Woman-led

Accessibility platform AskSAMIE expands to 500+ partners thanks to national homecare deals

A pair of significant new partnerships not only allow Kansas City-based AskSAMIE to expand its national reach, said Dr. Brandy Archie; the deals put her startup a pivotal moment in its mission to deliver on-demand support to seniors and their caregivers. Working with homecare organizations ComForCare/At Your Side and CarePatrol will push AskSAMIE — a…

Kelly Sievers and Lauren Lawrence, Innovation Exchange

Capital connector’s message to women: Your investor pool isn’t just sharks; dive in and learn to swim

When it comes to navigating the waters of capital and equity, Women’s Capital Connection angel investment network and the Women’s Business Center serve as a guide to both entrepreneurs and investors, Kelly Sievers shared. “All the education that we do and all the connections that we make, I would say that’s really the key,” explained…

Here’s how Kauffman’s five just-hired directors fit into the Foundation’s new impact- and research-heavy focus 

A handful of newly announced directors at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation are expected to help drive forward the influential philanthropic organization’s updated priorities and grantmaking strategy, said Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, emphasizing an underlying theme for their work: prosperity for all. “These five new director positions welcome a combination of talent and commitment to our…

Startup newcomer no longer the outsider after capping $30K+ Pure Pitch Rally prize haul

A decade ago, Zik Nwanganga felt like a stranger in Kansas City, he said. Monday’s Pure Pitch Rally gave him a new perspective — surrounded by funders and startup supporters eager to boost his fledgling venture.  “I’m just in shock — overwhelmed with joy and grateful for the community coming together,” Nwanganga said after tallying…

Global employers use KC’s backstitch to engage and keep top talent; now smaller companies can too

One of Kansas City’s most quietly impactful startups built its employee communications platform behind the scenes for Fortune 500 companies; now it’s scaling those proven solutions to a new market: smaller businesses that need the same worker engagement, said Jordan Warzecha. Crossroads-based backstitch — a leader in digital solutions for HR teams — on Tuesday…