Startland News Staff

Recent Articles by Startland News Staff

Boulevardia 2019

Boulevardia music, maker, ‘taps and tastes’ festival canceled as COVID-19 restrictions extended

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. One of Kansas City’s premiere public showcases of music, makers, beer and…

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Talk of the Town Grill & Bar, Olathe

Biggest pain points? Pressure to adapt now with no cashflow, no reserves (KCSourceLink survey)

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Early feedback from Kansas City’s small business owners tells a story of…

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Philip Gaskin, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Kauffman’s national VP search ends at home: Philip Gaskin shifts into top entrepreneurship role

Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland News.  Entrepreneurs need a steady hand now as the world is gripped by uncertainty, said Wendy Guillies, but challenges facing small businesses and emerging companies will remain long after COVID-19 runs its course. Philip Gaskin — the newly promoted vice president of…

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Wendy Guillies, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Kauffman Foundation commits $2.8M to COVID-19 community response efforts in KC

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland…

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‘Businesses need help now’: AltCap unveils $5M COVID-19 relief loan fund with Kauffman, civic, private backing

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland…

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Nicholas Franano, Artio

Investors pump another $8.8M into KC medical device startup, bringing funding total to $20M+ 

A Fairway-based medical device company is getting to the heart of its entrepreneurial journey, securing a fresh $8.8 million in Series A financing, Dr. Nicholas Franano announced Tuesday. The additional influx to Artio — rebranded from “Metactive” earlier this winter — brings the startup’s total capital raised to more than $20 million. The company has…

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Philip Hickman, Plabook; Nomi Smith, PMI Rate Pro; Max Schanker, SWOT; and Jerren Thornhill, The Guy Experience

Digital Sandbox KC deploys funding to four new startups as uncertainty becomes ‘new normal’

Startup leaders’ needs — and the development of their ideas — don’t stop with the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), said Jill Meyer, announcing the latest round of funding selections for Digital Sandbox KC. “We know our entrepreneurs are facing so much uncertainty in this current situation,” said Meyer, senior director of technology ventures at the UMKC…

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COVID-19, Fusion Medical Animation

Biotech firm seeks to advance novel exosome isolation-based therapy for COVID-19 into clinical trials

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. As the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak grows, Clara Biotech is…

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Open source face shield, Dimensional Innovations

Thanks to KC’s Dimensional Innovations, you can now download designs for an open source face shield

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. An industry leader in design and fabrication, along with its…

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RFP360 team

Five Elms Capital doubles down on RFP360, bringing its investment to $12M

RFP360 proved its worth and ability to push itself in the months following Five Elms Capital’s first investment in the software platform, said Thomas Kershisnik. The payoff? Five Elms today announced a second strategic growth investment in RFP360 — bringing its total backing of the Leawood-based startup to $12 million, said Kershisnik, managing director at…

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