Rashi Shrivastava
reporter
Recent Articles by Rashi Shrivastava
Check in: Full Scale’s $1M investment pledge already impacting startups like Mixtape, DivvyHQ
Nearly nine months after pledging to invest $1 million worth of Full Scale’s development resources in Kansas City startups, impact already is clear among numerous companies, said Matt DeCoursey, who has leveraged a podcast and “Suite and Greet” networking to build deeper connections to the local innovation community. “We have the ability to help a…
KC-tested GoGetter uses AI to bring back human interaction in hiring talent (minus the middleman)
As a software contractor at Cerner for two years, Naga Rayapati saw more than 40 percent of his paycheck go into the pockets of middlemen, he said. “While the contractor puts in their heart and soul working for the company, these ‘preferred vendors’ reap the benefits,” said Rayapati, referring to third parties in the hiring…
Report: KC tech industry brings in $12B, attracts Hyperloop, but city still struggling to fill talent pool
Despite facing a shortage of skilled talent, the tech industry in Kansas City contributed roughly $12 billion — or about 10 percent — to the local economy in 2018, according to an annual report released by the KC Tech Council, a nonprofit that aims to spur tech growth in the city. Nearly one in 10…
KC-based Water.org fills need with focus on poverty as a market to be served
When philanthropy is used to correct a market failure, there is potential for profit, said Gary White, co-founder and CEO of Water.org. “The poor should not necessarily be seen as a problem to be solved but a market to be served,” White told a recent crowd at the University of Missouri, highlighting the importance of…
Show Me Jobs report: Young firms created 44,000 jobs, drove majority of Missouri hiring in 2018
Startups created more than 44,000 jobs in Missouri in 2018, accounting for nearly 80 percent of all new jobs in the state, according to a new report from MOSourceLink. The Show Me Jobs report is a broader version of a similar report focused on the Kansas City market. MOSourceLink, a nonprofit resource provider for entrepreneurs…
DC-based digital SWAT team descends on KC as Social Driver for mission-based clients
From being included in selfies to getting tagged on social media posts, carving a digital footprint is the best way for social movements to gain traction, said Thomas Sanchez, CEO and co-founder of Social Driver. “We are the digital heavy hitters. I always kind of talk about us as almost being like the SWAT team…
Report: Kansas, Missouri economies hinge on homegrown startups, not border war wins
Kansas and Missouri must “grow from within” if the neighboring states aim to successfully confront structural challenges that face their economies, said Amy Liu, a contributor at national think tank the Brookings Institution. The “historic handshake” between Govs. Laura Kelly, D-Kansas, and Mike Parson, R-Missouri, earlier this month marked the symbolic end to an ongoing…
Women2Women tour: Conversation in Kansas City will ripple back to lawmakers in DC
Editor’s note: This content was sponsored by Women2Women Conversation Tours but independently produced by Startland News. From the dining room table to the halls of Congress, conversations about issues important to women need to be at the forefront of the national agenda, said Sarah Chamberlain, founder of the Women2Women Conversation Tours and CEO of Republican…
Zohr takes startup lessons on the road as on-demand tire service expands to Dallas streets
As Zohr drives toward national expansion, the on-demand tire services startup is already finding success in Dallas, replicating the metro-wide experience it made popular in hometown Kansas City, said Komal Choong. “We’re getting great responses from our early adopters,” the Zohr co-founder and CEO said. “So we’re very optimistic that it’ll continue to grow, just…
As healthcare pivots to value based service, Helix Health uses data analytics to reduce costs
Prevention is cheaper than cure — a sentiment forming the foundation of Helix Health, said Anurag Patel. “The business of healthcare today is that if you’re sick, then you’re a customer of healthcare. If you’re healthy, then you’re not,” Patel said, describing a need for creating a business model that helps people stay healthy. Helix Health…