Building an inclusive startup community begins with being unafraid to directly state the problem — a diversity gap — free of coded language related to race and gender, said Rodney Sampson. “I am unapologetically about being ‘color-brave’ and ‘race-brave’ — rather than being ‘color blind’ — because when you say ‘color blind,’ you’re saying you…

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