Funding Stories
‘Fan favorite’ among KC startups joining Wichita cohort; the prize: a playbook for reaching corporate customers
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 the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. WICHITA…
Rapidly scaling PayIt raises another $90M amid ‘long-overdue transformation’ of govtech
Growth and continued innovation are on the docket as Kansas City-filed PayIt closes a $90 million funding round. Led by the global firm Macquarie Capital Principal Finance, the capital injection is expected to keep fueling PayIt’s commitment to simplify the way people interact with the public sector in everyday places like the DMV and court…
LaunchKC reviving $50K grants competition with 8 big checks for startups ready to call KC home
After a four-year hiatus, LaunchKC is officially set to bring back its signature grants competition. Early-stage tech companies will have the opportunity to each win $50,000 in non-dilutive grants, plus access to business support and networking. Co-founded by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri, (EDCKC) and Downtown Council (DTC), the non-profit LaunchKC’s cornerstone…
Historic $1.8M pre-seed round revs up automotive startup with former BacklotCars VP behind the wheel
Anders Ericson is tackling an overlooked issue in the automotive industry, he shared, and investors are not missing out on the opportunity to back up his solution. “There is this glaring problem in the market where people with subprime credit, who are trying to buy a car, are going into these specialized dealerships and paying…
Healthtech app bridges care access gap: Recovery takes time, but patients need mobility today
As an occupational therapist for the past 15 years, Dr. Brandy Archie noticed a hole in the healthcare system, she said. “Your medical insurance covers things that accommodate your body, but doesn’t cover things that accommodate your environment,” she explained. That observation led Archie in 2017 to found AccessAble Living in Kansas City — now…
