Editor’s note: Startland News editors selected 10 high-growth, scaling Kansas City companies to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch project. Now in its 11th year, this feature recognizes founders and startups that editors believe will make some of the biggest, most compelling news in the coming 12 months. The following is one of 2026’s picks.
Click here to view the full list of Startups to Watch and see how the companies (including this one) were selected.
When artificial intelligence began quietly showing up in classrooms, Ellia Morse noticed a disconnect.
Students were experimenting with AI, sometimes under the table, while many teachers lacked visibility into how the tools worked, what they produced, or how to guide students in using them responsibly, she explained.
That gap inspired Morse to launch Authentiya, an education technology startup focused on transparency, oversight, and ethical AI use in schools.
“Teachers really need transparency around how students are using AI,” said Morse. “And they need training too, so they understand what AI is and how they can create policies in their own classrooms.”
Authentiya did not start out with that philosophy. Morse, a technical founder and solo builder, initially envisioned a tool designed to identify when students were using AI to complete assignments. Early conversations with educators quickly changed that approach.
“My original product was to catch students using AI,” said Morse. “But I realized teachers can kind of do that already. They can tell if a student is suddenly writing at a really high level while still in third grade.”
What teachers were asking for instead was a controlled environment where students could learn how to use AI openly, with clear boundaries and educator oversight.
“Rather than catching students using AI, there needs to be a place where students can practice using AI transparently, with teacher oversight,” said Morse. “We provide training for teachers and students to get real experience with AI while maintaining that oversight.”
Elevator pitch: Edtech founder Ellia Morse is building an ethical AI on-ramp for classrooms, designed to give teachers visibility and students guidance as artificial intelligence becomes part of everyday learning.
- Founder: Ellia Morse
- Headquarters: Lawrence, Kansas
- Founding year: 2025
- Current employee count: 1
- Noteworthy programs: KU Catalyst, Douglas CORE, NXTUS
The platform pairs professional development with software that allows educators to see how students are interacting with AI in real time. Teachers can view prompts, outputs, and usage patterns, helping ensure AI is used as a learning aid rather than a shortcut.
That teacher-first approach has resonated with early users.
“The first feedback came right after that initial pivot,” said Morse. “Teachers were saying, ‘As soon as you have that product ready, get it to me.’”
As a solo founder, Morse is balancing product development with the realities of selling into schools, a sector known for long purchasing cycles and layered decision-making.
“I’m the technical founder,” she said. “So as a solo founder, I’ve had to learn how schools make purchasing decisions while also building the software.”
Ellia Morse, founder of Authentiya; photo by Haines Eason
Authentiya also focuses on helping students understand AI’s limitations, including bias, accuracy, and concepts like hallucinations.
“That’s when AI will just make up facts,” said Morse. “Since it’s trained on many different sources, it functions by predicting what looks similar to responses it has seen before.”
By exposing those limitations early, the platform aims to build critical thinking alongside technical fluency.
“These students are going to learn how to detect bias,” said Morse. “They’ll understand when an AI is hallucinating, learn how to craft effective prompts, and know when to use AI, and when to rely on their own critical thinking.”
In 2026, Authentiya is moving from concept to classroom through a pilot program with a public school district and several private schools. The program combines hands-on workshops with early access to the platform.
“I’m planning to run a pilot program where I work with a district and a handful of private schools,” said Morse. “We’ll teach educators how to implement AI in the classroom and provide software where students can interact with AI and get initial exposure in a controlled environment.”
Authentiya is committed to ethical AI literacy. Students do not just use AI; they learn how it works, where it fails, and when not to rely on it.
“Teachers need to feel safe,” said Morse. “They need to understand that the AI their students are interacting with has boundaries and clear guidelines.”
10 Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2026
- CarePilot prescribes more patient time, fewer clicks for doctors as product line grows
- Cyphra Autonomy pairs robotics with heavy labor (and a light lift for job site users)
- dScribe tracks early momentum with West Coast-Midwest funding combinator
- The Good Game connects young athletes with on-demand sports experts
- LAN Party gains steam with nostalgia as a hook, gaming enterprise potential as the real play
- LODAS Markets unlocks liquidity as timing pays off for founder’s investment
- Resonus wants local government to hear you — not just the loudest voices
- Roz uncovers dynamic momentum amid audit of its own shifting opportunities
- Sova Dating builds emotional matches with vibes, logistics and an unexpected viral moment
