Startups

Matt Miquelon, Sohit Wadhwa, Anupama Vaid, and Bill Frenzel, ParentSquare

ParentSquare notches growth investment, fueled by KC startup acquisition, pandemic trends

By Tommy Felts / August 5, 2021

A significant growth investment is expected to help push edtech platform ParentSquare’s expansion into new markets and products — nearly 18 months after the Santa Barbara company announced the acquisition of a Kansas City startup’s school communication app. The undisclosed investment by Serent Capital also follows ParentSquare’s successful navigation of pandemic-era communication needs between parents…

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UpDown Nightlife team

UpDown Nightlife caps $500K seed round with party bus partnership; app to launch this month

By Tommy Felts / August 4, 2021

Building an app centered on nightlife and in-person entertainment during a pandemic requires intense focus and intentionality every step of the way, Joshua Lewis said.  “It’s been a slow and steady walk to the app launch,” said the founder of UpDown Nightlife — an app that connects consumers to local bars, clubs and entertainment. “With…

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Nathan Kurtz, Brush Creek Partners

LaunchKC-backed insurtech accelerator hopes to claim new cohort by Aug. 22

By Tommy Felts / August 3, 2021

Brush Creek Partners and LaunchKC are again eyeing startups ready to accelerate their go-to-market plans, the partners announced Tuesday.  The application period for the LaunchKC-backed bcp tech InsurTech accelerator has officially opened, Nathan Kurtz, COO of Brush Creek Partners (bcp), said in a release, marking the program’s second run.  “When you have an insurtech product…

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David Hulsen and Stuart Ludlow, RFP360

Tech company at the vanguard of KC startup boom exits to West Coast competitor

By Tommy Felts / August 3, 2021

One of Kansas City’s earliest startups to watch of the past decade has been acquired by an Oregon-based competitor.  RFPIO announced the purchase of RFP360, a Leawood-based software-as-a-service startup, Tuesday morning. A dollar amount for the deal was not disclosed.  “Through this acquisition, I’m extremely excited about the future as we work together to drive…

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Adam Miller, Let's Talk Black Business

Let’s Talk Black Business: You don’t need to be ‘the next Lebron’ — just succeed where others fell short   

By Tommy Felts / August 3, 2021

Editor’s note: The following story — spotlighting an Aug. 25 virtual event about challenges facing Black business owners — is sponsored by Let’s Talk Black Business and SCORE Community Strategic Alliance. Black entrepreneurship isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience, said Dom Green.  “It is not cookie cutter, and it is so important to showcase the differences of the…

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