News

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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Downtown Overland Park, Johnson County

ECJC leading Johnson County effort to distribute $13.5M in CARES small business grants

By Tommy Felts / October 13, 2020

A new government lifeline designed to boost Johnson County entrepreneurs hit by the COVID-19 pandemic soon will offer a one-time $10,000 grant to qualified recipients. “Many of Johnson County’s small businesses have limited resources and access to capital during this unprecedented time,” said Ed Eilert, chairman of the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners. “We’re…

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Miguel Johns, KingFit

KingFit prescription for growth: DiabetesCare startup becomes a pandemic must-have

By Tommy Felts / October 12, 2020

WICHITA — A new partnership with a medical giant is adding even more fuel to a momentous 2020 for Kansas-grown KingFit, said Miguel Johns.  The startup has entered an agreement with BioTel Care, the diabetes division of BioTelemetry — a $2 billion publicly-traded company, that aims to improve health outcomes through innovation.  “This partnership opens doors…

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Dave Derr, Wiener Kitchen

Wiener Kitchen’s chef-driven, artisan eats: This time you’ll actually want to see how the sausage is made

By Tommy Felts / October 12, 2020

The grill hasn’t gone cold for Overland Park-stuffed Wiener Kitchen, said Dave Derr, recalling his unexpectedly packed experience as a restauranteur amid a pandemic season squeezing many small businesses.  “We’ve had more revenue at our store than pre-COVID, which is absolutely nuts,” he chuckled in near disbelief. Consumer habits rapidly changed during the onset of…

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Hyperloop Certification Center (HCC) planned for West Virginia; rendering courtesy of Virgin Hyperloop

Hyperloop taps West Virginia for $500M project; Missouri still in the running for future sites, advocate says

By Tommy Felts / October 8, 2020

A prized hyperloop project headed for West Virginia doesn’t mean Missouri’s hopes of a high-speed transportation system connecting St. Louis to Kansas City are off the rails, said Ryan Weber, KC Tech Council president. Virgin Hyperloop announced Thursday its plans to host a $500 million certification center and test track for billionaire Richard Branson’s experimental…

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