Announced in February, Digital Sandbox KC so far has selected 15 companies to receive prototype funding.

Digital Sandbox KC announced Friday it has selected nine more companies to receive funding that will help sculpt their early-stage ideas for commercialization.

“We’re excited that the next group of innovative companies is ready for prototype funding,” said Jeff Shackelford (right), director of Digital Sandbox KC. “This is how we envisioned the program working. We’ll have more and more companies moving through the Sandbox and heading toward commercialization. With that in mind, we’ve transitioned to accepting submissions on a rolling basis so companies can jump in the Sandbox at any time.”

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Digital Sandbox KC is a partnership among corporations, nonprofits and universities in Kansas City that provides proof-of-concept resources for early-stage commercialization, with support based on what’s required to move the product or service forward. Projects are in the Sandbox only as long as needed to meet a defined plan.

The group of nine includes a variety of online and mobile applications involving gaming, education, social media, personal security and more. Here they are, as described by Digital Sandbox KC:

• Knoda – a prediction tracking platform
• Prodigy Arcade – a platform to develop games that teach coding basics to youth
• Local Ruckus – a platform to promote events
• FolioMatch – an education portfolio platform
• NeighborsGrow – a social platform for local growing communities
• Divvy – a content/event calendar management platform
• e-Beacons: Public Safety Services – a mobile personal security application
• FormZapper – a platform for migrating paper forms to online versions
• Terafeed/Abzooba – a big data analytics platform

Support for these companies includes funding for prototypes, product and back-end development, finding focused connections to key corporate partners and other consulting, help with IP investigation and equipment.

This round joins six others approved for funding: Limelight Technologies, Heart to Heart Network, Pearl Leaves, Planet Reuse, Angling Technologies/Mapper and Trellie. 

Digital Sandbox KC will host an open house from 3–6 p.m. at Union Station Thursday during 1Week KC.

Credits: Photo from the Digital Sandbox KC website. Jeff Shackelford photo from LinkedIn.