Investors

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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Grit Road plants $11M venture fund to cultivate homegrown ag tech solutions across Midwest

By Tommy Felts / September 19, 2023

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro.  [divide] OMAHA — The precision guide for Grit Road Partners — a Nebraska-based venture fund — is investing in ag tech companies that are solving Midwest producer problems, said Mike…

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Mid x Midwest returning in November with renewed vision to connect KC founders, VCs

By Tommy Felts / August 24, 2023

The pilot Mid x Midwest event in fall 2022 supported the idea that early-stage tech founders and investors are hungry for more conversations post pandemic, Dan Kerr and Maggie Kenefake shared, spurring the return of the invite-only meetup in November. “We both showed up that morning to Hotel Kansas City and we walked into the…

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