Bobby Burch
Recent Articles by Bobby Burch
Video: Hammerspace fueling maker community through supportive network
Since its launch in 2011, Hammerspace has served as a community space for hundreds of Kansas Citians. Unlike coworking spaces with traditional desks and chairs, Hammerspace gives members access to lasers, 3-D printers, sewing stations, radio components, and equipment for welding, sculpting, woodworking and other art forms. In April, Hammerspace moved out of its Brookside…
Hyperloop One zooms past Kansas City-St. Louis route
The prospect of traveling from Kansas City to St. Louis in 23 minutes recently zipped past the Show Me State. Hyperloop One — a tech firm that created a system propelling vehicles at speeds of about 760 miles per hour — announced Thursday its four winning U.S. routes, cutting Kansas City from a list of 11 semifinalists….
Leaders say Kansas City is prime for Amazon HQ2
In the wake of news Amazon is planning a second, U.S. headquarters, a group of Kansas City organizations is tossing Kansas City’s proverbial hat in the e-commerce giant’s shopping cart. Amazon announced Thursday it plans to invest more than $5 billion in a new headquarters that could create as many as 50,000 jobs in which…
KCultivator Q&A: Diana Kander on Pitbull, honey badgers, stand-up material
Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Check out our features on Victor & Penny’s Erin McGrane, SEED Law’s Adrienne Haynes, Code Koalas’ Robert Manigold, Prep-KC CEO Susan Wally and community builder Donald Carter. Early in her career as an innovation coach, Diana…
Husch Blackwell’s Jeff Simon hopes outreach, Techweek grow KC’s organic startup community
Editor’s note: This story is sponsored by Techweek, but independently produced by Startland News. Give now, get later. That’s the mindset Jeff Simon, managing partner of Husch Blackwell’s Kansas City office, instills in his team of attorneys to not only encourage networking, but also build a stronger Kansas City. Empowering his attorneys with autonomy to…
2017 Under the Radar: RiskGenius crafts AI tool for insurers
Editor’s note: Startland News picked 10 early-stage firms to spotlight for its annual Under the Radar startups list. The following is one of 2017’s companies. To view the full list, click here. RiskGenius — previously known as ClaimKit — grew from an initial concept to improve insurance claim documentation. Following careers with surety companies and…
2017 Under the Radar: ZOHR changing tires, traditional mindset on roadside aid
Editor’s note: Startland News picked 10 early-stage firms to spotlight for its annual Under the Radar startups list. The following is one of 2017’s companies. To view the full list, click here. Nearly anyone with a car can relate to the chore of replacing bald tires or the frustration of a flat. Not only will…
2017 Under the Radar: OneHQ ensures better decision making
Editor’s note: Startland News picked 10 early-stage firms to spotlight for its annual Under the Radar startups list. The following is one of 2017’s companies. To view the full list, click here. Retain, recruit and grow your clientele. That’s the mission OneHQ’s tech aims to accomplish for a client base that’s growing around the nation….
LaunchKC reveals 2017 finalists for $500K grant pool
LaunchKC on Friday announced 20 finalists vying for $500,000 in grants. The popular grants contest will award eight startups each a $50,000 non-dilutive grant and one firm a grand prize of $100,000 after a live pitch competition at Techweek Kansas City on Sept. 15. Techweek Kansas City is scheduled from Sept. 11 to Sept. 15…
SoftBank invests $4.4 billion in WeWork
Global coworking giant WeWork recently raked in a massive investment from SoftBank. The Tokyo-based conglomerate and its $93-billion Vision Fund has injected $4.4 billion into WeWork, which has 23 coworking spaces in the United States — including a shared, 40,000- square-foot workspace in Kansas City in the Crossroads Arts District — and more than 27…