Startups

Merger alert: ‘Shark Tank’ star teams with Gary Fish, Fishtech to form new cybersecurity powerhouse

A merger announced today between award-winning cybersecurity solutions providers Fishtech Group  and Herjavec Group will unite the companies as a single entity under a new brand to be announced in early 2022.  The deal — backed by funds advised by Apax Partners LLP (The Apax Funds), which will hold a majority stake in the new…

Jon Kramer and Brian Weaver, Torch.AI

Torch.AI acquisition boosts its national security thumbprint, building out workforce proudly in KC

Leveraging Torch.AI’s local talent alongside targeted acquisitions gets the Leawood artificial intelligence firm closer to its goal of securely sharing data with the world, said Brian Weaver, founder and CEO, committing to keeping the surging company in Kansas City. “As our technology is being adopted by more and more customers and those customers continue to…

Robert Feeney and B. Wayne Bradley, KaaS, Ringorang

A Silicon Valley startup relocated to Kansas in June; it’s latest move goes ‘all-in’ on Wichita

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. One…

Maria Flynn, Techstars Kansas City

Techstars closes Kansas City accelerator as global network focuses on larger-growth markets

Techstars is discontinuing its long-running Kansas City program, the global accelerator network confirmed Tuesday, with the 2021 cohort expected to be the last group hosted in the metro. “Techstars has made a strategic decision to focus on larger-growth markets, and therefore does not plan to add companies through a Kansas City program in the immediate…

How one startup’s new marketplace is putting last-minute, hard-to-find phones, gaming systems under the tree

With standard shipping deadlines expiring and days ticking away before Christmas, a new marketplace extension — Swappa Local — is helping gift-givers get their hands on gently used tech before the holidays. “It’s a game changer right now because you can’t turn on the news without hearing about all the shipping delays,” said Sara Beane, media…