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
New five-year government grant, matching funds will help KCSourceLink fill gaps, build inclusivity
The payoff from a new five-year grant to KCSourceLink will most immediately be seen in a refreshed website with a more streamlined user experience for doers, makers, creators and entrepreneurs searching for help in taking the next — or first — step in building a business. “Our goal is to strengthen the fundamental building blocks of a…
Privacy in practice: Responding to daily cyber threats sharpens Polsinelli tech team
Editor’s note: The following content is sponsored by Polsinelli PC but independently produced by Startland News. We see the fallout nearly every day. Another company, government or celebrity that’s been technologically compromised, prompting officials to scramble on how to best calm customers, citizens and stakeholders. And when you lead one of the nation’s top cybersecurity…
Meet the 2018 LaunchKC winners: $500,000 in grants awarded at Techweek finale
LaunchKC, the hotly anticipated annual pitch contest, capped Techweek Kansas City Friday by awarding a half-million dollars in non-dilutive grant funds to nine winning startups from among 20 finalists. An Atlanta company earned the day’s top prize. The finalist competitors — who beat out more than 586 applicants for a spot on this year’s stage —…
Pure Pitch surprise twist: Techweek competition adds pre-teen innovator to KC startup lineup
In a surprise announcement Monday, organizers of the Pure Pitch Rally announced the third annual pitch competition would feature the Kansas City pre-teen innovator behind the Storm Sleeper. Update: Click here to find out who won big at the Pure Pitch Rally. Julia Luetje — a Barstow School student from Leawood, who at 10 years…
Digital Sandbox KC mixes in Carroll’s Irish Bitters, TravelHive, iSocial and Grant Company
After more than five years, Digital Sandbox KC’s proof-of-concept program continues to see a high volume of quality applicants with a wide range of concepts, said Jeff Shackelford. Four startups receiving project funding from Digital Sandbox KC were announced Thursday. Two of those awards are in partnership with Innovation Stockyard in St. Joseph, said Shackelford,…
Fresh funding brings Flow Forward to $8M in capital; pushes startup closer to first human clinical trials
An additional $1.2 million in Series A financing puts Fairway-based medical technology company Flow Forward closer to human clinical trials for hemodialysis patients, said Dr. Nicholas Franano. The new investment — from a group of investors, including Mid-America Angels — brings Flow Forward’s total funding raised to date to more than $8 million, said Franano,…
Freelance Exchange plans expo for gig-economy creators, panel on hiring solopreneurs
An expo this week in Johnson County will put the work of freelance creators on display, as well as offer insight into the minds of Kansas City solopreneurs, said Cami Travis-Groves. The FX Portfolio Showcase — set for 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center — is expected to…
Serial entrepreneur hopes to cultivate ‘real talk’ with startups at day-long Own It event
Business often isn’t pretty, said serial entrepreneur Mike Wrenn. And it’s time to expose some of the hard truths he and his wife, Becky Cole — as well as other business heavyweights — have learned through their careers, he said. “Becky and I have built a successful business with national and international reach,” said Wrenn, chairman…
LaunchKC lands keynote speaker from NASA; Techweek queries two Google developer advocates
Pitch Day for LaunchKC is expected to lift off next month with an opening keynote address from NASA executive Kira Blackwell. Remarks are expected to delve into NASA iTech, a year-long effort to find innovative ideas that address challenges and fill gaps in five critical areas identified by the space agency as having a potential impact…
LaunchKC finalists revealed: Kansas City newsmakers and startup stars in the making
A dozen Kansas City tech entrepreneurs are set to compete next month against a mix of firms from across the country — and one startup from Israel — in arguably the city’s most elite and hotly anticipated pitch event of the year. LaunchKC announced its 20 finalists Tuesday — each vying for their piece of…