Startland News Staff
Recent Articles by Startland News Staff
Startup community organizers named to Chamber’s new Centurions class
A trio of faces familiar within the Kansas City startup community have joined the city’s oldest and premier leadership development program. The 35-member list of incoming Centurions — which includes John Coler, product owner at RFP360 and Startup Weekend organizer; Davin Gordon, business development officer at AltCap; and Courtney Windholz, COO at PROOF and former 1…
Hunting unicorns: C2FO spotlighted as startup likely to reach $1B valuation
Leawood-based C2FO is among the nation’s highest-momentum startups, according to CB Insights and The New York Times, which teamed up to name 50 “future unicorns.” The U.S. companies on the list — which analysts involved predict will eventually be valued at $1 billion or more — largely are based on the coasts. Twenty-two are in…
K-State institute’s expanded focus: Boost Kansas companies launching new tech
Every Startup A Wildcat? The Technology Development Institute at Kansas State University is evolving its role and services to improve the economic competitiveness of Kansas companies. Broadening activity at the institute — formerly known as the Advanced Manufacturing Institute — reflects a focus on developing, protecting and launching new technologies for a range of partners,…
Nearly 30 percent of InvestMidwest applicants from Kansas City
Young Kansas City companies are hungry for investor dollars and connections — as evidenced by dozens of metro startups and businesses applying for next month’s InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum. Of the more than 140 applications from entrepreneurs in 19 states seeking to pitch their companies, 18 hail from Kansas City, Missouri, and 10 call Overland Park…
Made in Kansas City named TeamKC MVP for celebrating KC pride, promoting talent
With its sprawling footprint and focus on local creatives, Made in Kansas City is among the most valuable brands in the metro, TeamKC announced Friday, touting the startup as an economic development driver worthy of its MVP award. Made in KC — founded in 2015 as a retailer of Kansas City-centric and locally designed and made…
SPN report: KC underperformed on venture deals by $100M in 2018, despite cool jobs and connectivity
Google Fiber infrastructure and cool tech jobs alone aren’t enough to power a vibrant startup ecosystem rich with venture-backed investments, according to a new report that takes a critical look at Kansas City’s place within the Midwest economy. “The [Kansas City] community boasts the fastest broadband speed and is competitive in most of the other…
Latest Pipeline fellows include familiar KC founders, startups focused on eSports, saving pets, ‘hearables’
Eight Kansas City startup founders have the opportunity to build a lifetime of high-level entrepreneurial support as 2019 Pipeline fellows, said Joni Cobb. The Pipeline network of top-tier Midwest founders announced 13 new fellows last week at the organization’s annual Innovators event, staged this year in Omaha, said Cobb, president and CEO of Pipeline. More…
Digital Sandbox charges three new startups with its proof-of-concept challenge
An effort to elevate Kansas City’s creative minds, Digital Sandbox KC is digging deeper in its sixth year of acceleration — adding three new startups to its portfolio, the proof-of-concept program announced this week. “Our initial goal was to find 10 early-stage concepts that had high-growth potential and help them secure follow-on funding,” said Jeff Shackelford,…
Predicting sick days: Sickweather showers HR with data on illness mapping, trends
It’s a partnership more than a year in the making, said Graham Dodge, announcing Sickweather’s deal to help a leading employee benefits company predict workers’ sick days. The Kansas City-based startup is piloting a program among the more than 10,000 employees at Unum Group to give managers more data and insights to plan for absenteeism….
Strategic investment from Five Elms Capital comes with new CEO for RFP360
A freshly announced strategic growth investment is expected to boost RFP360’s sales, marketing and product development, as well as paving the way for added leadership at the Kansas City-based tech startup. Financial details of the deal with Five Elms Capital were not disclosed, but the move comes in conjunction with the arrival of former Perceptive…