The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation begins its celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week today with the second rendition of Startup@Kauffman Demo Day at its Kansas City, Mo. headquarters. For those who can’t attend the event, a live stream (above) will be available throughout the day.
The broadcast began at 8:30 a.m. and will run until 2:30 p.m.* It started with opening remarks from a handful of organizers and dignitaries, including U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder. The event also includes a lunchtime keynote from entrepreneur/investor Christopher Schroeder from noon-1 p.m.
Thanks to our sponsor
The rest of the day will be devoted to pitches from entrepreneurs representing 24 Silicon Prairie startups. Those startups, which represent a mix of industries and locations, were selected in a competitive process organized by the Kauffman Foundation’s entrepreneurship team. The schedule of today’s event (with company descriptions courtesy of the Kauffman Foundation) is:
8:30 a.m. – Event begins
8:35 – Congressman Kevin Yoder
8:45 – Thad Langford, moderator
8:50 – Integrated Roadways
(Kansas City, Mo.
): Integrated Roadways’ road paving system lasts two to four times longer than traditional concrete and asphalt pavements, installs three times faster, reduces life-cycle roadway management expenses by 40 percent, and allows access to underlying utilities for easier repair. The company has completed its first production and installation project on an interstate highway.
9:00 – Stackify (Kansas City, Mo.): The Stackify product allows companies to provide software developers remote access to their production servers without giving full administrative access. Developers can remotely troubleshoot their applications faster, with exact information needed, in a user-friendly format. Stackify finished version one of its product and released it to market Oct. 17 with highly positive initial response.
9:10 – Fannect (Stilwell, Kan.
): A mobile competitive social network of sports fans, Fannect enables users to earn points for their team to prove who has the best fan base and to earn points individually to quantify their passion as fans. The application launches Nov. 14.
9:20 – MySoulSeat
(Columbia, Mo.): The Soul Seat patented chair is designed to promote and preserve wellness at work and at home. Its unique design offers multiple active sitting solutions for the knowledge worker, crafts person, student or anyone concerned about the health effects of sedentary work styles and prolonged sitting.
9:30 – Cognovant (Kansas City, Mo.
): Cognovant is the creator of PocketHealth, a mobile personal health tool that helps people manage their health information and supports their decisions. The easy-to-use PocketHealth has the power to support data exchange and care management.
9:40 – Sernomics (Warsaw, Mo.): The Sernomics social media analytics tool provides retail and professional investors with powerful insights about global financial markets. Financially focused social messages are collected, and data is extrapolated using natural language processing. Analytic findings are available for subscribers via custom, easy-to-interpret data visualizations.
9:50 – Hello Holiday
(Omaha): An e-commerce site that offers funding and distribution for emerging fashion designers, Hello Holiday aims to open access between designers and mainstream consumers and disrupt e-commerce by simplifying the manufacturing and distribution process.
10:00 – PaySAFE (Omaha, Neb.): PaySAFE is an online closing table providing private buyers and sellers a convenient one-stop location to create, negotiate and close transactions with financial protection. It works as a trusted third party that collects, holds and disburses funds according to buyer and seller instructions. The online project management software allows both parties to communicate and agree when work is complete, so funds can be paid out.
10:10 – RecBob
(Cedar Rapids, Iowa): A Facebook app that manages adult sports teams, RecBob sends game reminders, tracks who’s in and who’s out on game day, and automatically finds subs as needed. Recreational sports are inherently social but, until now, that social circle stopped at the team. With RecBob, “friend fans” can participate in the fun, too.
10:20 – Threedee
(Walpole, Mass.): An API for manufacturing, Threedee allows software developers to enable their programs to interact with 3-D printers, CNC machines and laser cutting systems. The system allows for extensive automation and possibilities for product customization in the manufacturing industry. The company’s founder recently relocated to Kansas City to advance the development of his business.
10:30 – RFP365 (Kansas City, Mo.
): This Web-based platform facilitates the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, providing both issuers and responders time-saving features, configurable workflow and insightful analytics. RFP365 provides procurement and business development teams real-time reporting and knowledge management features in a collaborative environment.
10:40 – Neighbor.ly
(Kansas City, Mo.): The Neighbor.ly civic funding platform helps cities, neighborhoods and civic-minded organizations raise cash for civic projects. Individuals, companies and institutions can choose to invest in the places and projects they care about.
10:50 – Folioboy (Kansas City, Mo.): Folioboy equips individuals to design online portfolios in three easy steps—upload, create, publish—to share with colleges and employers. Founded in Pittsburgh, Folioboy has relocated to the urban-ecosphere of Kansas City.
11:00 – Local Ruckus (Kansas City, Mo.): This nationally viable, local events platform makes it easy to discover and share local events without hunting through newspapers or complicated event sites.
11:10 – Fine Vines Artisanal Ketchup (Leawood, Kan.): Launching in stores in early November, this high-quality, all-natural product line offers 12 ketchup flavor variations formulated to enhance the dining experience of consumers by making everyday foods more gourmet.
11:45 – Break for lunch
Noon – Luncheon Presentation by Chris Schroeder
1:00 p.m. – Instin
(Leawood, Kan.): Instin builds mobile apps and websites for the education industry. The company’s first product, myHomework, is a top student planner in iOS and Android markets. Its follow-up product, teachers.io, recently launched. The product that allows teachers to easily share their profiles and assign homework to students has received positive response.
1:10 –
Leap2 (Kansas City, Kan.): This mobile application development company is seeking to revolutionize mobile search. The Leap2 Search Browser for iOS and Android provides search and browsing of the Web in real-time. The company has completed its first release of “Living Search,” which combines mobile search with instant Web and real-time social results.
1:20 – RareWire (Kansas City, Mo.): RareWire provides an easy-to-use software platform for building rich-media, native mobile apps for smart phones and tablets for those who are not experienced Web developers. Market proliferation of smart phones, tablets, apps and app stores necessitates a cost-effective way to take existing content and create a meaningful, interactive end-user experience. RareWire completed its Beta phase and fully launched its platform on Oct. 8.
1:30 –
Flywheel
(Omaha): A premium WordPress hosting and management solution for Web designers, freelancers and creative agencies, Flywheel provides a scalable, secure and reliable platform for hosting WordPress sites and provides software tools to help ease the workflow of launching and managing multiple websites for clients.
1:40 – Artifact Bag Co.
(Omaha): Offering totes, briefcases and aprons handmade with the finest waxed canvas and leather, Artifact Bag recently launched a new product line with emphasis on the mobile experience, including a zippered briefcase, smaller carry tote and artisan aprons. Founded in an Omaha basement in February 2010 with a commercial sewing machine acquired on Craigslist, Artifact Bag has grown to more than 30 machines, a 2,600-square-foot production space and triple-digit revenue without financing.
1:50 – PlanetReuse Marketplace (Kansas City, Mo.
): The PlanetReuse Marketplace technology platform allows customers to locate, view, share and buy inventory from the 1,200 U.S. for-profit and non-profit reuse centers that sell used and surplus materials. Reuse centers populate the site with their inventories via InvenQuery, a proprietary technology that uses a mobile app to instantly post new inventory online upon intake and remove it at point of sale.
2:00 – Lantern Software (Olathe, Kan.
): Lantern connects users to small, local, authentic businesses by engaging them with high-value, real-time, location-based deals and rewards delivered via mobile apps and the Web. Consumers choose and redeem deals instantly, eliminating the need to buy vouchers or receive daily emails.
2:10 – Snacks on Racks (Parkville, Mo.): The newest venture for this rebagger and distributor of bulk and retail packaged snack foods to the food service industry is the addition of a line called “One For You,” single-serve, healthier snacks that include sugar-free, gluten-free, low-carb and heart-healthy items.
2:20 – FormZapper.com (Kansas City, Mo.): FormZapper.com is a personalized form management system that allows users to design, share, review and approve customized forms, as well as store them online.
2:30 – Event ends
Updated Nov. 12 at 9:50 a.m. – Broadcast times were updated to reflect the most recent schedule.
