Startups

Mike Plunkett and John Thomson, PayIt

Payit, C2FO making biggest waves, but funding for smaller companies still jumped 81 percent

By Tommy Felts / August 28, 2019

Editor’s note: The following is the first in a series of analyses of Startland’s list of Kansas City’s Top Venture Capital-Backed Companies. Proof points matter, said John Thomson. “We’re evidence — based on the $100 million-plus growth equity investment we closed this spring — that you can build a world-class tech company in Kansas City,”…

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Shampoo Bar, Bear Soap, Soap Bar

Mid Coast Modern founder joins Westport bar scene with sudsy, eco-friendly concept

By Tommy Felts / August 28, 2019

Matt Bramlette bathes in the wordplay of it all. His new venture in Kansas City’s quirky Westport entertainment district — known for its shops, restaurants and bars — floats a clean business prop: bars of soap with a low carbon footprint. Hence, “Soap Bar.” Just a few feet away from his popular retail storefront Mid…

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Blade & Timber, Power & Light

LOOK INSIDE: Blade & Timber raises the bar (and kitchen) with Power & Light axe throwing

By Tommy Felts / August 27, 2019

When Blade & Timber officially opens this weekend at Power & Light, the two-year-old startup concept will set a new standard for the growing experiences industry, said Jessie Poole. “We want to show people ‘This is what you should expect from an axe-throwing experience,’” said Poole, communication director for Blade & Timber. “We’ve been upping…

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Bungii

$9.4M funding round steers Bungii toward ‘biggest sharing economy footprint in US’

By Tommy Felts / August 26, 2019

A $9.4 million oversubscribed Series A round isn’t just an investor vote of confidence in Bungii, said Ben Jackson. It’s a funding fuel-up as the tech startup shifts expansion plans into high gear on the road to becoming the final link in the big and bulky supply chain. “By the end of 2021, we’ll still…

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Laura Manivong, Fattyhead Keto Crust

Fattyhead feeds demand for keto-friendly pizza crust; What’s the founder’s secret?

By Tommy Felts / August 23, 2019

Fattyhead began as a labor of love: a path toward a more healthful diet that transformed into a booming business for Kansas City native Laura Manivong. “I started feeling better, I started having energy and my body stopped hurting as much,” said Manivong, creator of her own low-carb, ketogenic pizza crust.  Manivong’s journey started 18…

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