Tag: Mark Lukenbill

Photos: Founders score electric vibes, human connections with Startup Crawl’s return

By Tommy Felts / June 24, 2024

Even tech startups benefit from one-on-one conversations with peers and the public, founders said, reflecting on the connections, collisions and real-time feedback earlier this month during Startland News’ Startup Crawl in downtown Kansas City’s Power & Light District. “It was an incredible experience that allowed for free-flow conversations and engaging activities between myself and the…

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NXTSTAGE taps trio of KC entrepreneurs to help their companies grow revenue, scale

By Tommy Felts / January 25, 2024

WICHITA — Three Kansas City startup founders are among 20 early-stage companies selected for the latest NXTUS program aimed at boosting innovation from within urban and rural areas throughout the state of Kansas. Joining the 2024 NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort: Joy Broils, Hustle & Ground, Shawnee; Mark Lukenbill, Mpruv Sports, Basehor; and Crystal Webster, Sharing…

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Start from the top: How these newsmakers forged companies to watch (Event Photos) 

By Tommy Felts / January 22, 2024

Maybe it was an open opportunity in a market that couldn’t be ignored. Perhaps a calling to do something bigger than themselves. Or, for some, just a transparent bid to find profit in a world of problems waiting to be solved. Each of Startland News’ 10 Kansas City Startups to Watch launched with a motivation…

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2024 Startups to Watch: Mpruv Sports swings for greater inclusion in traditional athletics

By Tommy Felts / January 3, 2024

Editor’s note: Startland News editors selected 10 Kansas City scaling businesses to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. Now in its ninth year, this feature recognizes founders and startups that editors believe will make some of the biggest, most compelling news in the coming 12 months. The following is one of 2024’s companies.…

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This Wichita program is helping KC startups connect the dots to corporate partners

By Tommy Felts / November 22, 2023

WICHITA — An eight-week program targeting knowledge and access gaps between emerging startups and enterprise companies helped boost a trio of Kansas City ventures whose founders are now eying new customers and partners as they scale. The 2023 NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series — an initiative of Wichita-based NXTUS — wrapped its latest cohort during Wichita Startup…

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