Austin Barnes

Recent Articles by Austin Barnes

Settle up with Uncle Sam early (and other tax tips for startups)

January 6, 2016

Whether it’s your first year of startup life or your twentieth, it’s a great feeling to wrap up the year on December 31 and see just how far you’ve come.  January starts off full of promise, and then you remember: You still need to settle up with Uncle Sam. To help put the final ribbon…

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The WTF Series: Augmented Reality

January 5, 2016

On a daily basis, Ben Kittrell translates the jargon-filled world of technology for clients of his tech consultancy. The Words that Frustrate (WTF) series aims to offer readers some clarity in an industry dominated by techies’ confusing argot. Thanks to the Oculus Rift device, you probably heard last year’s buzz on virtual reality. The device,…

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Deacon: Kansas City evolving into a digital laboratory

January 4, 2016

Cities have become veritable technology ecosystems where data is amassed from almost everything, from air quality and rainfall patterns to traffic flow and the availability of parking spaces. As we become more familiar with the all-encompassing term “smart city,” we can begin to experiment with the futuristic-but-practical applications for all this data, creating the concept of…

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ShotTracker scores partnership with sports equipment giant Spalding

January 4, 2016

Overland Park, Kan.-based startup ShotTracker will partner with Spalding, the largest basketball equipment supplier in the world, to debut the first multi-player basketball tracking technology. ShotTracker’s technology tracks real-time basketball performance statistics using data from chips embedded in a basketball, players’ shoes, and portable sensors placed around the court. Davyeon Ross, COO of ShotTracker, commented that their…

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After waning state support, Kansas Bioscience Authority will go private

December 31, 2015

A formerly state-backed investment organization for Kansas bioscience businesses will soon be transitioning from a public to private organization. After dwindling support from the State of Kansas, the Kansas Bioscience Authority’s board recently voted unanimously to shift the organization to the private market in 2016, allowing portfolio companies to partner with investors in the private…

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Rightfully Sewn founder stitches a vision for Kansas City’s fashion future

December 29, 2015

Poised, posh and purposeful, Jennifer Lapka Pfeifer sits straight as a board at Kaldi’s coffee shop with unwavering eye contact. Donning a contoured-floral blue and white dress, Lapka smiles as she poetically recalls painting in high school and learning to sew with her grandmother in rural Kansas. Those experiences fostered a love for fashion, art…

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By the Numbers: A look at Midwest tech investment in 2015

December 28, 2015

Startland News recently distilled a report by Lead Bank and investment research firm CB Insights that analyzed the Midwest tech investing scene. Here are a few more of the findings from the nearly 40-page report, as presented by Startland’s Kat Hungerford.  

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Shawnee tax incentives aim to lure startups to the ‘burbs

December 28, 2015

The City of Shawnee is poised to kick off a tax incentive program that hopes to attract “high-growth” tech companies to the area by alleviating initial startup costs. Shawnee City councilman Brandon Kenig said that the “Startup Workforce Relocation and Expansion Program” will encourage job growth and innovation in one of Kansas’ fastest growing cities.…

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Farmobile plows an agricultural revolution by empowering farmers with data

December 22, 2015

Agriculture techie Jason Tatge spent Monday morning as he often would: with a farmer interested in his company. The two kicked off the week in Fargo, North Dakota, kicking the proverbial tractor tires on Tatge’s ag tech business, Farmobile, and how the farmer’s data could generate additional revenue for his operations. They also chatted about…

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‘Tis the season: Kauffman supports KC entrepreneurship with $1M in grants

December 22, 2015

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation awarded more than $1 million in grants to not-for-profit organizations that serve Kansas City entrepreneurs. The grants — totalling $1,020,000 — are a part of the foundation’s projected $8 million of investments in Kansas City’s entrepreneurial community over the next three years. “The Kauffman Foundation is committed to helping Kansas…

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