Startups

Zach Telford, Bungii

Bungii ‘circles the wagons,’ sending its truck drivers to aid Linwood tornado survivors

One of Kansas City’s top startups dropped its tailgates this week to help Kansans ravaged by a violent twister. “The damage and injuries suffered because of the storms were outside of everybody’s control, but how we react and how our community reacts is vital,” said Eric Bolduc, a customer success specialist for Bungii who was…

John Thomson, PayIt

PayIt gains $25M follow-on investment from early backer Weatherford Capital

A Tampa-based venture capital firm run by three brothers sees investing in Kansas City’s PayIt as part of its long-term strategy. Weatherford Capital first backed PayIt in 2016, through a $4.5 million Series A round led by New York-based Advantage Capital Partners, and followed by Weatherford, Royal Street Ventures, the Missouri Technology Corporation and Five…

Kyle Smith and Johnny Waller Jr., Determination, Incorporated; and Marcus Bullock, Flikshop

Rise Up, Get Started offers second chances with grants to formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs

Kansas City should be home to second chances, hope, and opportunities, said Johnny Waller Jr. “Kansas City has a rich history of uniting behind its citizens for the common good of its people and that’s what this event is,” said Waller, co-founder of Determination, Incorporated, addressing a wide-ranging audience Thursday at the inaugural Rise Up,…

Megan Darnell and Zach Anderson Pettet, Fountain City Fintech, nbkc bank

Fountain City Fintech earns EDC’s Cornerstone Award in accelerator’s first year

Fountain City Fintech’s plan was to put Kansas City on the map, Zach Anderson Pettet said. In the process, the community bank-backed accelerator earned attention in its own right, he said. “A big piece of our plan was to give our cohort a chance to dig in and really understand the city — understand the…

Clarence Tan, Boddle Learning

LaunchKC winner Boddle Learning scores $100K AT&T Aspire investment, accelerator

Kansas City-based Boddle Learning is filling with steam as the startup gains momentum and joins the AT&T-fronted Aspire accelerator, Clarence Tan revealed Wednesday. “When we found out we were finalists, we were super, super happy,” Tan, founder and CEO, said of the lead-up to official word of Boddle’s selection for the San Francisco-based program. “They…