News

Anita Koul, Kufukaa

Masked by fashion: COVID pivot pushes brand to local production, beyond mere ‘talk’ on social media

By Tommy Felts / October 8, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is the second in a series of stories about Kansas City fashion companies putting their own creative spin on the often-utilitarian face mask. Blessings are all around, Anita Koul said, sifting through memories of a year that’s been so far defined by wild hardships and tragic losses.  “We have to take…

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Rising startup stars among latest wave of Digital Sandbox’s critical COVID-era capital

By Tommy Felts / October 6, 2020

Four new Digital Sandbox KC companies reflect a wide breadth of technology, diversity and ingenuity that’s not only typical of the proof-of-concept program, but needed as the startup community attempts a rebound amid the ongoing pandemic, said Jill Meyer. “Our current environment has been a challenging one to navigate for many of our entrepreneurs,” said…

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Chris Cheatham, RiskGenius

RiskGenius touchdown: OP insuretech startup scores exit deal with industry leader

By Tommy Felts / October 6, 2020

Overland Park’s RiskGenius crossed a finish line this week — but work remains as an exit looms, the company announced Tuesday.  Columbus, Ohio-based Bold Penguin — an innovation-driven startup that rapidly increases speed-to-bind for commercial insurance — has agreed to acquire the insurtech company for an undisclosed amount, paving the way for continued dominance as the…

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Elango Thevar, Neer; photo by Lauren Pusateri

NEER heads to the Pacific (virtually) for $200K, climate change solutions accelerator

By Tommy Felts / October 6, 2020

An intensive, 10-month application process is paying off for NEER, as the Kansas City water management startup says aloha to a Hawaii-based accelerator and a significant funding infusion. Joining the ninth cohort of Elemental Excelerator in Honolulu is a boon for NEER, having just completed the gener8tor program in Wisconsin, said Elango Thevar, founder and…

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George Brooks, Crema Venture Lab

Grown in a lab: Kansas City digital product agency Crema sells plant-care app to Bloomscape 

By Tommy Felts / October 6, 2020

Sprouted from Venture Lab Fridays, Crema’s plant-care app Vera illustrated the possibilities of what setting aside work to grow creative and educational skills can bring, said George Brooks. The idea behind Venture Lab: use every other Friday at Crema as a time for the digital agency’s staff to temporarily step away from client work and…

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