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Looking for investors? A startup’s first ask shouldn’t be for money, leading VCs say
Most startup founders think of funding as transactional, Darcy Howe shared, but it’s actually relational. “You’ve got to have relationships with people long before they’ll fund and that includes angels and all the others,” the KCRise Fund founding managing director told a crowd gathered at UMKC’s Bloch Executive Hall for Startland News’ Kansas City Startups The post Looking for investors? A startup’s first ask shouldn’t be for money, leading VCs say appeared first on Startland News.
How a pivotal hire from the world of sports and entertainment helped Crux-X shift sales strategy
Investing in a sales team is frequently overlooked by companies as they develop their priorities for growth, said Melea McRae, noting just 97 percent of these ventures are leaving innovation on the table by ignoring this clear strategy to scale. Crux-Xcelerate (Crux-X), the sister company of Kansas City “un-agency” Crux KC, is tackling this challenge The post How a pivotal hire from the world of sports and entertainment helped Crux-X shift sales strategy appeared first on Startland News.
NXTSTAGE taps trio of KC entrepreneurs to help their companies grow revenue, scale
WICHITA — Three Kansas City startup founders are among 20 early-stage companies selected for the latest NXTUS program aimed at boosting innovation from within urban and rural areas throughout the state of Kansas. Joining the 2024 NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort: Joy Broils, Hustle & Ground, Shawnee; Mark Lukenbill, Mpruv Sports, Basehor; and Crystal Webster, Sharing The post NXTSTAGE taps trio of KC entrepreneurs to help their companies grow revenue, scale appeared first on Startland News.
Study with USDA researchers affirms startup’s AI-powered facial recognition for cows can detect sick animals
A collaborative study between an Overland Park animal agtech startup and the U.S. Department of Agriculture successfully corroborated MyAnIML’s predictive ability to proactively manage devastating disease outbreaks in cattle production, the company announced this week. MyAnIML uses first-of-its-kind, proprietary facial recognition and deep learning technology to analyze cow muzzles — accurately predicting Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis The post Study with USDA researchers affirms startup’s AI-powered facial recognition for cows can detect sick animals appeared first on Startland News.
Corral raises $1.38M to expand virtual fence solution’s US hoofprint; M25, Grit Road beef up deal
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. LINCOLN, Nebraska — Agtech pioneered by a third-generation rancher-turned-startup founder has corralled an oversubscribed $1.38 million funding round with backing from a healthy herd of regional investors. Corral Technologies, a The post Corral raises $1.38M to expand virtual fence solution’s US hoofprint; M25, Grit Road beef up deal appeared first on Startland News.
These KC students just won $50K for their school’s STEM efforts — and exhibit space in Science City
Winning the $50,000 grand prize at Burns & McDonnell’s Battle of the Brains competition made for the best school day ever, shared Reese Moreno, a member of the victorious Delta Woods Middle School team. “This is mind blowing,” she explained Tuesday after the awards ceremony at Union Station in Kansas City. “The moment they announced The post These KC students just won $50K for their school’s STEM efforts — and exhibit space in Science City appeared first on Startland News.
WeCode KC, CAPA selected for free services from this Top 10 KC small business winner
A company lauded among Kansas City’s top small businesses for three consecutive years this week announced the nonprofit recipients of $100,000 in pro-bono marketing services through a first-time expansion of its annual Crux for a Cause initiative. WeCode KC and Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA) will each receive marketing investments of $50,000 for 2024, said The post WeCode KC, CAPA selected for free services from this Top 10 KC small business winner appeared first on Startland News.
KC startup on a mission to show women’s health is more than a niche; a nationwide advocate could help
A women-led Kansas City health startup is among 10 companies chosen for a new innovation cohort from Springboard Enterprises, which made a name for itself locally in recent years through its popular Dolphin Tank pitch showcases. Marma was selected for the Springboard program — a comprehensive entrepreneurial bootcamp and an expansive workshop series — because the The post KC startup on a mission to show women’s health is more than a niche; a nationwide advocate could help appeared first on Startland News.
Startup launches workforce readiness game, scaling its Kansas-built talent crisis solution national
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. WICHITA — A newly opened, nationwide digital game tournament aims to help students adopt the life skills needed to start careers wherever they live, said Robert Feeney, describing how his The post Startup launches workforce readiness game, scaling its Kansas-built talent crisis solution national appeared first on Startland News.
What if they connected: New leader wants to use puppets to give toddlers their first arts experience
Amanda Kibler has long admired What If Puppets, the nonprofit’s new executive director shared. “It’s a great company,” she said of the Kansas City arts institution known for years as the Mesner Puppet Theater. “I’m just over the moon to be involved. I’ve been saying for a long time, it’s the one company in town The post What if they connected: New leader wants to use puppets to give toddlers their first arts experience appeared first on Startland News.
West Coast health tech company bringing dozens of jobs to new River Market headquarters in KC
A West Coast health tech startup’s relocation to Kansas City is expected to give the company direct access to key clients in the region — as well as creating 35 high-paying jobs, representing more than $3 million in annual payroll, regional officials announced Thursday. Orange County, California-based Hart, Inc. plans to transition its operations to new The post West Coast health tech company bringing dozens of jobs to new River Market headquarters in KC appeared first on Startland News.
$100K in federal funds take stage at Kansas City theater forced to relocate because of COVID
Challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic continue to impact the arts, said Evie Craig, whose organization was forced to relocate because of an unexpected revenue drop caused by the global health crisis. A recently announced $100,000 in American Rescue Plan grant funding from the Entertainment Industry Grant Program administered by the State of Missouri Department of The post $100K in federal funds take stage at Kansas City theater forced to relocate because of COVID appeared first on Startland News.
Style on standby: How an 18th & Vine barber shop is turning heads inside KC’s airport
Armon Lasker’s barber shop inside security at the new Kansas City airport terminal flies a cut above the rest, said the former information technology professional-turned-entrepreneur. His spot — Director’s Cut: Take Two — allows travelers to conveniently get a haircut and other services before or after their flights. “This is the first one like this,” said The post Style on standby: How an 18th & Vine barber shop is turning heads inside KC’s airport appeared first on Startland News.
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