Investors

‘Wonderful things anywhere’: Entrepreneurs share keys to ‘Main Street’ success

By Tommy Felts / October 15, 2024

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Missouri Business Alert, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, and The Kansas City Beacon. Click here to read the original story. COLUMBIA, Missouri — When Willy Schlacks noticed what he said were inefficiencies plaguing…

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Looking for investors? A startup’s first ask shouldn’t be for money, leading VCs say

By Tommy Felts / January 26, 2024

Most startup founders think of funding as transactional, Darcy Howe shared, but it’s actually relational. “You’ve got to have relationships with people long before they’ll fund and that includes angels and all the others,” the KCRise Fund founding managing director told a crowd gathered at UMKC’s Bloch Executive Hall for Startland News’ Kansas City Startups…

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Her fund targets investments for women of color; why this VC is fighting a lawsuit that would curb equity-focused funding 

By Tommy Felts / January 18, 2024

The fight for equity — especially among Black and brown entrepreneurs — isn’t easily won, said Ayana Parsons, likening the setback-laden struggle to a boxing match that seemingly never ends. “There are many rounds,” Parsons recently told a Kansas City crowd gathered at Burns & McDonnell’s campus for an event to honor diverse legacies. Parsons’…

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InvestMidwest aims to turn connections into dollars; startups can apply to pitch now

By Tommy Felts / December 1, 2023

Attending InvestMidwest as an audience member was so impactful for Nick Love that the Love Lifesciences co-founder hopes to pitch his own company when the startup-investor conference and showcase returns this spring to Kansas City — for the first time since 2019. “InvestMidwest allowed us to speak with investors, but was also structured such that…

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KC is capitalizing on recent wins: Here’s how it’s paying off for tech, biologics startups (and investors) 

By Tommy Felts / November 9, 2023

Dan Kerr joined a chorus of area officials and investment leaders singing the praises of a region on the rise Tuesday during a Midwest-focused venture conference in downtown Kansas City. “I hope you engage with the city and see some of the awesome stuff going on here locally,” the event co-founder and partner at Flyover…

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