Startups

Report: Kansas City’s VC funding rank improves among Midwest cities

By Tommy Felts / January 18, 2017

Editor’s note: Brian Matthews is a guest author to Startland News and co-founded Cultivation Capital. Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. When assessing the vitality of an entrepreneurial ecosystem, an important factor to consider is the Total Venture Funds Raised by the startups within that city or region. This metric provides an…

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Experts weigh in: Why do StartupNames Alwayz Loook Lyke Dis?

By Tommy Felts / January 17, 2017

At times, it seems like startups are waging war on the English language. From merged words to missing vowels to what appears to onomatopoeia, startup names can be as creative as they are baffling. “It’s almost as if everyone is rebelling against Webster’s dictionary,” said Anita Newton, vice president of marketing at AdParlor. So, what’s…

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ECJC offering dozens of entrepreneurial education events in 2017

By Tommy Felts / January 16, 2017

The Enterprise Center in Johnson County has a jammed packed schedule of over 50 workshops for Kansas City entrepreneurs in 2017. “We are lucky to have the support of dozens of volunteer service providers who take time away from their own jobs and businesses to share their expertise with entrepreneurs,” ECJC vice president of communications…

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With a focus on fashion education, Sock 101 rebrands to School of Sock

By Tommy Felts / January 16, 2017

A growing Kansas City fashion firm is restitching its public image. With a broader focus and new expansion plan, Sock 101 is rebranding to become School of Sock. The company — which began with a la carte and “Sock of the Month Club” options — is changing up its name to reflect its goals to…

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Columbia-based EquipmentShare plans to hire 20 techies at new KC office

By Tommy Felts / January 13, 2017

A rapidly-growing startup based in Columbia, Mo., is planning to open its technical hub in Kansas City. As it expands around the nation, EquipmentShare co-founder Willy Schlacks said he’s hoping to hire about 20 software and web developers for the firm, which has been touted as the “Airbnb for construction equipment.” EquipmentShare created a peer-to-peer…

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