Austin Barnes

Recent Articles by Austin Barnes

SparkLabKC nixes spring program, eyes management change

March 29, 2016

One of Kansas City’s top business accelerators is canceling its spring program amid a series of changes, including a potential management mixup. Founded in 2012, SparkLabKC will not be offering what would’ve been its fourth spring program as it evaluates its future. Through three separate classes, the organization has helped accelerate 30 area startups with…

Read More

We have liftoff! LaunchCode to boost Kansas City tech talent

March 29, 2016

About 3,500 tech firms need to fill 2,300 open positions in the Kansas City area, according to KCnext. Usually, that means businesses, both large and small, spar over the same people, snatching up programming talent wherever possible, including from their local neighbors. It makes for more than just awkward networking events among tech executives —…

Read More

Gooding: Narrow your focus to win on an exit

March 28, 2016

At the time it wasn’t quite so obvious, but now I realize that I was incredibly fortunate to spend the first part of my career in small-market mergers and acquisitions. Turns out it’s an arena where one can acquire an incredible depth and breadth of business knowledge. On an almost daily basis, I was learning…

Read More

OneDayKC competition to inspire future Kansas City entrepreneurs

March 25, 2016

A Kansas City competition is sowing the seeds of entrepreneurship in local youth by challenging high schoolers to launch a business in only one day. Now in its second year, OneDayKC will welcome a herd of Kansas City high schoolers to join teams and create a viable venture in 12 hours. After crafting a venture,…

Read More

Video: John Fein offers an update on the Sprint Accelerator

March 25, 2016

John Fein, Techstars managing director, chats with Startland News editor Bobby Burch about the accelerator’s 2016 class. Now in its third year, the accelerator this year has a broader focus on all mobile technologies, as opposed to only mobile health in previous years. The accelerator in March welcomed ten new companies to its three-month, mentor-led program,…

Read More

Events Preview: Happy Hour tonight, LaunchCode Liftoff

March 24, 2016

There are a boatload of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter or curious Kansas Citian, we’d recommend these upcoming events for you. WEEKLY EVENT PREVIEW Amazon Web Services Happy Hour When: March 24 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Where: Village Square Coworking Studio Thirsty? Come enjoy…

Read More

Thomas: 3 investing lessons from your busted bracket

March 24, 2016

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. It’s here — the one month of the year where a single college basketball tournament costs employers a collective $1.2 billion for every hour of lost productivity. And it’s fantastic! I’m a big believer that we can find investing lessons in nearly every…

Read More

Video: Sprint Accelerator firms deliver elevator pitches

March 24, 2016

Startland News, along with the Kansas City community, was able to mix and mingle with the current cohort of startups at the Kansas City-based Sprint Accelerator. In a Wednesday night event at the accelerator — located in the Crossroads Arts District — ten startup founders also quickly pitched their tech firms’ missions. The accelerator program, led…

Read More

Inaugural smart city summit eyes the future of public safety

March 24, 2016

How can technology improve the safety of a city? That subject and more will be discussed during the upcoming Smart City Tech Summit, which will host dozens of government officials and public safety professionals from around the U.S. The summit — set to take place March 29 through March 31 — will focus on the…

Read More

Stephens: It’s time to embrace Kansas City’s cowtown character

March 23, 2016

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. I get it. I do. Many of you moved to Kansas City from small Midwestern towns to get away. Kansas City is the big city. You are tired of the fly-over jokes, the rolling prairie, the Casey’s General Store. You want hip, cool,…

Read More