News

Mike Sobek, medZERO

Launch Health check-up: medZERO simplifies medical bill pay with zero interest, zero fees

By Tommy Felts / November 13, 2019

Editor’s note: The following is part of a series of stories on the six cohort companies of the Launch Health Accelerator, powered by Nueterra Capital and sponsored by LaunchKC. Click here to read all the stories published in this series. Paying medical bills should be as simple as making a car payment, said Mike Sobek.  “We…

Read More >
KCSF STARTLAND

KCSF rebrands to ‘STARTLAND’ and bolsters board, reflecting maturation of organization, ecosystem, leaders say

By Tommy Felts / November 13, 2019

A rebranding and name change for the Kansas City Startup Foundation will see the entrepreneurial community-building organization build on the legacy of Startland News while continuing to grow its education and talent programming. Now operating as STARTLAND, the organization still boasts its most-widely recognized programs — Startland News, MECA Challenge and Back2KC — which also have…

Read More >
Rajesh Nair and Mani Raman, Yotabites

KC boutique big data startup Yotabites planned its big exit for 2025 — a buyer came five years early

By Tommy Felts / November 9, 2019

Starting with a laser-focus on attacking big data’s fundamental problems, Lenexa-based Yotabites is announcing its acquisition from Oregon-based ProKarma, said Rajesh Nair, noting the sale fell many years ahead of schedule for the forward-thinking startup. “It really started out as a combination of things for us: from [seeing a lack of] creativity in the big…

Read More >
Blade & Timber, Lawrence

Mass Street fire leaves future uncertain for Blade & Timber’s Lawrence store

By Tommy Felts / November 9, 2019

An early morning fire at Blade & Timber’s Massachusetts Street location in Lawrence has left the premier axe-throwing startup waiting for answers, said Matt Baysinger. “While it’s a surreal experience to learn that your business is on fire and that there’s nothing you can do about it, I’m incredibly grateful that nobody was in the…

Read More >
Roy Scott, Healthy Hip Hop

Two Kansas City startups relocating to St. Louis to cash $50K Arch Grants awards

By Tommy Felts / November 8, 2019

Two Kansas City tech startups are on the move — winning spots in the Arch Grants competition, an “aggressive effort” to build St. Louis’ startup ecosystem. Healthy Hip Hop and FastDemocracy were among 20 companies each earning $50,000 in equity-free cash grants through the selection, which also requires the startups run their businesses from St.…

Read More >