Just funded: Meet the newest Digital Sandbox KC startups (and see what they’re building now)

Digital Sandbox KC this week announced five new startups joining its program that will receive crucial support, mentorship and up to $20,000 in project funding to accelerate their innovative projects. 

“We are delighted to bring these cutting-edge startups into the Sandbox, connecting them with the necessary support and resources to advance their innovative projects,” said Jill Meyer, senior director of Technology Venture Studio, which houses Digital Sandbox KC. “Digital Sandbox KC is committed to supporting founders and scalable technologies that challenge the status quo. We are excited to see these startups thrive.” 

Advoteck co-founders Danny Moran and Bryce Wolff discuss their startup with participants at the 2024 Startup Crawl in downtown Kansas City; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

In addition to receiving up to $20,000 in early-stage project funding, startups in the program gain access to the Technology Venture Studio community and technical project support. 

“Digital Sandbox KC is helping fill a critical financing need to get our MVP off the ground and launched to the public,” said Danny Moran, co-founder and CEO of Advoteck alongside Bryce Wolff.

Advoteck — which earlier this spring earned first place in the Regnier Midwest Social Entrepreneurship Awards at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Regnier Venture Creation Challenge — is building technologies that protect vulnerable individuals from financial cybercrime.

Its first product is a mobile keyboard that notifies caregivers when a dependent shares potential sensitive information online.

Click here to submit an idea and apply to pitch to Digital Sandbox KC.

In addition to Advoteck, the newest startups joining the network of Digital Sandbox KC-funded companies include:

• Conduit (Jordan Mryyan), Overland Park, Kansas — Conduit makes an API for transcribing social media videos in real-time, drawing out audio transcripts and image data for immediate use in developer applications. 

• LAN Party Technologies (Ryan Hesse), Prairie Village, Kansas —  LAN Party Technologies is developing a communication app targeting gamers that allows groups of friends to experience the excitement and camaraderie of in-person gaming in customizable virtual game rooms. The application allows users to game and hang out with friends in a virtual room that can be customized to fit the needs and style of their unique gaming group. 

• Parsed (Anthony Loya), Kansas City, Missouri — Parsed is an analytics platform that leverages advanced analytics and AI to deliver actionable capabilities and insights. The startup empowers banks, fintechs and crypto firms to develop personalized data products, helping them craft their data story. 

• Ulom App (Zik Nwanganga), Kansas City, Missouri — Ulom App helps refugees, international students and new migrants adapt to their new home faster by connecting them to the right resources and community.

“The Digital Sandbox KC grant will fund the creation of our app,” detailed Nwanganga, CEO and co-founder of Ulom App, as well as FiredUp Studios. “Launching our app will enable us to onboard users and test if there is a need for our solution in the market.”