Digital Sandbox KC funds four new area tech startups

Four early-stage companies have joined the ranks of the Digital Sandbox KC.

The proof-of-concept incubator program is awarding grants to the quartet of startups, two in partnership with the Ennovation Center in Independence, Missouri, and two out of the Innovation Stockyard in St. Joseph, Missouri.

“We continue to see a high volume of creative, innovative business concepts from across the region,” said Jeff Shackelford, director of Digital Sandbox KC. “We have been fully booked with applicants the last three quarters and in St. Joseph. We now need to get more of our local communities involved so we can fully capture the entrepreneurial potential of this entire region. It’s great that we’ve funded 100 early-stage concepts in the last five years, but our results show that we could be doing even more to make Kansas City America’s most entrepreneurial city.”

Launched in 2013, Digital Sandbox offers up to $25,000 in grants to startups with a focus of bringing a product from idea to commercialization. The organization has worked with more than 500 entrepreneurs and early-stage companies across the Kansas City metro.

Since 2016, Digital Sandbox has established partnerships with GXP Investments, the City of Independence, St. Joseph, Missouri and Olathe, Kansas, to launch proof-of-concept incubator programs.

Since its launch in 2013, Digital Sandbox has issued $1.9 million in project funding to 100 early-state firms that have created 580 new jobs with more than $14 million in payroll, according to the organization.

Here’s more on the four new startups in the Digital Sandbox.

Go Natural English created digital tools to help adults learn and gain confidence with their English skills. The grant funding — delivered in partnership with the City of Independence — will improve the platform’s user experience and help scale the business.

K12 Perform is an education tech firm that created software to enable school district superintendents and principals to access, model and control their accountability and performance data. The Digital Sandbox funding — delivered in partnership with the City of Independence — will allow the firm to reach new customers.

DocuLock helps businesses archive, index and digitize paper documents and make them accessible from any device.

 WHETStone Devices developed a brace to help plumbing companies better install water heater expansion tanks.