KCRise Fund

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.

Edward Frindt

General Partner

Darcy Howe

Founder and Managing Director

Liam Reilly

Principal

Past deals in Missouri

Sailes

Series A in 2023
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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