Minority-Led

Startup newcomer no longer the outsider after capping $30K+ Pure Pitch Rally prize haul

By Tommy Felts / October 22, 2024

A decade ago, Zik Nwanganga felt like a stranger in Kansas City, he said. Monday’s Pure Pitch Rally gave him a new perspective — surrounded by funders and startup supporters eager to boost his fledgling venture.  “I’m just in shock — overwhelmed with joy and grateful for the community coming together,” Nwanganga said after tallying…

LaunchKC winner acquired by Gradient Health, pushing equitable AI innovations to market faster

By Tommy Felts / October 22, 2024

The founding team behind DataAppraisal — a startup that earned early backing from LaunchKC and Digital Sandbox KC in 2022 — believes their shared vision with leaders at Gradient Health will help their combined company “improve healthcare AI and make an even bigger impact.” DataAppraisal, led by Tam Tran and Roger Ngo, announced its acquisition…

Next stop for 10 founder finalists: A pitch competition at Union Station worth $42K+

By Tommy Felts / October 21, 2024

Ten finalists are on track to hit the stage next month at Union Station — stepping into the spotlight to share their startup and small business visions while competing for tens of thousands in prize money. The popular AltCap Your Biz Pitch Competition returns during Global Entrepreneurship Week-Kansas City for a live pitch event at…

BarGlance acquires Updown Nightlife App; founder says deal will scale AI-infused tech even faster than he imagined

By Tommy Felts / October 17, 2024

In a strategic move to elevate the Midwest’s nightlife scene on a national level, founder Joshua Lewis said, the Updown Nightlife app has been acquired by BarGlance, an AI-powered nightlife tech company.  The deal — valued at $5 million, Lewis said — celebrates Updown’s 10-year anniversary, marking a significant milestone for the app that put…

Kansas City-built Boddle earns $500K Yass Prize Finalist Award, hits 2M monthly users

By Tommy Felts / October 17, 2024

MIAMI — Winning a coveted award from Stop for Education is expected to empower Boddle Learning to reach a broader audience than ever before, as well as significantly expanding its curriculum and advancing its cutting-edge AI-powered education tools. Boddle, which launched and grew in Kansas City before relocating to Tulsa, Oklahoma, was announced as a…