Startups

LaunchKC awards $300K: Six new startups enter the winners’ circle with KC investments

By Tommy Felts / November 15, 2023

Editor’s note: Startland News’ coverage of Global Entrepreneurship Week-Kansas City is made possible by the support of Husch Blackwell. [divide] Emerging entrepreneurs don’t need Silicon Valley to launch or scale their startups, said Holly Andra Small, leader of one of six companies announced Tuesday as $50,000 winners in LaunchKC’s grants competition.  “We were so excited,”…

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PayIt on board the Harriet II, Montgomery Zoo; new portal offers ticketing for popular local attractions

By Tommy Felts / November 10, 2023

A new digital platform designed by Kansas City-based PayIt not only provides improved interactions between residents of Montgomery, Alabama, and their local city government — the tool also offers ticket sales for some of the region’s most popular tourist attractions. PayIt — with headquarters in downtown Kansas City’s lightwell building — already boasts partnerships with…

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These three KC startup founders are jumping into the Dolphin Tank, hoping to swim with the unicorns

By Tommy Felts / November 10, 2023

When the Dolphin Tank pitch showcase sinks its teeth into a market like Kansas City, the goal is to accelerate women-led tech companies to a national level, said Rachel Rong. “Our mission is to build out the ecosystem and support women entrepreneurs in Kansas City,” said Rong, the director of operations for Springboard Enterprises, which…

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Entrepreneur on the side: UMKC challenge awards cash for top student hustle

By Tommy Felts / November 9, 2023

Side hustles are a growing trend across the country — and the UMKC campus, said Alex Krause Matlack, noting the university is leaning into its role as an innovation incubator for student founders. Now in its second year, UMKC’s Side Hustle Challenge was established with the primary goal of empowering students with the knowledge and…

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KC is capitalizing on recent wins: Here’s how it’s paying off for tech, biologics startups (and investors) 

By Tommy Felts / November 9, 2023

Dan Kerr joined a chorus of area officials and investment leaders singing the praises of a region on the rise Tuesday during a Midwest-focused venture conference in downtown Kansas City. “I hope you engage with the city and see some of the awesome stuff going on here locally,” the event co-founder and partner at Flyover…

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