News

Sickweather spent 8 years and $100K+ to obtain a patent; Is IP protection worth the cost?

By Tommy Felts / July 16, 2019

Graham Dodge wanted to check a box for investors seeking security for his crowdsourced sickness forecasting startup Sickweather, he said. Obtaining a patent for the technology, however, proved a tougher task to chart.  “We just wanted to protect ourselves to build value in the company,” said Dodge, CEO of Sickweather, as well as Garnish Health,…

RiskGenius announces Series B, partnerships with trio of world’s largest insurance carriers

By Tommy Felts / July 15, 2019

Customers are pushing for the growth of RiskGenius, a top Kansas City startup providing software-based natural language processing tools for improved quality and accuracy in the insurance industry, said CEO Chris Cheatham. RiskGenius announced Monday an undisclosed Series B round led by Hudson Structured Capital Management Ltd., doing business as HSCM Bermuda. The financing round…

TRNDSTTRS reboots to link companies to new wave of Gen Z consumers

By Tommy Felts / July 13, 2019

After a period of significant traction that included a merger, TRNDSTTRS Media has returned to Kansas City with a redefined vision and laser focus to better elevate Gen Z in the entrepreneurial and advertising landscape, explained Jake Bjorseth.  “We really wanted to take that next step in growth and rather than compete at these lower…

Value rich: Crema shifts gears in startup support approach as agency evolves

By Tommy Felts / July 13, 2019

Providing scaling companies with new pathways to learning is the latest objective for Crema, said George Brooks, detailing the digital agency’s constant evolution.  “We had this opportunity with the brands that we’ve been working with over the past few years to basically figure out, ‘Hey, how do we increase the value of your company?’” explained…

Changing lanes: Shackelford leaving Digital Sandbox to head Mid-America Angels, Fountain Innovation Fund

By Tommy Felts / July 11, 2019

Two hats are better than one, joked Jeff Shackelford, announcing he’s accepted a new role with the Enterprise Center in Johnson County.  “I’m on the same highway but I’m kind of changing lanes,” Shackelford said as he takes the wheel as senior vice president of investment capital and financial operations at the ECJC — where…