Funding Stories
Kauffman funds help Holy Rosary pilot new lending model to boost equitable access to capital
When a traditional bank may not be able to justify lending additional funds to an entrepreneur struggling to get their business off the ground, Holy Rosary Credit Union is uniquely positioned to help people achieve that evasive upward mobility — regardless of race, gender, or geography, said Carole Wight. A $3.3 million grant from the…
Starting a small biz comes with struggle; this Topeka grants program helps cut the risk
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. This series is possible thanks to Go Topeka, which seeks economic success for all companies and citizens across Shawnee County through implementation of an aggressive economic development strategy that capitalizes…
Mizzou students started making real angel investments from campus a decade ago; now they need more capital
COLUMBIA, Missouri — The college-aged leaders of Mizzou’s AACE Venture Fund are learning as they go: not just how to invest in real startups across the region, but how to make the university’s long-running student investment program sustainable. “We’re having real-world experiences — such as getting on the phone with founders, doing due diligence and…
Healium augments funding with $3.6M seed round, adds Mayo Clinic deal
Healium, a virtual and augmented reality biofeedback company, announced Monday one of the largest private equity raises for a women-owned business in mid-Missouri history. The startup — which transforms bio-data from any fitness tracker into immersive, reactive media — has also entered into a know-how license agreement with Mayo Clinic. A “virtual firefly release” using mobile…
$2M grant expected to fuel workforce training, equity hub led by BioNexus KC, Missouri bioscience partners
The Kansas City region must level up to meet the demand of the expanding life sciences industry and support underserved job seekers, said Dennis Ridenour, announcing a $2 million in federal funds aimed at boosting readiness to fill talent shortages. The funding award will establish the “Bioscience Industry Occupational Training and Equity Collaborative Hub for…
