News

Meet the 10 startup winners of LaunchKC’s $50K

By Tommy Felts / September 18, 2015

LaunchKC announced the winners of 10, $50,000 grants Friday during a celebration at the inaugural Techweek Kansas City conference. More than 40 judges evaluated pitches from 20 contest finalists, who pitched their companies Friday morning at Union Station before a crowd of about 100 people. LaunchKC kicked off in February and nabbed nearly 500 total applicants…

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KC picks who they think will win LaunchKC’s $50K grants

By Tommy Felts / September 18, 2015

Twenty startups are hoping to snag $50,000 during the LaunchKC grant competition. Nearly 500 companies applied to be part of the contest, which will be announcing the winners at Techweek Kansas City at 3 p.m. Friday. Below are predictions from a few members of the tech, startup and entrepreneurship community meandering around Techweek on who…

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A chat with Tinder co-founder Jonathan Badeen

By Tommy Felts / September 18, 2015

Tinder co-founder Jonathan Badeen’s roots run deep in the Kansas City area. A native of Leawood and a graduate of Barstow High School, Badeen stopped by Techweek Kansas City Thursday to discuss the popular app — Tinder — that he helped create. Badeen, who’s also a fan of the University of Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas…

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Nixon announces $1.2M in grants to KC programs

By Tommy Felts / September 18, 2015

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon made an appearance at Techweek Thursday to announce $1.19 million in grants to three Kansas City organizations through the Missouri Technology Corporation. Of the $1.19 million, $565,000 is going to LaunchKC, $500,000 is going to the Digital Sandbox KC and $125,000 is going to the Independence Economic Development Council. The 2016 Missouri…

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One-on-one with Square co-founder Jim McKelvey

By Tommy Felts / September 17, 2015

Startland News reporter Ashley Jost sat down with Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Square and LaunchCode, during his visit to Techweek. Here’s a bit of the conversation. On Kansas City’s strengths as a tech hub … You’ve got the classic things – it’s mostly talent. Kansas City is a town that very few people want to…

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