Tag: Jim West

KC startup’s assests acquired by InnovaPrep; founder says best partners share ‘niche’ expertise 

By Tommy Felts / October 30, 2023

Clara Biotech was one of the first startups to complete BioTools Innovator’s accelerator in 2021, said Jim West; now the Kansas-built startup’s CEO is fully aboard the entrepreneur-boosting effort as associate director — and with his own company’s exit behind him. West, co-founder of Clara Biotech — which launched first-of-its-kind cancer detection in 2015 from…

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Four KC-area startups tapped for custom accelerator targeting diverse range of Kansas entrepreneurs

By Tommy Felts / January 11, 2023

Only a handful of Kansas City startups — three of which hail from Johnson County — are among 21 companies selected for a Wichita-based accelerator designed for growth-minded startups in the thick of their product-market fit and customer-acquisition journeys. The NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort is designed to help early-stage companies break through barriers to generate revenue…

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Jim West, Clara Biotech

How watching a 1-minute video could help a Kansas City startup win $200K

By Tommy Felts / October 1, 2021

TL;DR — Clara Biotech needs views and likes on a company explainer video in order to advance in a highly competitive pitch event. Click here to watch the video or keep reading. Online audience support could help propel a local biotech startup into the finals of an Oct. 15 pitch competition where the winner will…

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Clara Biotech team

Clara Biotech hits $850K in seed funding roundup, preparing to launch first product

By Tommy Felts / June 15, 2021

An emerging biotech startup in the region is reporting a busy spring with a significant seed round already raised and key steps under way to launch its product: a solution that removes manufacturing roadblocks for breakthrough drugs. “We’re in an exciting and growing space and currently have low regulatory hurdles in the research stage,” said…

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Nate Morsches, CEO and co-founder, Restaurant, Pub & Games (RPG)

Pitch Perfect expands bootcamp to a dozen startups: Meet the capital-raising cohort

By Tommy Felts / September 24, 2020

Going virtual because of COVID-19 concerns might limit in-person interactions during the Pitch Perfect bootcamp, said Kathryn Golden, but it allows the seventh cohort to double its size and potential impact on growing startups. “We finally came to accept that moving ahead online — while not ideal — was important,” said Golden, director of entrepreneur…

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