Hometown scramble: Noonan collaboration with neighboring Garmin brings startup closer to tournament win

Kansas City sports tech innovator Noonan’s latest big swing sees the startup paired with a major industry player whose homegrown headquarters exercises its domination in the wearables market from just a few miles down I-35 in Johnson County. Lenexa-built Noonan on Tuesday announced a collaboration with Garmin, a powerhouse in GPS-enabled sports technology — currently ranked…

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Garmin survived the smartphone revolution; now it wears digital health innovation on its wrist

Garmin might not have survived cellular carriers putting free navigation and mapping apps on every smartphone if the Olathe-based GPS tech leader wasn’t constantly innovating, said Scott Burgett, touring a group of digital health entrepreneurs and investors through the Johnson County headquarters. “It’s what keeps a company vibrant,” said Burgett, senior director of Garmin Health…

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Kauffman-backed tech coalition gains runway (and funding) to help fill KC’s talent pipeline, leader says

A new talent-focused coalition led by the KC Tech Council envisions a reality where all of Kansas City’s tech jobs can be filled by Kansas City, said Kara Lowe, unveiling new details of an initiative made possible by the Kauffman Foundation’s new “Collective Impact” funding pathway. KC Tech Council on Friday publicly announced its employer-led…

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‘Shark Tank’ sets stage for Bryght Labs’ new smart play product rollout amid MO funding uptick

Fresh off a successful appearance on “Shark Tank,” Olathe-based connected gaming startup Bryght Labs hopes to capitalize on that exposure to build momentum, said founder and CEO Jeff Wigh. Wigh and co-founder Adam Roush were featured on an episode that aired in December, pitching their product ChessUp, a patented chess board that uses AI technology…

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Checkmate: Inventors’ high-tech chess board unlocks worthy opponent for rookies to rooks

An Overland Park-built connected gaming startup is making moves that run the queen’s gambit  — approaching nearly $1 million in crowdfunding and unveiling its mission to make STEM-focused games more approachable. “I think a lot of kids and adults lose interest right away in something like a Rubik’s cube or chess — because it’s difficult,” explained Jeff…

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