Investors

Matt Moody, Bellwethr

Explain it like I’m 5: Bellwethr hits best month of growth to date after simplifying lingo

By Tommy Felts / June 29, 2021

Editor’s note: The following story is sponsored by Academy Bank, a Kansas City based community bank, and is part of a series of features spotlighting some of the bank’s startup and small business partners. The golden key to success is communication, said Matt Moody, but it can also be the biggest challenge. “Bellwethr’s software has been…

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Justin Davis, BacklotCars

Want the next $425M exit? Be ‘ruthless’ with your time (and cap table), BacklotCars co-founder says

By Tommy Felts / March 9, 2021

In the years leading up to BacklotCars’ historic exit, Justin Davis steered clear of the startup social scene — detouring instead into deep collaboration with capital and automotive industry partners, he said. “As a startup, getting connected is great, but you have to be ruthless in your execution,” the BacklotCars co-founder told ACG Kansas City’s…

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Darcy Howe and Ed Frindt, KCRise Fund II

KCRise closes $41M Fund II, plans to invest in 20 high-growth tech companies

By Tommy Felts / February 2, 2021

A newly closed, oversubscribed $41 million KCRise Fund II is poised to accelerate regional growth with an influx of talent and investment dollars for 20 high-growth technology companies benefitting Greater Kansas City, said Darcy Howe. And the work has already begun, the fund’s founder and managing director added. Before today’s closing announcement, Fund II had…

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Darcy Howe, KCRise Fund

Blue KC ‘investing in the future’ by joining KCRise Fund II to build high-tech startups

By Tommy Felts / October 13, 2020

Editor’s note: KCRise Fund is a financial supporter of Startland, the parent organization of Startland News, and Darcy Howe, founder and managing director of KCRise Fund, sits on the board of the nonprofit, ecosystem-building entity. This report was produced independently by Startland News. As a leading Kansas City venture firm nears the completion of its…

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John Fein and Chris Marks, Firebrand Ventures

$40M Firebrand II fund strengthened by Kansas City VC’s merger with Boulder firm, leaders say 

By Tommy Felts / August 3, 2020

Merging two venture capital funds focused on one startup-rich portfolio is expected to create a larger platform for founders in up-and-coming markets, said Chris Marks. “While a merger is unique in the venture world, this feels very natural based on our overlap in values, our shared commitment to supporting authentic leaders, and our similar focus…

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