Latest Stories
Equity Donation: A “secret trick” of successful entrepreneurs
You’ve probably heard about Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg giving away his wealth. Sure, he cares about the world, but he’s using a special strategy to make even more money. In this article we take a peek into how to make more money through business donation. We’ve worked with many founders and investors in Kansas City…
Techstars’ John Fein: Seed investments key to Kansas City’s startup community
I love Kansas City. I’ve lived here ten years and a big reason I love it is because of our startup community. I’m committed to building our startup community. It’s grown immensely in the past four years, but still has a ways to go. The purpose of this piece isn’t to propose specific measures for…
Kansas City’s “Dr. Dre of Insurance” aims to remix industry
Overland Park-based ClaimKit is planning to drop the beat on the insurance industry thanks to a new round of financing. The self-proclaimed “Dr. Dre of insurance policies,” ClaimKit CEO Chris Cheatham says the company’s $1.8 million round of financing will boost development of its second software product, RiskGenius. ClaimKit was able to lean heavily on…
Events Preview: Athena League, ReversED
There are a boatload of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter or curious Kansas Citian, we’d recommend these upcoming events for you. WEEKLY EVENT PREVIEW Think Big’s Anniversary Happy Hour When: January 28 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Where: Think Big Coworking Come mix and mingle…
KC’s Smart City ‘Living Lab’ to tackle domestic terrorism threats
Since 2013, more than 160 active shooter situations have taken place in the United States. Imagine for a moment if those events could be prevented or mitigated through the use of technology, such as drones, social media analysis and other sensors. That future is closer than ever according to leaders of Kansas City’s Smart City…
A vibrant arts culture leads to innovation and why hometown investors are vital
Here’s this week’s dish on why the arts community shouldn’t be a benched player on the sidelines of a city’s economy game; the importance of hometown investors to thriving startup communities; and what universities are doing to keep the talent pipeline strong for an entrepreneurial future. Check out more in this series here. The Atlantic…
The WTF Series: Developers and their ‘full-stack’
On a daily basis, Ben Kittrell translates the jargon-filled world of technology for clients of his tech consultancy. The Words that Frustrate (WTF) series aims to offer readers some clarity in an industry dominated by techies’ confusing argot. Spend enough time with a developer and you’re bound to hear the term “stack” thrown around. “LAMP…
ClaimKit snags $1.8M from local VC Flyover Capital
Insurance tech startup ClaimKit is tapping an area venture capital fund to help launch its second software offering that quickly analyzes policies. The company raised $1.8 million to launch RiskGenius, which helps to identify and categorize insurance clauses in commercial policies. Leawood-based venture capital firm Flyover Capital led the round, which included participation from the…
Facing his daughter’s near-death sparked life in George Brooks’ business
Nine years ago, Avalie was born. My first kiddo. She had already had a number of procedures in the womb to address the cyst growing in her chest and neck. An emergency C-section eight weeks early brought her into a world of tubes, ventilators, needles and an entire staff of amazing nurses and doctors trying…
Arredondo: The Economist documentary, recent press great for Kansas City
It’s no secret that I’m a total homer for Kansas City. I truly believe that we have the opportunity and ability to become a world-class, 21st-century city. With that being said, I’ve been known to hyperbolize when it comes to the promise I see in Kansas City. But recently, our city has sold itself with…
