Downtown innovation district: Developers envision 30-story Lightwell project as its own startup hub

By Tommy Felts | October 2, 2019

It’s possible the Lightwell building’s exterior hasn’t been cleaned since 1977, joked Tim Schaffer as he walked a vine-wrapped rooftop terrace that overlooks downtown Kansas City.  “It was totally unintentional, the way it came together,” Schaffer, president of AREA Real Estate Advisors, said of the multi-million-dollar office redevelopment project that’s quickly evolved into what Schaffer…

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C2FO’s $200M challenge: Prove the fintech startup is worthy of KC’s biggest investments

By Tommy Felts | August 7, 2019

A record-busting $200 million investment announced Wednesday easily tops C2FO’s previous headline-grabbing funding rounds, but now the Kansas City fintech mega startup must live up to the hype, said Sandy Kemper. “Investments are always forward-looking,” said Kemper, founder and CEO of C2FO. “Our job is to make sure that we’re living up to our ability…

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BREAKING: C2FO closes $200M investment led by backer of WeWork, Uber, Slack

By Tommy Felts | August 7, 2019

Startup giant C2FO continues its climb to the top, having secured a new $200 million investment — and doubling the amount of its once-record funding raise in fewer than two years.  “We are very fortunate to have a team who, for years, has delivered industry-leading unit economics, extraordinary customer satisfaction, and strong global growth,” Sandy…

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Look inside (and out): Corrigan Station expansion offers startups skyline views from within Crossroads

By Tommy Felts | May 17, 2019

Decades have passed since the last new office building opened in the Crossroads Arts District, said Edna Martinson. In a matter of weeks, startups and small businesses can “create their own vibe” when the 22,910-square-foot Corrigan Station expansion project — led by Copaken-Brooks — unlocks its doors and opens them to Kansas City innovators, added Martinson,…

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