Startups

KC cartoonist captures conversation on immigration and entrepreneurship

By Tommy Felts / February 23, 2017

Tucked amid a crowd of about 80 people at Think Big Partners Tuesday, Kansas City artist Jasur Rakhimov swiftly sketched a conversation unfolding before him on immigration and entrepreneurship. A cartoon-style artist, Rakhimov stopped by Startland News’ fifth Innovation Exchange that focused on immigration and entrepreneurship to not only share his talents but also to…

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Mid-America Angels invests $287K in medical firm Voxello

By Tommy Felts / February 20, 2017

The Kansas City-based Mid-America Angels investment group announced that it’s backing an Iowa-based medical device company. The regional network of angel investors announced Monday that it invested $287,000 into Voxello. The company created the “noddle,” which allows hospitalized patients to communicate nonverbally. The device detects voluntary gestures — such as a tongue click, eye blink or…

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Cowork Lee’s Summit to revamp old post office for entrepreneurs

By Tommy Felts / February 17, 2017

Lee’s Summit is set to receive a large, new coworking space to serve as the city’s entrepreneurial hub. The founder of Community Buying Group, Ben Rao said he will soon close on purchasing the old Lee’s Summit Post Office to convert it into a 13,000 square-foot coworking space named Cowork Lee’s Summit. Without any nearby…

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Kauffman Foundation launches initiative to topple startup barriers

By Tommy Felts / February 16, 2017

During an annual trip to Washington D.C., Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation CEO Wendy Guillies urged the U.S. Congress to take action to eliminate barriers for entrepreneurs to launch new businesses. In her 2017 State of Entrepreneurship address, Guillies said that millions of Americans are being left out the U.S. economy and that trends of dwindling…

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In address to Congress, Victor Hwang urges action on entrepreneurship deficit

By Tommy Felts / February 16, 2017

Tapping into his own entrepreneurial story, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s vice president of entrepreneurship testified before Congress on cutting obstacles to starting a business. Before the U.S. House Small Business Committee, Victor Hwang joined an expert panel of entrepreneurs and researchers to discuss common struggles entrepreneurs face, possible solutions and emerging trends. As Republican…

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