Profiles

Rhonda Dolan, Udo, Urban Business Growth Initiative alum and 2019 Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year

Newly launched Dare to Venture competition set to award $30K in micro-grants

By Tommy Felts / January 15, 2020

Participants in a series of select entrepreneurship courses this winter will be eligible to win a total of $30,000 in micro-grant awards thanks to the Urban Business Growth Initiative. Funded by the City of Kansas City, Missouri, and administered by the UMKC Innovation Center, the new Dare to Venture Micro-Grant Competition is expected to feature…

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Female coaches face tighter scrutiny, former D1 coach says; docUssist protects careers on the court

By Tommy Felts / January 13, 2020

A new partnership between Overland Park-based docUssist and an “army of female coaches” will help the sports tech startup in its mission to protect the careers and reputations of women on basketball courts across the globe, said Marsha Frese. “Female coaches are one of the most targeted groups with respect to Title IX violations and…

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PayIt, Kansas City

PayIt rings in new year with expanded executive team, repeat GovTech 100 honors 

By Tommy Felts / January 13, 2020

GovTech leader PayIt continues its rapid growth after a massive 2019 funding year, thanks to the hiring of another key C-suite executive — a 20-year veteran in enterprise software sales and leadership. The move puts Neil Graham in the role of PayIt’s first chief revenue officer, and brings the executive team of the industry award-winning…

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Kristin Rulon, Mind Star Health

Fund Me, KC: Mind Star App ‘needed in my darkest moments,’ says founder, survivor of depression

By Tommy Felts / January 8, 2020

Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs — like Kristin Rulon with her Mind Star Health campaign — to share their crowdfunding stories to gain a little help from their supporters. Who are you? Kristin Rulon, founder and CEO…

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Davide Rossi, FitBark

FitBark GPS launches with embedded sim card for tracking lost pups via cell service

By Tommy Felts / December 27, 2019

FitBark’s latest treat for pet lovers: A four-legged friend finder. FitBark GPS recently launched in the Kansas City-based startup’s U.S. market, said Davide Rossi, co-founder and CEO, detailing new features that allow owners to pinpoint their dogs’ locations in case of emergency via embedded Verizon cell service. “We send all of the owners an alert…

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