Tag: Maranda Manning

Ideem locks in $2.4M seed round for trust tech spinout driven by Toby Rush, startup veterans

By Tommy Felts / April 15, 2025

The Ideem team has a clear vision for how to make two-factor authentication easy and invisible for users, serial tech entrepreneur Toby Rush said, noting an early investment round will help the rapidly emerging startup double-down. Ideem announced a $2.4 million seed round Tuesday, backed by Sovereign’s Capital, Quona Capital, Everywhere Ventures, Hustle Fund, Oread…

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KC-based Jayhawk startups earn cut of $570K from Oread Angel Investors pitch event

By Tommy Felts / January 8, 2025

LAWRENCE, Kansas — Four Kansas City-area startups with ties to the University of Kansas recently took home funding infusions from a newly formed network of Sunflower State investors — part of a rapidly advancing initiative led by KU Innovation Park. Members of the Oread Angel Investors network, which launched in September and now has about…

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John Fein and Chris Marks, Firebrand Ventures

$40M Firebrand II fund strengthened by Kansas City VC’s merger with Boulder firm, leaders say 

By Tommy Felts / August 3, 2020

Merging two venture capital funds focused on one startup-rich portfolio is expected to create a larger platform for founders in up-and-coming markets, said Chris Marks. “While a merger is unique in the venture world, this feels very natural based on our overlap in values, our shared commitment to supporting authentic leaders, and our similar focus…

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Firebrand Ventures

Midwest VC, area startup vet join Firebrand Ventures following $17.7M fund raise

By Tommy Felts / April 25, 2018

On the heels of smashing its fundraising goal, Firebrand Ventures has added a pair of new team members. The Kansas City-based seed fund is welcoming Cincinnati venture capitalist Wendy Lea as an advisor and Kansas City startup vet Maranda Manning as fund associate, said managing director John Fein. Lea brings a wealth of investment and…

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