Startups

TokenTourney reimagines fantasy sports play; adding charities, businesses to its roster

By Tommy Felts / February 5, 2025

Kansas City-built TokenTourney puts users’ dreams as close as the end of a bracket; now its founders are rallying behind a new effort to team up with charities and businesses who want to engage younger consumers through the tournament-style app. “TokenTourney allows the average person to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences and luxury prizes that they otherwise…

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Lula builds $28M round with bicoastal investor; plans deep expansion into new markets

By Tommy Felts / February 3, 2025

Securing Lula’s Series A funding round is not only validation for the Kansas City proptech startup, Bo Lais said; the $28 million in capital means a greater opportunity to enhance the ecosystem for all of his company’s stakeholders, he added. The funding will allow Lula — a leading platform for streamlined property maintenance solutions and…

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Invary’s $3.5M seed round gives startup homefield advantage to rewrite the rules of cybersecurity

By Tommy Felts / February 3, 2025

A $3.5 million seed round backed by two high-profile Kansas City funds is expected to help Invary redefine runtime security, said Jason Rogers, CEO of the Lawrence-based cybersecurity startup — making new funding headlines from within the KU Innovation Park. Invary — a pioneer in Runtime Integrity solutions built on NSA-licensed technology — announced the round…

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Kansas brothers launch speedy trial for app that eases reentry for the wrongfully incarcerated 

By Tommy Felts / January 31, 2025

Podcast host-turned-innovator Dylan Carnahan is a man built for talking, he said, but there’s a time when words aren’t enough — when action is needed in the face of injustice. For Carnahan and his brother, that moment is now. “While media spreads awareness, software facilitates action,” said Carnahan, teasing the tech he’s developing alongside Alex…

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K-State accelerator opens applications to startups; university dives deeper into regional K-State 105 initiative

By Tommy Felts / January 29, 2025

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.  MANHATTAN, Kansas — Sunflower State startups are invited to apply for Kansas State University’s entrepreneurship accelerator, which now boasts a more-than-10-year track record, as well as a refined focus on…

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