Startups

Clarence Tan and Edna Tan, Boddle

Boddle’s new $350K investment comes with a catch: KC startup relocating to Tulsa

By Tommy Felts / July 9, 2020

Pre-seed funding from Tulsa-based Atento Capital is expected to help accelerate Boddle’s gamified edtech platform amid an ongoing pandemic — but the infusion means the Kansas City startup will move south to work more closely with its new investor. “Our team is looking forward to the growth and impact that this investment will allow us…

Read More >

Thou Mayest closes Crossroads shop: How a gritty, COVID-proof cafe on casters could be coffee’s future

By Tommy Felts / July 9, 2020

Bo Nelson might’ve already perfected the roasts at Thou Mayest, but he’s still percolating on what the coffee experience of the 21st Century will look, feel and taste like, he said. The roaster retailer closed its Crossroads coffee shop June 30 — just a year after reopening Thou Mayest at a new home in the…

Read More >
Daya Johnson, Daya & Me

Repairing weapons to crocheting dolls: Soldier deploys maker skills to craft Daya & Me

By Tommy Felts / July 9, 2020

Armed with a crochet hook — one more tool than the standard-issue weapons cache of her fellow soldiers — Daya Johnson was in a battle against time. Typically less than nine months. “In the middle of Kuwait, I had a huge tough box that was full of yarn that I had my sister send me…

Read More >
Chris Cheatham, RiskGenius, and Travis Holt, Brush Creek Partners; bcp tech accelerator launch party, December 2019

Overland Park startup among half-dozen companies selected for KC’s new insurtech accelerator

By Tommy Felts / July 7, 2020

A new insurtech accelerator is ready to launch virtually, Brush Creek Partners announced this week, revealing the first cohort for bcp tech. “Despite the challenges of COVID-19, bcp tech attracted an incredible group of applicants, all with unique broker-focused insurtech solutions,” said Travis Holt, CEO and co-founder of bcp tech and Brush Creek Partners, reflecting…

Read More >
Karen Fenaroli, Pure Pitch Rally 2019

Pure Pitch Rally opens applications, plans for in-person fall event at new Loews hotel

By Tommy Felts / July 6, 2020

The best way to create more opportunity — and equity — is to push forward, said Karen Fenaroli. Competition applications are open for the first major in-person startup event announced since COVID-19 shut down many Kansas City workplaces and brought traditional networking to a standstill. The invite-only Pure Pitch Rally is set for Oct. 12…

Read More >