Kansas City

  • Steve Wozniak receives Lifetime Achievement Award at 20th Anniversary HEMP Celebration

    Steve Wozniak receives Lifetime Achievement Award at 20th Anniversary HEMP Celebration

    The evening started with a lifetime achievement award ceremony, which honored powerful HEMP mentors such as Ewing Kauffman, Henry W. Bloch, Ray Pitman Sr. and Barnett C. Helzberg Jr.; Wozniak was also presented with an award at the end of the event. The event included a Q&A with “Woz” covered such topics as Atari, his…

  • Sprint Accelerator powered by Techstars wants more regional startups

    Sprint Accelerator powered by Techstars wants more regional startups

    The Kansas City accelerator hopes its wider scope will attract more Silicon Prairie startups beyond Kansas City. In 2016 the Kansas City Sprint Accelerator powered by Techstars will be expanding its niche from mobile health to mobile. But it doesn’t end there. “Not only are we looking for any startups with a strong mobile component, we’re also open…

  • Steve Wozniak will be in Kansas City on November 19th

    Steve Wozniak will be in Kansas City on November 19th

    Steve Wozniak, Co-Founder of Apple, will be speaking at the Kauffman Center on Thursday, November 19th, as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program. “As a successful entrepreneur, Steve Wozniak understands the importance a mentor can make in someone’s life, which is why we’re so excited to have him help…

  • The 10 startups who won $50k LaunchKC grants at Techweek

    The 10 startups who won $50k LaunchKC grants at Techweek

    Out of 500 applicants from around the world, the following teams took home $50,000 in LaunchKC grants during the conclusion of Techweek in Kansas City this evening: Blooom: Chris Costello, Overland Park, Kan. HealthID: Angelo Pitassi Jr., Cranston, R.I. Integrated Roadways: Tim Sylvester, Kansas City, Mo. KC Drone Co.: Casey Adams, Kansas City, Mo. Nodal Security:…

  • KC startup scene attracts Warby Parker to open its first Kansas City store

    KC startup scene attracts Warby Parker to open its first Kansas City store

    Stepping into a Warby Parker store is like entering a modern version of a 1960’s style library. But instead of wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling shelves of books, they are eye-wear frames. The dark walnut shelves, the kitschy wall-paper, the brass library lamps and books accompanying the glasses, the mid-century library design of the reference desk sign…

  • How SquareOffs connects Kansas City to New York City

    How SquareOffs connects Kansas City to New York City

    Though SquareOffs’ mission may be about choosing one side over another, picking two sides is an asset when it comes to location, as the company operates in both Kansas City and New York. Have you ever been part of a debate where you were so convinced your point of view was right, but didn’t feel you…

  • 1Week KC is becoming a rally point for entrepreneurs across the region

    1Week KC is becoming a rally point for entrepreneurs across the region

    As 1Week KC kicks off its fourth year today, it’s clear the event is gaining attention beyond the city limits. “We’ve seen a lot of entrepreneurs come from across the Silicon Prairie network over the last few years,” said Nathan Kurtz, Senior Program Officer at the Kauffman Foundation. The week-long event brings together many familiar startup…

  • How Jack Wagnon launched ctel3 using partnerships, not capital

    How Jack Wagnon launched ctel3 using partnerships, not capital

    In 2010 Jack Wagnon moved from Portland, Oregon, back to his hometown of Topeka, Kansas. He started ctel3, a business management consulting company with a focus on cutting edge automated sales, marketing and customer service. In five years Wagnon has grown his business with clients across the Midwest–all without a major capital raise. SPN spoke…

  • Royal Loyal wants to give big chain marketing tools to independent stores

    Royal Loyal wants to give big chain marketing tools to independent stores

    Babir Sultan came to America in 2001 from Pakistan, looking to live the American Dream. He started in New York City, working construction just to pay the bills. His real passion, however, was computer networking. Within the first couple of years in the states, Sultan wound up in the IT world, but still felt like he…

  • The Kansas City Startup Village permit issue: explained

    The Kansas City Startup Village permit issue: explained

    Two weeks ago, a small army of Kansas City entrepreneurs descended on the Planning Commission meeting in Kansas City, Kansas. Here’s why. Entrepreneurs are not known for their patience, and a room full of them listening through appeals on sign location was a strange sight. Their sudden interest in the zoning laws, however, was the…