News

Missouri wants to match investors’ funds for promising young startups; founders have until Monday to apply

By Tommy Felts / February 3, 2022

A pair of competitive startup funding programs backed by the State of Missouri are poised to boost companies with Show Me potential, said Jack Scatizzi as the deadline rapidly nears for this year’s IDEA Funds. “We invest both state and federal funding into the most promising high growth-potential startups,” said Scatizzi, executive director of the…

Retro-inspired activewear brought this stay-at-home mom out of isolation; why it’s go-go time for Molly Heise’s budding business

By Tommy Felts / February 2, 2022

Molly Heise’s earliest memories go back to playing marbles on her great-grandma’s avocado-colored shag carpet, captivated by the various floral patterns that surrounded her, she recalled. Today, those memories inspire her personal style and activewear line, GoGoBloom. “I’ve loved the retro style for as long as I can remember,” she shared. “But in the past…

They fought to end Lee’s Summit’s neon ban; now they’re relighting a grinning, spinning Katz face in KC

By Tommy Felts / February 1, 2022

How a Lee’s Summit duo is reviving eye-catching signs of KC’s past The iconic face of Katz Drug Store — the famed retail operation that grew from the streets of Kansas City to eventually become CVS — is set to return to its hometown thanks, in part, to a pair of unlikely neon sign restorationists. …

PlaBook to compete for $1M in prizes at world’s largest pitch competition for edtech startups

By Tommy Felts / February 1, 2022

Fresh off its selection to Pipeline’s latest fellowship, a Kansas City edtech startup is now set to compete at The Elite 200 as a semifinalist in The GSV Cup — representing top pre-seed and  seed stage startups in digital learning across the “Pre-K to Gray” space. KC-based PlaBook is set to vie for $1 million…

C2FO closes $140M funding round amid record growth, expanded focus on underserved companies

By Tommy Felts / February 1, 2022

Editor’s note: C2FO is a financial supporter of Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. Kansas City fintech powerhouse C2FO grows best when it’s accelerating access to capital for those traditionally underserved by the banking industry, said Sandy Kemper, announcing a $140 million funding round for the Leawood-based company. Led by Third Point Ventures — a multi-stage investor…