KCRise Fund, established in 2016 by Darcy Howe, is a venture capital firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. It operates as a for-profit initiative under the broader KCRising vision, aimed at enhancing the economic capacity of the greater Kansas City area. The firm focuses on investing in seed-stage and early-stage companies within Kansas and the western half of Missouri, targeting sectors such as information technology, advanced manufacturing, augmented reality, cybersecurity, and e-commerce. KCRise Fund collaborates with institutional venture capital investors and is supported by a diverse group of investors, including corporations, university endowments, and local business leaders. As of now, KCRise Fund manages $70 million in committed capital and has launched KCRise Fund II to further its investment activities.
Saile is a company that leverages artificial intelligence to enhance sales efficiency for leaders and organizations. Its innovative technology, known as Sailebots, automates a wide range of prospecting tasks, significantly reducing the time spent on manual labor while increasing revenue opportunities. Sailebots are capable of managing the entire prospecting lifecycle, which includes finding contacts, scheduling meetings, data cleansing, and summarizing reports related to prospective companies. This patent-pending digital labor solution is currently operational in 29 countries and supports multiple languages, making it a versatile tool for global sales teams. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Saile employs a diverse workforce distributed across various locations worldwide.
Sailes
Seed Round in 2022
Saile is a company that leverages artificial intelligence to enhance sales efficiency for leaders and organizations. Its innovative technology, known as Sailebots, automates a wide range of prospecting tasks, significantly reducing the time spent on manual labor while increasing revenue opportunities. Sailebots are capable of managing the entire prospecting lifecycle, which includes finding contacts, scheduling meetings, data cleansing, and summarizing reports related to prospective companies. This patent-pending digital labor solution is currently operational in 29 countries and supports multiple languages, making it a versatile tool for global sales teams. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Saile employs a diverse workforce distributed across various locations worldwide.
Novel Capital
Seed Round in 2022
Novel Capital, founded in 2018 and based in Mission, Kansas, is a fintech company that offers innovative funding solutions tailored for early-stage B2B software companies. By leveraging a tech-first approach, Novel Capital enables its customers to access non-dilutive capital based on future recurring revenue, effectively breaking down traditional growth barriers. The platform also provides online data-driven insights and curated learning resources, empowering entrepreneurs to capitalize on their momentum and scale their businesses without relinquishing equity. Through its flexible revenue-based financing and operational sales expertise, Novel Capital aims to foster a thriving startup ecosystem and support the growth of emerging businesses.
TripleBlind
Series A in 2021
TripleBlind, Inc. is a Kansas City-based company incorporated in 2019 that provides an online platform enabling organizations to collaborate while safeguarding sensitive data and algorithms. The company specializes in privacy-enhancing computation, offering a software-only solution delivered through a simple API. TripleBlind focuses on sectors such as healthcare and financial services, utilizing innovations like federated learning and multi-party computation to enhance the scalability and efficiency of privacy-preserving technology. Its platform allows institutions to share and monetize regulated data without compromising privacy, ensuring compliance with regulations like HIPAA and GDPR. By facilitating collaboration around sensitive data without decryption, TripleBlind enables clients to generate new revenue, derive deeper insights, and improve modeling and analysis. The company is supported by notable investors including Accenture, General Catalyst, and The Mayo Clinic, and it integrates seamlessly with major cloud platforms.
TripleBlind
Seed Round in 2021
TripleBlind, Inc. is a Kansas City-based company incorporated in 2019 that provides an online platform enabling organizations to collaborate while safeguarding sensitive data and algorithms. The company specializes in privacy-enhancing computation, offering a software-only solution delivered through a simple API. TripleBlind focuses on sectors such as healthcare and financial services, utilizing innovations like federated learning and multi-party computation to enhance the scalability and efficiency of privacy-preserving technology. Its platform allows institutions to share and monetize regulated data without compromising privacy, ensuring compliance with regulations like HIPAA and GDPR. By facilitating collaboration around sensitive data without decryption, TripleBlind enables clients to generate new revenue, derive deeper insights, and improve modeling and analysis. The company is supported by notable investors including Accenture, General Catalyst, and The Mayo Clinic, and it integrates seamlessly with major cloud platforms.
Super Dispatch
Venture Round in 2020
Super Dispatch, Inc. is a Kansas City-based company that provides automation software for the auto transport industry, catering to carriers, brokers, and shippers. Founded in 2013, the company offers a comprehensive platform that includes features such as Super Loadboard for booking loads and finding vetted carriers, Carrier Transportation Management System (TMS) for managing loads, drivers, and billing, and Shipper TMS for automating and digitizing daily operations. By replacing traditional paper forms with mobile applications and a web platform, Super Dispatch streamlines operations and enhances efficiency for trucking companies. The platform also enables shippers to obtain quotes from multiple carriers, track shipments in real time, and manage payments, thus facilitating a smoother vehicle shipping process.
SquareOffs
Pre Seed Round in 2019
SquareOffs LLC operates a cloud-based debate platform designed to facilitate interactive polling for publishers, bloggers, and brands, enabling them to engage audiences and generate insights. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas, SquareOffs allows users to voice their opinions on various topics, promoting social voting and user-generated debates. The platform focuses on areas such as sports, politics, and entertainment, encouraging meaningful conversations through voting, commenting, and debate creation. By leveraging its technology, SquareOffs aims to enhance reader engagement and provide valuable insights to its customers worldwide.
backstitch
Series A in 2019
Backstitch Inc. operates a platform focused on personalized employee communications, catering specifically to HR and internal communications teams. The company's platform allows users to create effective business communications, providing features such as push notifications, internal content delivery, and industry news. Additionally, Backstitch enables users to analyze trends and behaviors within their organizations, identify allies across departments, and measure the return on investment of their communications and engagement efforts. The company also develops an application that integrates a curated media monitoring platform. Founded in 2012, Backstitch is based in Kansas City, Missouri.
Bellwethr
Seed Round in 2019
Bellwethr Inc. is a company that specializes in developing a customer decision optimization platform aimed at enhancing business processes through artificial intelligence and machine learning. Founded in 2017 and based in Wamego, Kansas, Bellwethr's platform automates personalized, next-best actions during critical events in the customer journey, thereby improving customer retention and lifetime value. The company focuses on making machine learning and AI accessible to users regardless of their technical expertise, enabling subscription-based businesses to optimize their customer lifecycle processes effectively. By leveraging data and advanced algorithms, Bellwethr assists clients in attracting new leads while retaining existing customers.
Zohr
Seed Round in 2019
Zohr, Inc. is a retail and service provider specializing in tires, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The company operates multiple locations across Kansas and Missouri, including Bonner Springs, Fairway, and Raytown. Zohr offers a range of services such as tire replacement, tire rotation, flat tire repair, and fleet services. It has developed an online platform that allows customers to conveniently order tire delivery and installation at their home or office. This platform also provides access to a complete catalog of tire-related services, enabling vehicle owners to manage their tire needs quickly and efficiently at competitive prices.
Balance the Superfood Shot
Seed Round in 2018
Balance the Superfood Shot is a health supplement company based in Kansas City that specializes in nutritional food supplements aimed at promoting the daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Founded in 2011, the company offers a product line that includes premium health and nutrition items designed to enhance preventative health. Their flagship product provides consumers with a convenient shelf-stable tonic that delivers half a day's serving of organic fruits and vegetables, along with essential multivitamins and nutrients. This approach supports individuals in achieving a healthier, more balanced lifestyle through easy access to vital nutrients.
Main Street Data
Seed Round in 2018
Main Street Data Corp is a Kansas City-based company that specializes in developing machine-learning tools to enhance agricultural practices. Founded in 2016, the company consolidates both current and historical agronomic data to help farmers benchmark yield performance and increase return on investment. Its flagship product, Validator, provides insights into yield, yield gaps, and potential ROI in both bushels and dollars. By leveraging sophisticated data science techniques, Main Street Data aims to transform the agricultural sector through precise analytics, offering data-driven solutions to grain and cotton farmers, specialty crop segments, and larger partners. The company focuses on creating services that improve risk management and decision-making within the agriculture-based B2B food supply chain.
PayIt
Convertible Note in 2018
PayIt, LLC is a technology company based in Kansas City, Missouri, that specializes in cloud-based solutions to modernize government payment systems. Established in 2013, PayIt provides a digital platform that enables state and local government agencies to enhance the payment experience for residents. Its services encompass various sectors, including property tax, utilities, courts, and public safety, facilitating a seamless and secure digital payment process across web and mobile interfaces. By integrating with existing back-office systems, PayIt creates a unified resident profile that streamlines interactions across different agencies and jurisdictions. The company serves over 100 million residents in North America and has received accolades for its innovative approach, including recognition from Fast Company and StateScoop.
ShotTracker
Series A in 2018
ShotTracker Inc. is a technology company based in Merriam, Kansas, specializing in wearable technology for basketball players. Founded in 2013, ShotTracker develops sensor-based systems that automatically track vital basketball statistics such as shot attempts, makes, and misses in real-time during practices and games. Their solution includes a wrist sensor, a net sensor, and a mobile application compatible with various Bluetooth-enabled iOS and select Android devices. The company's latest offering, ShotTracker TEAM, captures comprehensive statistics for entire basketball teams, allowing coaches to make informed decisions and adjustments based on data analytics. This innovation aims to enhance the performance of athletes at all levels of play by providing access to elite-level analytics in an affordable manner.
Zego
Seed Round in 2017
Zego Inc. is a property technology company based in Kansas City, Missouri, founded in 2017. The company specializes in creating a comprehensive application that connects smart home devices, enabling residents to interact with property management, maintenance services, and a marketplace for local services. Zego aims to enhance the living experience in apartment communities by providing technology that facilitates resident engagement and the sale of additional services. Formerly known as CasaiQ Inc., the company rebranded in December 2017 and operates as a subsidiary of PayLease LLC.
Bardavon Health Innovations
Series A in 2017
Bardavon Health Innovations, LLC specializes in developing and implementing healthcare technology and services focused on managing workers’ compensation cases. The company connects employers with essential tools to make informed decisions regarding employees in positions at risk of injury. Bardavon's technology facilitates efficient communication between therapy providers and referral sources, enhances reporting accuracy, and ensures consistent data tracking. Their solutions include targeted rehabilitation based on job analysis and clear communication of processes among various stakeholders. Bardavon's network provides real-time updates on patient status and supports the justification of therapy treatments for insurers and third-party administrators. Key offerings include bNOTES, bNOTES Connect, Telerehabilitation, Clinical Consulting, Job Analysis, Post-Offer Employment Testing, and XRTS Effort Assessment. Founded in 2013, Bardavon Health Innovations is headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas.
SquareOffs
Convertible Note in 2017
SquareOffs LLC operates a cloud-based debate platform designed to facilitate interactive polling for publishers, bloggers, and brands, enabling them to engage audiences and generate insights. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas, SquareOffs allows users to voice their opinions on various topics, promoting social voting and user-generated debates. The platform focuses on areas such as sports, politics, and entertainment, encouraging meaningful conversations through voting, commenting, and debate creation. By leveraging its technology, SquareOffs aims to enhance reader engagement and provide valuable insights to its customers worldwide.
Dunami
Convertible Note in 2017
Dunami is a social media intelligence company specializing in helping its clients to navigate social media and other big data sources to figure out WHO and WHAT really matters to their business. This is achieved through the automated creation of large, relevant customer segments, called “channels”. Once these channels have been created, Dunami uses proprietary techniques to identify the most influential members of these channels and to help clients understand how to engage them. It was established in 2012 and is based in Overland Park, Kansas.
Blooom
Series B in 2017
Blooom, Inc. is an online investment advisory firm based in Leawood, Kansas, that focuses on managing workplace retirement accounts, including 401(k) and 403(b) plans. Founded in 2013 by experienced financial advisors, the company aims to provide accessible investment management services to a broad audience of Americans who lack financial advisory support. As a Registered Investment Advisor, Blooom emphasizes fiduciary best practices while offering low fees and tailored investment strategies. Its platform utilizes financial technology to deliver comprehensive investment analysis, portfolio adjustments, and risk management, enabling clients to optimize their retirement savings in a straightforward manner.
SpiderOak
Series A in 2016
SpiderOak, Inc. is a cybersecurity firm that specializes in technologies designed to prevent various categories of cyberattacks while ensuring the protection of authority, confidentiality, and integrity for its clients. The company offers several products, including SpiderOak CrossClave, which enables secure file exchange and synchronization through no knowledge encryption, and The SpiderOak, a solution for secure group messaging and file sharing that mitigates risks associated with conventional collaboration tools. Additionally, it provides SpiderOak One Backup, a desktop application for data backup across multiple operating systems, and SpiderOak Enterprise Backup, which offers ransomware protection and disaster recovery services. Serving sectors such as defense, intelligence, civilian government, and enterprise software, SpiderOak was founded in 2007 and has its headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, with an additional office in Chicago, Illinois.
Dunami
Series A in 2016
Dunami is a social media intelligence company specializing in helping its clients to navigate social media and other big data sources to figure out WHO and WHAT really matters to their business. This is achieved through the automated creation of large, relevant customer segments, called “channels”. Once these channels have been created, Dunami uses proprietary techniques to identify the most influential members of these channels and to help clients understand how to engage them. It was established in 2012 and is based in Overland Park, Kansas.
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