Jeff Jones’ journey to Kansas City — winding through hangouts with popstar Justin Timberlake, dinner with Oprah, and a stint driving one of the world’s most dominant sharing economy companies — has been transformative, the H&R Block CEO said... Read more
Pure Pitch Rally winner says local investment will push Fast Democracy toward focus on KC politics
Offering voters a crystal clear look at the legislative process is winning support for Fast Democracy within the Kansas City startup ecosystem, said Jill Kline, the CEO behind the evolving bill tracking platform. “This was always the roadmap. We... Read more
Idle Smart posts Series A round with KCRise Fund, multimillion-dollar investment support
A multi-million dollar investment round has Kansas City-grown Idle Smart revving its engine and accelerating toward rapid growth in 2019, revealed Jeff Lynch, company president. “I think it’s a reflection of what the team has been able to... Read more
Talent pipeline: Missouri Hyperloop could be a light at the end of the tech jobs tunnel
A high-speed Missouri Hyperloop route connecting Kansas City and St. Louis would power a state-spanning metro area with fluid access to tech jobs and talent, as well as a region pumped for economic growth, leaders familiar with the proposed proj... Read more
Pet innovators unleash market built on experiences, evolving relationships with dogs (Photos)
Meaningful relationships are no longer only between people, said Davide Rossi, discussing the rise of pet innovators and an emerging market built on experiences with four-legged family members. “They key thing is to recognize that the relationsh... Read more
Dream Muscle Coffee roasts hipster coffee shop stereotype with protein brew targeting KC’s east side
When life hands out lemons, some people turn them into lemonade. But what happens when it throws 300 pounds of coffee beans in your direction? You percolate new ideas that can disrupt an overcaffeinated market and strengthen a community, Timothy... Read more
Tech hub arriving: Back2KC effort drives praise from former Kansas Citian now at Uber
Kansas City expatriate Jack Spangler was pleasantly surprised by his hometown’s increased level of innovation, investment and momentum, the Uber thought leader said, reflecting on a recent return trip with the inaugural Back2KC class. “That type... Read more
Upping the stakes, true profit tracking platform Sellozo plans to roll out a new level of access for its users selling on retail giant Amazon, said Jessica McCune. “It’s definitely cool to have the capability to work with more than just th... Read more
Privacy in practice: Responding to daily cyber threats sharpens Polsinelli tech team
Editor’s note: The following content is sponsored by Polsinelli PC but independently produced by Startland News. We see the fallout nearly every day. Another company, government or celebrity that’s been technologically compromised, prompting off... Read more
A thriving startup ecosystem requires more stakeholders with skin in the game, said Eric Jorgenson. That means increasing direct participation — those actively and directly building or investing in startups that can potentially exit and see a ta... Read more