Top 10 under-the-radar startups in Kansas City

In January, Startland News asked you for help.

We wanted to hear from you about Kansas City startups that are operating in “stealth,” either intentionally shying away from attention or those that are simply too busy building. You responded with vigor, and your insights helped inform this list of “under-the-radar” startups.

Obviously, “under-the-radar” is a relative term in this piece — we had to hear of these startups somehow. And even though we may have written about some of these firms, many still operate in relative obscurity within the business community.

At startup events and in conversations, mentioning many of these startups spurs enthusiastic intrigue, albeit paired with an initial look of confusion.

“Who are the founders? What do they do? Why haven’t I heard of them?”

These are common queries in the world of Kansas City startups, where connectedness and awareness still varies widely among entrepreneurs. While many are content enigmatically operating in the shadows, it’s Startland News’ job to change that.

This list hopes to shed light on promising firms that either you have never heard of or may have an interest in learning more about.  Let us know what you think or if you have recommendations for other “under-the-radar” startups.

Here are the startups in no particular order.

Eon Sports VR
Founders: Brendan Reilly and Dan Lejerskar
Founding year: 2013

Eon Sports VR’s virtual training platform for baseball and football is scoring professional and collegiate clients across the nation. It’s also garnered media coverage from the likes of ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Fox Business and many other national publications. The company works with sports icons like former New York Yankee Jason Giambi and NFL Hall of Fame coach Mike Ditka. While it’s snagged national attention, Eon Sports lands on this list because of its relatively low profile among the Kansas City business community.

Swappa
Founder: Ben Edwards
Founding year: 2010

Startland News received several notes expressing surprise that device-seller Swappa is a Kansas City firm. Founded in 2010 by St. Joseph native Ben Edwards, Swappa has facilitated the sale of more than $43 million worth of mobile devices. And Swappa seems to be hitting a stride lately, as the company has about one million users who carry out nearly $5 million worth of transactions each month.

Super Dispatch
Founder: Bek Abdullayev
Founding year: 2013

While you may have heard of this firm through the Sprint Accelerator, Super Dispatch has been quietly toiling in Kansas City since 2013. Led by Bek Abdullayev, Super Dispatch is a software platform that helps trucking companies digitize the mountains of paperwork with which they work. Working across desktops, phones and tablets, the software-as-a-service tool is targeting the massive $1.45 trillion U.S. logistics market.

Cambrian Tech
Founders: Joel Teply and Heather Spalding
Founding year: 2011

If you’ve ever painted a house, you know the design challenges it can present. “Will this work with the flooring, furniture and style we’re going for?” Rather than dabbing blotches of paint on the walls to explore options, Cambrian Tech’s augmented reality tool allows homeowners and designers to virtually test thousands of colors. Its yet-to-be-released mobile app — Home Harmony — will allow users to visualize prospective colors in real time, change the lighting conditions to better reflect the final product and share sample images of the space. With shrewd technical leadership from co-founders Joel Teply and Heather Spalding, Cambrian is poised for a breakout 2016.

Dewsly
Founder: Anthony Noll
Founding year: 2014

There are many challenges in the U.S. K-12 education system, and chief among them is communication among schools, parents and students. Dewley’s tool — Loop — aims to offer streamlined communication among those stakeholders via a dynamic platform that integrates text messages, social media, email and robocalling. Led by CEO Anthony Noll, Dewsly worked directly with schools to create the platform, ensuring that it adds value for cash-strapped districts. In 2015, K-12 tech spending hit an all-time high of $1.85 billion, setting up Dewsly for solid growth.

Mobility Designed
Founders: Max and Liliana Younger
Founding year: 2014

This Kansas City startup exploded onto the scene after its wildly successful viral video snagged more than 40 million views. Shortly after, Mobility Designed worked feverishly to capitalize on the sale of its ergonomic crutch that reduces pain for users. Mobility Designed’s M+D Crutch allows a user to apply the bulk of her weight on her elbows — as opposed to the armpits or wrists — offering a more comfortable experience. It accommodates users from 4’7” to 6’8” and up to 300 pounds.

Idle Smart
Founder: Jeff Lynch
Founding year: 2012

Based in the Kansas City Startup Village, Idle Smart rarely toots its own horn, but this small, scrappy team is making solid inroads into the trucking industry. The firm created a “smart” thermostat for trucking fleets to save fuel, cut down on pollution and keep drivers comfortable. Idle Smart was a top-15 finalist for a the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s One in a Million national pitch competition and has a patent on its tech.

Integrated Roadways
Founder: Tim Sylvester
Founding year: 2012

When we look at a highway, we see a river of pavement. When Integrated Roadways founder Tim Sylvester looks at one, he sees an ocean of opportunity. His firm created a smart pavement system with embedded components that provide connected cars with wireless connectivity on roads, highways and interstates. The IoT platform allows departments of transportation to charge drivers and passengers for connectivity, the proceeds of which can be funneled back into underfunded infrastructure projects. The DOTs in Kansas, Missouri and Colorado are already using the platform.

SportsPhotos.com
Founder: Brandon Schatz
Founding year: 2012

Imagine collecting and processing tens-of-thousands of photos, then quickly distributing them to hundreds — even thousands — of different people. Sports Photos accomplishes that all while offering an intuitive interface for event organizers, participants and freelance photographers. Led by founder Brandon Schatz, Sports Photos works with large runs, such as the Color Run and Kansas City-based Trolley Run, and many youth sports leagues across the U.S. The firm’s freelance model also allows it to nationally branch out to attract a variety of events.

t3 Interactive
Founder: Tim Wikstrom
Founding year: 2013

This Kansas City firm has developed one of the few business-facing applications for the Microsoft Kinect, assisting users with their presentation skills. t3 Interactive’s “PresentR” tool taps Microsoft’s Kinect to analyze a presentation, scrutinizing everything from poor posture to counting how many times you say “um.” Founded in 2013, PresentR’s tech evaluates a user’s eye contact, gestures, voice and posture to offer constructive feedback. PresentR has yet to encounter a competitor, founder Tim Wikstrom said.

What startups did we miss? We’d love more of your suggestions — please offer them in the comments below!