Tag: financial

PMI Rate Pro exits: KC fintech calls acquisition the ‘natural next step’ for its mortgage tech solution

admin — Thu, 08 May 2025 20:16:19 +0000

MIAMI — A strategic acquisition between a software leader and a Kansas City fintech startup brings together two innovators in mortgage tech to deliver the industry’s most comprehensive platform, said Nomi Smith, co-founder of PMI Rate Pro.

Meet LaunchKC’s new social venture cohort: Bold builders going beyond buzzwords (and Kansas City)

admin — Thu, 08 May 2025 19:05:40 +0000

A reputation of strength within Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem helped convince Darian Jones — a St. Louis native now based in Austin, Texas — to apply for LaunchKC’s fourth Social Venture Studio cohort, he shared Wednesday during a reveal event for the program.

Lucien Smith Gets a Job

admin — Mon, 05 May 2025 11:00:49 +0000

Photo: Zander Taketomo

No one would accuse Lucien Smith of being original, least of all Smith himself. “I’ve always role-played as a painter, role-played as a fine artist,” he says, swiveling in a chair in his studio. “I don’t know how much of it is genuine and how much of it is an act.

BoysGrow cultivates young leaders in South Kansas City through farming, purpose, entrepreneurship

admin — Fri, 02 May 2025 14:34:42 +0000

Editor’s note: The following story was written and first published by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri (EDCKC). Click here to read the original story.

It’s going DAO: Why an NFT-fueled blockchain org is launching in KC alongside Global Pizza Day

admin — Thu, 01 May 2025 17:05:39 +0000

A pizza party in a Midtown eatery covered in art is expected to mark the launch of a Nouns DAO chapter in Kansas City — a group endeavoring to fund local creativity, support the public good and expand access to decentralized cultural funding.

But there’s more at stake than just getting a piece of the blockchain pie.

Leave KC better than you found it: How matching growth to city’s needs is paying off

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:00:28 +0000

Editor’s note: The following is the first in a four-part series exploring the verticals and impact of initiatives within the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City through a paid partnership with EDCKC.

A focused effort to raise Kansas City, Missouri’s average wage — now topping $76,000 — marks a major milestone that Steven Anthony sees as just the beginning of a more intentional and inclusive economic strategy for the region.

Does This Chef Owe You Money?

admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 11:00:52 +0000

Photo: Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com

Vinny Milburn runs the seafood wholesaler Greenpoint Fish and Lobster, and he’s used to restaurant owners who don’t pay for their fish on time: “I joke that I am not a seafood provider — I’m a source of capital who offers a zero percent interest loan.” This is because chefs don’t buy ingredients like most people. Restaurants run on credit lines.

UMKC pitch challenge awards $95K+ for ‘entrepreneur state of mind’ in and outside the classroom

admin — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 13:49:52 +0000

Winning $15,000 in Friday’s pitch competition at UMKC’s Regnier Venture Creation Challenge felt like the culmination of years of hard work and development, said Iyshia Sims.

“Oh my gosh, I’m just so proud of myself,” said Sims, founder of ‘Amir’acle Body Butters and More. “I felt really good after the pitch, I have pitched a lot over the years, and I’ve seen myself grow.”

Family’s Japanese-inspired fabric gift wrap hits a home run with new fans (and an iconic American baseball team)

admin — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 17:31:29 +0000

At the intersection of heritage and innovation, a Kansas City family business is pitching a new way to gift, through vibrant fabric package wraps that carry both meaning and intention — even catching the attention of an unexpected collaborator: Major League Baseball.

Fortune 500 company says it’s bringing 2,000 jobs paying $100K to OP’s former Sprint campus

admin — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 18:36:38 +0000

No better proof that ‘Kansas City has the capacity and competitiveness to meet this moment’

A globe-spanning fintech leader’s plan to create a new strategic hub in Overland Park is expected to include a $4 billion payroll investment in the Kansas City region over the next decade, the company said this week.

Meet The Wealthy Private Firms Controlling The Democrat Party

admin — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:47:25 +0000

Financial Investment C

Mr K finalist reveal: Meet the 10 contenders for KC Chamber’s Small Business of the Year

admin — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 17:19:13 +0000

The KC Chamber just announced the 10 finalists for its prestigious 2025 Small Business of the Year honor — setting the stage for a two-month campaign for selected entrepreneurs that ends this summer with one company crowned the Mr. K Award winner.

Tariffs Won’t Solve Washington’s Biggest Problem: Overspending

admin — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 11:23:09 +0000

KC’s college education gap is widening based on income; new effort targets barriers to dreams after high school

admin — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 18:30:54 +0000

A just-announced initiative — backed by the Bloch Family Foundation — has a straightforward goal: put more college advisors in Kansas City Public Schools and develop a strategic plan to boost access to quality, affordable college education or career training after high school.

The newly launched Kansas City College and Career Attainment Network (KCCAN) already has begun work — kicking off Monday — with immediate efforts to engage high schools, higher education institutions, and community organizations.

C2FO accesses $30M investment with World Bank-backed IFC to expand KC firm’s working capital platform

admin — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 19:51:36 +0000

A just-announced capital infusion for Leawood-built C2FO reflects a shared commitment with global partners to boosting jobs and strengthening economic opportunities — notably for micro, small and medium enterprises in emerging markets worldwide.

The $30 million funding round features investment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and existing shareholders.