Startland News Staff
Recent Articles by Startland News Staff
Super Dispatch hires experienced startup driver as COO to navigate its global growth map for 2019 and beyond
From the fifth employee at Webmail.us to No. 50 for KC-based Super Dispatch, a startup leader with a long track record of building innovative operations has joined the executive team alongside founder and CEO Bek Abdullayev. “Super Dispatch is taking off,” said Ben Hubbard, the company’s new chief operating officer. “They have things figured out…
H&R Block co-founder, legend of KC entrepreneurism Henry Bloch dies at 96
Henry Bloch’s contributions to Kansas City will last generations, business leaders said Tuesday, as word spread of the H&R Block co-founder’s death. “Henry Bloch was an absolute champion of Kansas City in everything he did,” said Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. “From business endeavors involving H&R Block,…
Most-funded tech startups: $100M-plus investment puts PayIt on the map with C2FO
Companies in the Midwest and South are making major plays for investment dollars, according to CB Insights, with Kansas City’s PayIt and C2FO earning spots on the latest map of the nation’s most well-funded tech startups. “The tech boom has diffused beyond the traditional hotbeds of California, New York, and Massachusetts, across the entire United…
Prime Digital Academy pledges $20K in scholarships to boost inclusion in KC tech
A coding boot camp that freshly arrived in Kansas City this winter plans to underwrite $20,000 in scholarships specifically for individuals who are part of demographics underrepresented in the coding profession, said Rachael Bromander. “At a time in the market where tech talent is scarce and growth is booming, programs like Prime represent a way…
First couple of KC Dapper Rap launching first-of-its-kind coworking space for city’s urban core
A new self-style space in Midtown is expected to offer hair, beauty and wellness entrepreneurs an opportunity to cowork under one roof without the burden of securing financing or paying for utilities, said Lauren Euston. “If you are a busy stylist or busy wellness professional and you are working hard to reach the next level…
BacklotCars parks another $25 million in Series B round led by NY-based investor
KC-fueled BacklotCars will further its mission to disrupt the wholesale automotive space, thanks to the close of a $25 million Series B funding round, the company announced Monday. Led by New York-based growth equity firm, Stripes, the round brings BacklotCars — which seeks to ease pain points for automotive wholesalers — to $38 million in…
LEANLAB Education earns $200K grant from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative for public schools research
A $200,000 grant to LEANLAB Education from Mark Zuckerberg’s philanthropic arm will mark the Facebook founder’s first investment in the Kansas City education scene. “We are committed to growing partnerships throughout the country,” said Katie Boody, LEANLAB CEO. “And with the support of [The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative] we aspire to write the playbook for how…
Mr. K Award finalists: RFP360, KC Bier Co., Charlie Hustle among Chamber’s Top 10 Small Businesses
From one of Kansas City’s most popular breweries to a startup that streamlines the RFP process to an apparel company known for its big heart, 10 small businesses received surprise visits Friday — each now a finalist for the prestigious Mr. K Award. “The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce showered us with confetti today…
WATCH: Faces of KC entrepreneurship find strength in numbers, community resources
A new video from KCSourceLink highlights the faces of Kansas City entrepreneurship — featuring makers, innovators, tech founders and social entrepreneurs — and their connection to the resource network and ecosystem infrastructure in Kansas City. “It takes very special people to be able to put everything on the line,” says Reggie Gray, executive director of Black…
Time to see green: 3 startups spring into Digital Sandbox KC proof-of-concept program
The path from concept to commercialization has three reinvigorated travelers this spring, Jeff Shackelford said Thursday, announcing the latest early-stage entrepreneurs to join Digital Sandbox KC. The program’s newly joined startups include a tech-driven legal solution and two companies using artificial intelligence to innovate their industries, said Shackelford, executive director of Digital Sandbox KC. “As…