News

After waning state support, Kansas Bioscience Authority will go private

By Tommy Felts / December 31, 2015

A formerly state-backed investment organization for Kansas bioscience businesses will soon be transitioning from a public to private organization. After dwindling support from the State of Kansas, the Kansas Bioscience Authority’s board recently voted unanimously to shift the organization to the private market in 2016, allowing portfolio companies to partner with investors in the private…

Read More >

Rightfully Sewn founder stitches a vision for Kansas City’s fashion future

By Tommy Felts / December 29, 2015

Poised, posh and purposeful, Jennifer Lapka Pfeifer sits straight as a board at Kaldi’s coffee shop with unwavering eye contact. Donning a contoured-floral blue and white dress, Lapka smiles as she poetically recalls painting in high school and learning to sew with her grandmother in rural Kansas. Those experiences fostered a love for fashion, art…

Read More >

By the Numbers: A look at Midwest tech investment in 2015

By Tommy Felts / December 28, 2015

Startland News recently distilled a report by Lead Bank and investment research firm CB Insights that analyzed the Midwest tech investing scene. Here are a few more of the findings from the nearly 40-page report, as presented by Startland’s Kat Hungerford.  

Read More >

Shawnee tax incentives aim to lure startups to the ‘burbs

By Tommy Felts / December 28, 2015

The City of Shawnee is poised to kick off a tax incentive program that hopes to attract “high-growth” tech companies to the area by alleviating initial startup costs. Shawnee City councilman Brandon Kenig said that the “Startup Workforce Relocation and Expansion Program” will encourage job growth and innovation in one of Kansas’ fastest growing cities.…

Read More >

Farmobile plows an agricultural revolution by empowering farmers with data

By Tommy Felts / December 22, 2015

Agriculture techie Jason Tatge spent Monday morning as he often would: with a farmer interested in his company. The two kicked off the week in Fargo, North Dakota, kicking the proverbial tractor tires on Tatge’s ag tech business, Farmobile, and how the farmer’s data could generate additional revenue for his operations. They also chatted about…

Read More >