Startups

Parker Graham, Finotta

Destiny launches full-brand pivot to ‘Finotta’, expanding from debt solution to banking API platform

By Tommy Felts / February 2, 2021

Established financial institutions are at a crossroads when it comes to competing against online platforms with banking options, said Parker Graham. “Facebook, Google and others have banking capabilities that are so fine-tuned to customer service and customer interaction,” said Graham, founder and CEO of Kansas City fintech startup Finotta, formerly known as Destiny Wealth. “Banks…

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Darcy Howe and Ed Frindt, KCRise Fund II

KCRise closes $41M Fund II, plans to invest in 20 high-growth tech companies

By Tommy Felts / February 2, 2021

A newly closed, oversubscribed $41 million KCRise Fund II is poised to accelerate regional growth with an influx of talent and investment dollars for 20 high-growth technology companies benefitting Greater Kansas City, said Darcy Howe. And the work has already begun, the fund’s founder and managing director added. Before today’s closing announcement, Fund II had…

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Brooke Mullen, Sapahn

Pipeline pitch winner sells practical business moves (and leather) with socially conscious ethos

By Tommy Felts / January 29, 2021

Brooke Mullen’s ability to pivot with silky smooth ease helped the Lincoln entrepreneur build a bridge to surging revenue in 2020, as well as win best pitch Thursday during a showcase of Pipeline’s latest fellowship class. “With a lot of our business being direct-to-consumer and actual live events, we had to completely change as all…

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Brandon Calloway, Black Spartans Manga

Fund Me, KC: ‘Black Spartans’ creator changes the tone of fantasy — where Blackness isn’t ‘the exotic other’

By Tommy Felts / January 25, 2021

Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses or lend a helping hand to others. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs — like Brandon Calloway’s campaign to fund the first book in his “Black Spartans” graphic novel series — to share crowdfunding stories and gain…

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Startup Road Trip: Transplants to Kansas see future of prosthetics in eco-friendly textile hemp

By Tommy Felts / January 23, 2021

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. WICHITA…

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