Bobby Burch
Recent Articles by Bobby Burch
Unimpeded support for Kansas’ angel tax credits floods Topeka
It appears area entrepreneurs and business leaders are unanimously agreed on at least one thing: Kansas’ Angel Investment Tax Credit program must endure. About a dozen people converged on Kansas Legislature Wednesday to voice unopposed support of the program, which has spurred significant growth in Kansas’ tech and bioscience sectors. The program — as represented…
Flyover Capital continues its deal streak with Illinois startup
Kansas City-area venture capital firm Flyover Capital is continuing its first quarter investment tear. Leawood-based Flyover recently added the fifth company to its portfolio, joining other investors in a $4.1 million Series A round to fund Agrible, an Illinois-based ag tech startup. Flyover has extensive agriculture experience and shares Agrible’s belief in growing the Midwest…
Kansas City’s “Dr. Dre of Insurance” aims to remix industry
Overland Park-based ClaimKit is planning to drop the beat on the insurance industry thanks to a new round of financing. The self-proclaimed “Dr. Dre of insurance policies,” ClaimKit CEO Chris Cheatham says the company’s $1.8 million round of financing will boost development of its second software product, RiskGenius. ClaimKit was able to lean heavily on…
KC’s Smart City ‘Living Lab’ to tackle domestic terrorism threats
Since 2013, more than 160 active shooter situations have taken place in the United States. Imagine for a moment if those events could be prevented or mitigated through the use of technology, such as drones, social media analysis and other sensors. That future is closer than ever according to leaders of Kansas City’s Smart City…
ClaimKit snags $1.8M from local VC Flyover Capital
Insurance tech startup ClaimKit is tapping an area venture capital fund to help launch its second software offering that quickly analyzes policies. The company raised $1.8 million to launch RiskGenius, which helps to identify and categorize insurance clauses in commercial policies. Leawood-based venture capital firm Flyover Capital led the round, which included participation from the…
Is 2016 the last year for Kansas’ angel tax credits?
A popular investor tax credit program in Kansas is likely to sunset after 2016 thanks in part to a budgetary crisis that’s forcing the Sunflower State to broadly tighten its financial belt. Launched in 2005, Kansas Angel Investor Tax Credit Program offers a 50 percent income tax credit to qualified angel investors that invest up…
Kansas City’s “Home for Hackers” finds new ownership
The new owner of Kansas City’s “Home for Hackers” is planning to further the legacy of the program that has brought dozens of techies to the area from around the world. Ben Barreth, founder of the Home for Hackers, recently sold his house near 44th and State Line Road in Kansas City, Kan., to Jeff…
Kansas City gigabit projects can snag up to $25K from Mozilla
The Mozilla Foundation is planning to empower Kansas City techies to improve their city. The foundation — along with the National Science Foundation and US Ignite — announced Monday that it’s allocating $300,000 to civically-minded, gigabit pilot projects in Kansas City and Chattanooga, TN. The Mozilla Gigabit Community Fund is now accepting applications from techies…
Google Fiber, KC entrepreneurship takes stage at White House
In a special event at the White House, Kansas City Mayor Sly James exalted area entrepreneurship and a startup community that grew as a result of the metro’s access to Google Fiber. Joining mayors from Boston and Fresno, Calif., for the U.S. Conference of Mayors, James stood at a White House podium touting the gigabit…
Pipeline announces 2016 fellowship class
The Pipeline Entrepreneurial Fellowship announced Thursday night during its annual Innovator of the Year gala the tenth class of fellows in its leadership development program. The Kansas City-based organization is welcoming 13 entrepreneurs from the region, including six innovators from Missouri, five from Nebraska and two from Kansas. This year’s fellowship will hold program events…