Listen: Behind the scenes interview with Hyperloop One exec on Missouri plan
February 1, 2018 | Bobby Burch
By now you’ve likely seen that Missouri is a top five favorite to land a Virgin Hyperloop One route.
If built in Missouri, the tubular transportation system would move people from Kansas City to St. Louis in 30 minutes, creating a mega-region that combines the state’s biggest cities, said Dan Katz, director of global public policy for Virgin Hyperloop One. Overland Park-based Black & Veatch is now leading a team to study the feasibility of the route along I-70 over the next seven to nine months.

MoDOT’s proposed Hyperloop route
It’s an exciting prospect not only for the economic impact but also the technological achievement it’d represent. Not only could Hyperloop One move people and freight at unprecedented speeds, but it would create a distinct logistical advantage for a region that already benefits from a centralized location.
Startland News sat down with Katz to talk with the Hyperloop One executive about the plan in Missouri, its advantages and disadvantages and the technology behind it. Joining Katz are Michael DeMers, the director of Innovative Partnerships and Alternative Funding, and Dave Leligdon, Black & Veatch’s vice president of major projects.
Listen to the audio story below to learn more about Hyperloop One’s plans.
Featured Business
2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
KC Digital Drive creates lab to test drive gigabit apps
Ever since Google Fiber announced Kansas City as its first fiber project, techies across the nation have wondered how gigabit Internet will shape a new wave of innovation and how the city would tap its new infrastructure. And thanks to a new KC Digital Drive initiative, Kansas Citians may have an up-close look at the…
New UMKC center to engage entrepreneurs, community
The University of Missouri-Kansas City recently solidified funds to build an innovation center to serve a broader set of students and the Kansas City community. The $14.8-million Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center will feature a variety of resources for students and the larger business community, including a lab, rapid prototyping equipment, 3D printers and…
Claimkit snags ‘aspirational entrepreneur’ award
Overland Park-based tech startup ClaimKit recently was dubbed 2015’s most “aspirational entrepreneur” by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Founded in 2011, Claimkit created a contract management platform for insurance companies, law firms and consulting groups to help them more efficiently collect and analyze documents. Now with five full time staff, the company in…
C2FO CEO Sandy Kemper talks failure, VCs, maximizing time
From a Kansas City arena to the founders of one of the nation’s largest financial institutions, the Kemper name is well known in Kansas City. But it’s more than just Sandy Kemper’s name that drew a sold out crowd at Kansas City’s May Startup Grind event. Kemper leads one of Kansas City’s fastest growing companies…