Techweek 100 list released: Dozens of KC’s top cultivators and innovators

Techweek Kansas City on Friday released its Techweek 100 list of the premier leaders pushing innovation in Kansas City. The collection of cultivators, ambassadors and innovators is a who’s who of familiar names across the startup, entrepreneurship and tech communities.

Released in the runup to Techweek KC’s Oct. 8-12 festivities, the list isn’t a ranking, Techweek organizers stressed — rather it’s a celebration of fast-growing companies, prominent investors, key enablers of the digital ecosystem, creators of new technologies, and other innovators that make important contributions to their field.

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Making the List

Techweek 100 honorees have displayed the following characteristics, according to the selection committee for the list:

Originality — Their efforts pushed boundaries and disrupted traditional practices;
Prominence — Their authority is respected throughout their technology ecosystem and they are seen as a pillar of the community;
Growth — A company, under their tutelage, has accomplished great feats, including: new product launches, securing new rounds of funding, acquisitions, exits, or the momentous IPO;
Gumption — Courage and drive led them to navigate their company through the startup world and continue to push to achieve a major goal; and
Pertinence — Their leadership has a public impact in the growth of their technological ecosystem.

Honorees in each of the three categories are divided as follows:

Cultivators — Venture capital firms and funds, incubators, educational institutions, and other organizations that support and enable the tech ecosystem;
Ambassadors — Founders, influencers, and prominent voices who act as positive representatives for the tech community; and
Innovators — Companies, both established organizations and rising startups, shaping their industries via innovative technology.

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Below are the 2018 Techweek 100 honorees, which were nominated by their peers. Check out the selection criteria and descriptions of the three categories on the right.

Cultivators

Lesa Mitchell — managing director, Techstars
John Fein — founder, managing partner, Firebrand Ventures
Thad Langford — general partner, Flyover Capital
Doug Dresslaer — managing director, Sprint Accelerator
Maria Meyers — executive director, KCSourcelink
Jeff Shackelford — executive director, Digital Sandbox
Darcy Howe — founder, managing director, KCRise Fund
Matthew Marcus — chief engagement officer, Kansas City Startup Foundation
Gerald Smith — founder, CEO, Plexpod
Eric Wullschleger — community director, WeWork
Joni Cobb — president, CEO, Pipeline
Ed Wilson — partner, Husch Blackwell
Aaron Deacon — managing director, KC Digital Drive
Zach Pettet — managing director, Fountain City Fintech
Bill Anderson — executive director, Missouri Technology Corporation
Melissa Roberts — vice president of communications and outreach, Enterprise Center of Johnson County
Fred Coulson — founder, 5 Elms Capital
Ryan Weber — president, KC Tech Council
Jill Meyer — senior business development and commercialization consultant
Bob Bennett — CIO, City of Kansas City, Missouri
Wes Bergman — founder, BetaBlox
Quest Moffat — founder, Project United Knowledge
Jon Cook — CEO, VML
Wendy Guillies — president, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Jennifer Wadella — founder, president, Kansas City Women in Technology
Martha McCabe — executive director, KC STEM Alliance
Michael Gelphman — CEO, Dare Mighty Things
Ron LeMay — managing director, OPENAIR Equity Partners
Herb Sih — co-founder, managing partner, Think Big Partners
Mike McRoberts — McRobert Consulting
Mark Malmberg — Nerdery
Jason Trachsel — CEO, Allied Global
Jene Hong — CPA, mergers and acquistions, O’Keefe & O’Malley
Katie Boody — founder, CEO, LEANLAB
Carlos Antequera — co-founder, managing director, Novel Growth Partners
Kevin McGinnis — founder, McGinnis & Associates
George Brooks — founder, CEO, Crema
Angela Hurt — founder, CEO, Veracity Consulting
Todd Fitzpatrick — vice president of commercial banking, First Business Bank
Laura Brady — partner, Royal Street Ventures
Michael Helmstetter — co-founder, president, CEO, Tech Acceleration Partners
Eric Garretson, CFO, NBKC Bank
Nathan Oleen, partner, Husch Blackwell

Ambassadors

Richard Amos — CTO, American Century Investments
Don Peterson — CEO, Tornaire
Matt Condon — founder, CEO, Bardavon Health Innovations
Brian Unruh — CEO, NBKC Bank
Jeff Simon — managing partner, Husch Blackwell
Chris Giuliani — CEO, Spring Venture Group
Greg Kratofil — partner, Polsinelli
Christine Murray — senior director of programs, Greater KC Chamber of Commerce
Gary Fish — CEO, Fishtech Labs
Jessica Palm — managing director, Team KC
Toby Rush — senior director, international technology investments, Ant Financial
Eric Danielson — director of science and technology, JE Dunn
Scott Lippert — managing partner, BalancePoint
Jeanette Prenger — president, CEO, ECCO Select
Kimberly Beatty — chancellor, Metro Community Colleges
Josh Rowland — CEO, vice chairman, Lead Bank
Michele Weigand — chief transformation officer, Honeywell
Rachel Merlo — community manager, Google Fiber
Anita Newton — chief innovation officer, Community America Credit Union
Dave Cummings — CEO, Tradebot
Laurie Minard — vice president of human resources, Garmin International
Dale Werts — partner, Lathrop & Gage
Todd Pleiman — managing partner, RubinBrown
Dell Gines — senior community development advisor, KC Federal Reserve
Adrienne Haynes — founder, managing partner, SEED Law
Karen Fenaroli — managing partner, CEO, Fenaroli & Associates
Andre Trudell — EVP, managing director, UMB