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Regional Roundup

Regional Roundup: VC valuations, bootstrapping

Welcome to our new series called Regional Roundup. Every couple weeks we’ll pull together compelling articles, podcasts, videos and more related to startups and innovation in the region. Let us know what you think, and send us any ideas or content that you’d like to share. Sit back and read (or listen or watch) some…

Events Preview: TEDxUMKC

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 KC Roundtable Annual Holiday Party When: December 3 @ 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm Where: The Well Come celebrate the end of…

Startup Families: Teenage tech tribulations are a lesson in patience

Running a tech startup and working on a new innovation can prove to be challenging for anyone. But running a tech company with millenials in your home can be pure torture when that technology is on a teen’s favorite appendage: a smartphone. I’ve spent the early days of building my company, Video Fizz, at our…

Arredondo: ‘Kansas City nice’ is stifling innovation

Let me start off by saying, I love Kansas City. I love the humility. I love the blue-collar work ethic. I love the hospitality. I love the cost of living. In fact, I couldn’t be more proud to be a Kansas Citian. (I haven’t gone a day since the World Series without wearing at least…

FitBark: Missouri pooches are the most active dogs

Kansas City-based tech firm FitBark recently released an in-depth, interactive map plotting the vast array of data it collects on dogs around the world. The company, which relocated to Kansas City after completing the Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator program in 2014, opened its database to the public, sharing a trove of insights into canine health…

Smart City board discusses data privacy concerns, kiosks’ content

Creating value for citizens and openness to adaptive but privacy-conscious data policies were at the forefront of Kansas City’s Smart City board meeting Monday morning. About 20 people attended the year’s final meeting of the Smart City Advisory Board, which was formed in August to guide the $15.7 million, public-private tech project in downtown Kansas…

Fund Me KC: Lume Lifestyle

Who: Waira Mungai, Founder and CEO of Lume Lifestyle What: Lume Lifestyle is a lifestyle brand, aiming to merge fitness, fashion and technology. We invented a new product called “Lume Smart Leggings.” They feature a patent pending pocket that has been specifically designed for smartphone interaction. Our pocket has a special mesh that offers touchscreen functionality. It is…

One of Helzberg’s greatest ideas was resurrected from the trash

As charismatic as he is ornery, Barnett Helzberg recently charmed a few dozen entrepreneurs as part of Startup Grind Kansas City. Formerly CEO of Helzberg Diamonds, Helzberg shared with attendees an array of entertaining stories while leisurely pacing the stage and sipping a Boulevard Wheat beer. Here are a few of the stories he told….

‘Do I have to introduce myself?’ Meet Startland News’ new managing editor

Allow me to introduce … myself. My name is Kat Hungerford, Startland News’ new managing editor. As I type this, I’m sitting at a trendy desk in Village Square Coworking Studio at the heart of the Kansas City Startup Village, and I’m still astonished that I somehow wandered into what I’m quickly discovering is that…

O’Neill-Rauber: How my business failure begot confidence

I recently closed a business. Walking away, I feel a little lighter, a bit nostalgic, more confident and a lot smarter. My business was an online clothing store called TallChicksRule.com. Great name, right? If you know a female taller than 5’9”, you likely know the plight of tall fashionistas. I’m here to assure you: The struggle is real….