Startups

John Styers, Transportant

Bus tech startup Transportant announces $11M in pre-sales at Lean Lab pitch night

By Tommy Felts / November 17, 2017

School districts across North America are on board with Transportant — to the tune of $11 million in pre-sale agreements, co-founder John Styers said. The startup, which uses video-based technology to allow students, parents and school administrators to better monitor school buses, announced the milestone — $10 million over its goal of $1 million in…

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Jordan Williams, Keefe Cravat

KCultivator Q&A: ‘Fashionpreneur’ Jordan Williams on starting with nothing but his smile

By Tommy Felts / November 14, 2017

Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Check out our features on Plexpod founder Gerald Smith, innovation coach Diana Kander, Victor & Penny’s Erin McGrane, SEED Law’s Adrienne Haynes, Code Koalas’ Robert Manigold, Prep-KC CEO Susan Wally and community builder Donald Carter. Jordan…

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Chris Goode, Ruby Jean's Kitchen & Juicery

Ruby Jean’s juices unity, entrepreneurism with Troost opening (Photos)

By Tommy Felts / November 11, 2017

Chris Goode is helping change what Troost Avenue means to Kansas City, pastor Stanley Archie said Saturday morning at the grand opening of Ruby Jean’s Kitchen & Juicery. Troost has been a place of division, he said, noting years of racial segregation along the corridor where those with a “permanent tan” weren’t welcome west of…

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The Jam KC offers space for musicians to get loud, turn up

By Tommy Felts / November 10, 2017

In a small, Midtown Kansas City room brimming with musicians and their instruments, Allen Monroe peers over his 1963 Hammond B-3 organ at a handful of onlookers. A toothpick concealed by a thick grey mustache emerges as he smiles, preparing to deliver a gentle jab to the artists around him. “Remember, you don’t have to…

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WillCo Tech’s sale allows founder guilt-free $200K investment in smart grid startup

By Tommy Felts / November 7, 2017

Selling a majority stake in his IT consulting firm will allow Kevin Williams to focus on and expand his startup venture, the Kansas City tech entrepreneur said. Although the exact amount was undisclosed, the acquisition by Ohio-based Metisentry earlier this month provided a big enough payoff to fund Williams’ and his wife’s future retirement, as…

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