News

Digital Sandbox KC funds four new area tech startups

By Tommy Felts / April 3, 2018

Four early-stage companies have joined the ranks of the Digital Sandbox KC. The proof-of-concept incubator program is awarding grants to the quartet of startups, two in partnership with the Ennovation Center in Independence, Missouri, and two out of the Innovation Stockyard in St. Joseph, Missouri. “We continue to see a high volume of creative, innovative…

Entrepreneurs’ innovative thinking pays off for smart cities, Think Big co-founder says

By Tommy Felts / March 30, 2018

There’s a difference between innovation and invention, said Herb Sih, managing partner and co-founder of Think Big Partners. “Invention is a good idea in search of a home — or, as someone said this morning, a solution in search of a problem,” Sih said. “Reverse that: Innovation. It’s a problem in search of a solution.”…

IXKC: Want top talent in Kansas City? Stop talking about yesterday (Photos)

By Tommy Felts / March 29, 2018

Kansas City already has what it takes to recruit and keep top talent, Neal Sharma told Wednesday’s Innovation Exchange crowd. What the metro seems to lack is the confidence to boast about itself, he added. Sharma, CEO and co-founder of DEG, a full-service digital agency in Overland Park that has grown to about 300 employees,…

State of the City: Mayor challenges startup community to be more inclusive in hiring

By Tommy Felts / March 28, 2018

As a growing piece of Kansas City’s business fabric, the startup community should better reflect the diverse creative and tech talent working within the city, Mayor Sly James said Tuesday following his State of the City address. “There are a lot of entrepreneurs who, for example, make bow ties, who make clothing, who do things…

Predictive tech gives KCMO smart weapons in the fight against potholes, crime

By Tommy Felts / March 28, 2018

Kansas City is tackling its pothole problem using technology that aims to predict where they’ll emerge next, city officials said. The proactive approach also is targeting Kansas City’s crime rate. Government officials from Kansas City, Missouri, shared details about their experience with smart, predictive technologies during a panel discussion Tuesday afternoon at the Smart Cities…