Startups Stories
First he built the data infrastructure, then a $2B valuation: It’s new territory for AI in construction
LINCOLN, Neb. — When his Midwest startup launched, founder Luke Hansen had modest expectations for success, he said. Hansen was focused on building a sustainable business, not a billion-dollar company. “The immediate goal was like, ‘Can we make enough that we’re just not losing money every month, paying ourselves pretty low salaries?’” said Hansen, CEO…
This startup veteran’s new roadway safety tool turns any smartphone into a work-zone inspector
Worker safety within high-traffic roadway construction zones is stalled in the 1970s, said founder Zikomo Fields, driving the vision for a 21st century approach that uses tech to hit the brakes on fatalities. “There’s not a lot of software that is ensuring that these work zones are set up correctly,” said Fields, CEO of Kansas…
Pipeline plants seeds for ‘best of the best’ emerging founders: Meet its growing Pathfinder cohort
Entrepreneurs tapped for Pipeline’s latest rotation of Pathfinder programming reflect an expanded expression of the elite network’s founding principle: use a purpose-built community to close long-standing gaps for leaders who have historically lacked capital, resources, and networks. A sister program to Pipeline’s Fellowship, Pathfinder targets support to early-stage founders from underserved Midwest communities who often…
AI without WiFi: Ag health innovator muzzles a gatekeeper soiling tech for rural ranchers
MyAnIML’s autonomous edge monitoring system is allowing ranchers to go (or stay) off the grid — addressing a primary barrier preventing them from adopting advanced agricultural technology, explained founder Shekhar Gupta. The Overland Park-based agtech startup — whose patented technology uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict a broad range of total health indicators…
First ACCEL-KS cohort funded at KU Innovation Park deepens Jayhawk, Sunflower State investments
A “3x Jayhawk” — and award-winning Kansas City healthtech founder — was among the first 16 recipients of proof-of-concept funding from ACCEL-KS at KU Innovation Park, officials announced Thursday, revealing a new Kansas-focused resource built to reduce the gap between a strong idea and a viable company. Each selected company is expected to receive $25,000 in…
