Startups

In an oversubscribed round, PopBookings raises $1M

By Tommy Felts / July 6, 2017

Quickly expanding around the nation, the event staffing tech firm PopBookings recently raised a significant round that will push the technology into international markets. Led by CEO Erika Klotz and COO Scott Hanson, the Kansas City-based tech firm recently raised more than $1 million in an oversubscribed round that includes the Missouri Technology Corporation, iSelect…

Read More >

Sprint Accelerator alum and AI firm Centiment to begin KU Med partnership

By Tommy Felts / July 6, 2017

New York-based artificial intelligence firm Centiment recently announced that the firm has established a research partnership with the University of Kansas School of Medicine. The neuroscience study will focus on two areas of the brain — the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex — and will scan the brains of people while they consume content, looking for…

Read More >

The clock is ticking: LaunchKC grants’ deadline is Friday

By Tommy Felts / July 5, 2017

Startups in Kansas City and beyond have about 48 hours to apply for LaunchKC grants. The contest — which will allocate $500,000 via nine grants to startups from around the nation — will accept applications until 11:59 p.m., July 7. LaunchKC will dish out eight $50,000 grants and one $100,000 grand prize. The final round…

Read More >

KCultivator Q&A: Arts champion and fiery uke player Erin McGrane talks Victor & Penny, prejudices, spreadsheets

By Tommy Felts / July 5, 2017

Editor’s note: KCultivators is a new, lighthearted profile series we’re kicking off to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Check out our features on SEED Law’s Adrienne Haynes, Code Koalas’ Robert Manigold,  Prep-KC CEO Susan Wally and community builder Donald Carter. You’re most likely familiar with Erin McGrane when a ukulele accompanies…

Read More >

ESHIP Summit recap: Largest-ever meeting of ecosystem builders convenes to forge new economic model

By Tommy Felts / June 30, 2017

At times regarded as a buzzword whose definition is as variable as a startup’s valuation, the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems received stalwart validation last week when the largest gathering of leaders cultivating such communities met in Kansas City. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s ESHIP Summit culled more than 400 entrepreneurial ecosystem builders from around the…

Read More >