Startups Stories
Missouri-built autonomous railcars deploying to Columbia tracks in $16.2M federal tech test
A project meant to demonstrate the viability of autonomous freight railcars along the more than 600 short lines across the U.S. is rolling forward thanks to a $16.2 million federal grant connecting TugVolt technology to Missouri’s Columbia Terminal Railroad (COLT).
Pipeline teams with UMKC to connect paid student consultants with Midwest founders
“Whether a founder is just getting started or scaling a company, there are almost always more opportunities and challenges than there are people available to work on them,” Melissa Vincent said. “Small teams are busy running the business, and strategic projects can keep getting pushed back, even when they could make a meaningful difference in the company’s growth.”
KC tech leaders: AI developed without women, diverse voices could bring real-world harm
“I always tell women: ‘Staying away from AI or completely ignoring it is not doing anybody good,’” said Maliha Khan, CEO and founder of consultancy Khanect the Dots. “You control how much or how little of AI you use.”
Winning element: KU-linked startup mines critical spot-cash support at Pure Pitch Rally
Bri Farris was a little surprised at the backing — and stack of novelty checks — given to Electravera at Monday’s Pure Pitch Rally, she said, even though her startup’s innovative electrochemical process to recover high-purity lithium and cobalt derivatives tracks well with the region’s momentum around critical materials.
C2FO partners with crypto tech giant Ripple to help businesses get paid almost instantly
A new deal pairs a Kansas City-built global platform for working capital with one of the world’s leaders in blockchain-infused digital finance — enabling C2FO’s Instant Pay program to get businesses paid instantly using Ripple’s U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin.