News Stories

Jeff Kostos, Spear Power Systems

Grandview-based battery innovator — Evergy Ventures’ first investment — exiting to global power player

A Kansas City-area startup developing next-generation scalable lithium-ion battery storage systems for land, sea and air is being acquired by a global power management leader, the companies announced Monday. Financial terms of the transaction — through which Grandview-based Spear Power Systems will add its power and talent to Sensata Technologies — were not disclosed. The…

Dominic Davis and Reggie Meade, The Future is Black (TFIB)

The Future is Black: Storytelling duo launches effort to inspire new generation of creatives, entrepreneurs

The future is Black and Dominic Davis wants Kansas City to know it, he said, announcing the launch of a new campaign aimed at better connecting and supporting entrepreneurs and creatives of color.  “When one of us wins, we all win,” Davis said, detailing his decision to found The Future is Black (TFIB) — a storytelling…

Brad Starnes, Splitsy

Divide and conquer: Splitsy pulls $70K from crowdfunding, ‘extra bump’ toward launch 

Splitsy is ready to cash in on its widespread consumer appeal, revealed Brad Starnes, announcing the close of the startup’s first crowdfunding campaign and what it might mean for its rapidly scaling future.  “We’re sitting at about $130,000 in funding right now,” said Starnes, co-founder of Splitsy, noting a nearly $71,000 chunk of the startup’s…

KC Pioneers leadership team 2021

KC Pioneers secure six-figure funding from up-and-coming investment firm backed by MySidewalk exec

“Investment” goes deeper than simply writing a check, Mark Josey said, noting Kansas City’s premier esports league plans on being intentional in raising its $2 million seed round.  “When you’re looking for partners, investors and sponsors, it starts at the core with asking: Do they believe in our mission, vision and value? Do they have…

Myron McCant and Penny Dale-McCant, KD Academy

KC couple’s 15-year journey evolves into $4M 24-hour child care center in urban core

A multimillion-dollar expansion for KD Academy is expected to upgrade the early learning and child care center’s capacity from 95 to 430 students at its new headquarters on Prospect Avenue — a redevelopment boon for the east side corridor and the extension of a family’s long-running mission. “Our goal starting out was to create a…