Startland News Staff
Recent Articles by Startland News Staff
Meet the No Coast winners: Homebase founder, Garmin lead 2020 KC tech honors
Tech is a team sport — a reality undefeated by COVID-19, the KC Tech Council said Wednesday, capping a two-day virtual No Coast ceremony that recognized the interconnectedness of Kansas City’s tech community with entrepreneurship, corporate innovation, education and policy. Among the first winners unveiled: veteran startup founder and CEO Blake Miller, whose Homebase.ai employs 25…
SafetyCulture deepens its COVID response with $29M acquisition of ‘micro-learning’ app
An Australian startup with a significant presence in Kansas City has acquired a mobile training app to boost COVID-era education for businesses through free “micro-learning” resources. “We’re experiencing the biggest workplace shake-up since economies were rebuilt after World War II. This is not survival of the fittest, this is survival of those that can adapt,”…
Entrepreneurs identified COVID needs — now GEWKC needs your help to solve them
Challenges exposed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are prompting a more focused slate of programming for Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City, Jenny Miller said, as organizers of the community-sourced celebration open applications for virtual “GEWKC Prime-Time” events. Prospective hosts will sign up for events in specific topic areas – such as starting a business, developing…
Kansas City’s PayIt opens new Canadian HQ, taking its GovTech solution global
One of Kansas City’s top scaling tech companies opened its new headquarters in Canada, John Thomson announced Tuesday, marking a significant step in PayIt’s growth and expansion into new markets. “We are absolutely thrilled to be opening our Canadian headquarters here in Toronto. This city is already home to some immense tech talent and we…
$425M exit: BacklotCars selling to Indiana-based auto marketplace in ‘milestone event’ for KC
Five years after turning its ignition, Kansas City-revved BacklotCars is being acquired in a historic $425 million deal. Carmel, Indiana-based KAR Auction Services agreed to purchase the company by the end of the year, the companies said Tuesday morning. “KAR Global is the most innovative and progressive digital remarketing company in the world, and their…
‘Role models’ for KC: Chamber reveals 10 finalists for Small Business of the Year award
Ten Kansas City companies — including a handful of up-and-coming startups and popular food and beverage hotspots — are vying for the Chamber’s top honor: the coveted Mr. K award. “Today’s the day!” said Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, announcing the top 10 small business of the…
$100K in microgrants awarded across 23 struggling, but resilient minority businesses
Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial sponsor of Startland News. This report was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. A COVID-era resiliency fund that quickly closed applications after receiving a deluge of response from entrepreneurs in need has awarded microgrants to 23 minority businesses on both sides of the state…
LEANLAB awards $50K in seed grants to 19 Black and Latinx innovators in education
Entrepreneurs should reflect the communities they serve, said Katie Boody — a charge even more critical when innovative work touches Kansas City’s diverse public school systems, she added. “I know firsthand how challenging launching a startup can be for anyone, and especially for founders of color,” said Boody, co-founder and CEO of LEANLAB Education, announcing the…
No Coast names finalists for KC’s premier tech champions; winners revealed Sept. 16
Inspirational leaders impacting tech aren’t confined to the coasts — nor to a pre- or post-pandemic world, said organizers of the No Coast awards, pushing forward with plans to honor significant contributions to Kansas City’s tech community virtually this fall. “We all know someone who makes waves everywhere they go — someone who, whether they’re…
LEANLAB boosting its K12 Fellowship with $2M in new Chan Zuckerberg, Gates Foundation grants
Buoyed by a fresh $2 million in high-profile grants, LEANLAB Education is resuming its innovation research program for schools — this year, focusing its K12 Fellowship search first on the needs of COVID-era pilot schools rather than matching them with already-selected entrepreneur solutions. “We’ve seen remarkable ingenuity and innovation from schools this past year,” said…