Startland News Staff
Sometimes we share credit. The “Staff Writer” byline appears on stories reported, written, or edited collaboratively by members of the Startland News team — especially for quick hits and breaking news.
Recent Articles by Startland News Staff
EquipmentShare completes another $150M equity raise, building on its Series E funding
COLUMBIA, Missouri — The latest tranche of funding for EquipmentShare puts mid-Missouri’s most earth-moving scaleup close to a half-billion dollars in funding announced over the past six months. EquipmentShare, a Columbia-based equipment and digital solutions provider serving the construction industry, on Wednesday announced it completed an extension of its Series E equity raise, led by funds…
Tesseract Ventures illuminates its work with US military, lighting new alert system for air force base
A new military contract showcases Tesseract Ventures’ versatility and sophistication in the national security tech space, said John Boucard, touting the Overland Park-based company’s cutting-edge Alert Route Lighting System planned for MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. “Tesseract continues its focused mission to revolutionize the way people live, work, and play by developing state-of-the-art technologies…
Anonymous donor makes $50M commitment to KU School of Business; largest gift in school history
LAWRENCE — A hefty anonymous donation is expected to transform business education and research at the KU School of Business, said Paige Fields, noting the $50 million commitment will also provide funds to advance key initiatives supporting undergraduate student success. “This transformative gift supports the School of Business’ ongoing commitment to excellence in research and…
KC entrepreneurs tapped to team up with top-tier Kansas enterprise businesses
A trio of emerging Kansas City startups are among 20 cohort members selected to forge new strategic connections with big-name Kansas enterprise partners like Koch, Evergy, Cargill and Spirit AeroSystems. Wichita-based NXTUS this week announced the latest program participants for the NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series — a diverse array of growth-minded entrepreneurs offering innovative tech…
Headline-grabbing entrepreneurs join ScaleUP! KC on their way to ‘that next tier’
Twenty of Kansas City’s most promising young companies — including the KC Chamber’s “Emerging Business of the Year” — are among the latest cohort of ScaleUP! Kansas City, the metro’s longest running program for growth-minded entrepreneurs with scaling businesses. ScaleUP! Kansas City companies receive coaching, perspective and connections to scale, create new jobs, open new…
Kansas City startup among leading fintech finalists in NXTSTAGE competition
An AI-infused startup led by Kansas City serial founder Jannae Gammage is poised to compete against seven other finalists in this fall’s NXTSTAGE innovation showcase in Wichita. Foresight — a fintech platform that aims to open funding opportunities for underserved borrowers by assessing credit risk, fraud and biases — was selected as finalist for the…
Flint Group’s new strategic partner invests in taking the home services platform national
SEATTLE — A newly announced strategic investment from the global firm General Atlantic is expected to help a home services platform with Kansas City leadership enhance its business offerings and accelerate its growth, ultimately toward scaling the company nationally. Founded in 2019 by industry veterans Collin Hathaway and Trevor Flannigan, Flint Group has quickly expanded…
J Rieger continues its international push, adding whiskey distribution to northern neighbors
Fresh off its win as the KC Chamber’s top international small business, J. Rieger & Co. announced its expansion into Nova Scotia — a milestone as the Kansas City-based distiller enters the Canadian market. “We are thrilled to bring our range of artisanal spirits to Canada for the first time,” said Ryan Maybee, co-founder of J….
C2FO marks $300B in funding for businesses as entrepreneurs navigate ongoing credit crunch
Rapid marketplace expansion in the first half of 2023 helped push Leawood-based C2FO — the world’s on-demand working capital platform — past the $300-billion mark in total funding to its customers. This record funding amount reflects invoices paid an average of 31 days early via C2FO’s platform. C2FO gets vital, low-cost capital into customers’ hands…
Marcell Coffee owners launching ‘Take Care’ retail concept, OLEO brand in Crossroads
The roasting minds behind a successful Kansas City wholesale coffee operation are switching business blends — planning a Crossroads storefront anchored by a new, retail-only coffee brand. Christopher Oppenhuis and Mark Sappington, the founders and owners of the wholesale roasting company Marcell Coffee, are preparing for the fall opening of their first retail concept, “Take…