An Emporia company raised $6.5 million in funding, some of it through local venture capital groups. Green Dot Bioplastics closed its Series A Preferred Round led by Kansas City’s Fulcrum Global Capital, with participation by Innovations in Motion and Open Prairie through its Open Prairie Rural Opportunities Fund. Green Dot Bioplastics serves brand-owners, plastics processors and designers by lightening the environmental footprint of consumer products. The company makes plastics more…

A local angel investment group has put more than $2 million into innovative health- and agriculture-related companies.  Innovation in Motion, launched in 2013, recently completed funding for nine early stage companies in the animal health, ag-tech and human health verticals with commitments to two additional companies, for a total investment of $2.37 million. Managing director Lydia Kinkade is a founder of iiM and says the firm has taken a unique…

Starting this month, Square One Small Business Services at Mid-Continent Public Library will offer workshops for those interested in joining the business market or kick-starting a business. Until April, participants can join a variety of programs and services to work one-on-one with local entrepreneurs and business specialists in the Kansas City area. Free benefits from Square One include business basics classes and bootcamps, online resources and personalized one-on-one consultation. Upcoming…