Investors

Freightquote, Edison Factory founder-turned-investor touts ‘work ethic worth investing in’

By Tommy Felts / March 21, 2019

Raise and raise relentlessly. Because in business, the sun won’t shine every day, Tim Barton told a room filled Wednesday morning with entrepreneurs and investors eagerly seeking support and insight at the 20th InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum. The former CEO of Freightquote, who saw a $365 million exit for the company in 2014 before launching…

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UMKC joins campus network’s student Entrepreneur Quest accelerator competition

By Tommy Felts / March 19, 2019

A final showdown of student startups has been set, as budding entrepreneurs from across the University of Missouri campus network compete for financial support. “It brings a lot of those best practices together from all four campuses and really showcases all the great work that’s going on in the system to promote entrepreneurship,” said Andy…

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With new partner, Firebrand ramps up ‘founder-focused’ culture, aims to double fund

By Tommy Felts / March 11, 2019

Firebrand Ventures is the right culture fit at the right time, said serial entrepreneur Ryan Merket. Joining the Kansas City-based venture firm as a partner alongside John Fein, Merket brings a wealth of experience from his time at Facebook, Reddit and Amazon, as well as five years as an angel investor, he said. “Looking at…

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Founder facing gender bias: Don’t call me a victim; call me investors

By Tommy Felts / March 6, 2019

It’s like pulling teeth to get key investors and resource organizations to help push female entrepreneurs forward, said Carlanda McKinney, citing implicit bias and a lack of effective support mechanisms. [pullquote] Editor’s note: The following is part of three-piece package, Women’s Work: Startups fueled by female founders struggle for equity. • Founder facing gender bias: Don’t…

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Even gatekeepers struggle to bring KC’s women-led companies in from the cold

By Tommy Felts / March 6, 2019

Female entrepreneurs are falling behind as a new generation of highly-scalable startups rises in the Kansas City, said Darcy Howe, reporting too few women-led firms even approaching KCRise Fund for investment. [pullquote] Editor’s note: The following is part of three-piece package, Women’s Work: Startups fueled by female founders struggle for equity. • Founder facing gender bias:…

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