This week’s 1 Million Cups Kansas City gathering was a little different from most. Instead of new startup companies presenting, alumni took center stage. SLiK Hound, PopBookings and PlanIt Impact returned to 1 Million Cups to talk about how far they’ve come since their first presentations, and what they’ve learned so far.
SLiK Hound
SLiK Hound designs and manufactures specialty dog collars here in Kansas City. Crafted with sturdy materials, and printed with a wide option of designs, these collars also come in several sizes to fit every type of dog. And it doesn’t even have to be a dog. They’ve actually have had quite a few goat owners buy their products!
Three years after presenting for the first time at 1 Million Cups, owner Nick Luke says things have definitely picked up. One of the turning points for his business? When he and wife Amy bought a tent about a year and a half ago. It finally allowed them to bring their products and brand to more events and trade shows.
Looking forward, they eventually want to be able to produce other dog products like clothes, toys and food. But Luke says that’s their next chapter, and they still need to focus on driving sales on their flagship product for now.
PopBookings
PopBookings is a software platform for event staffing agencies. The product brings together businesses that need events, and the staff they need to pull them off. The software allows for a more streamlined process. The whole team can communicate in one place, and can stay organized.
Owner Erika Klotz presented her company at 1 Million Cups about seven months ago during Techweek, when it was selected to be part of the first class of LaunchKC.
Klotz says much of the company’s success can be attributed to their desire to keep it simple by streamlining processes and continuing to find better solutions for their clients’ problems.
PlanIt Impact
PlanIt Impact works as a resource impact tool for design and construction projects. The interactive app helps designers and planners visualize future developments, as well as better understand the impacts of the project on the local environment, economy and social sphere.
Owner Dominique Davison made PlanIT Impact’s 1 Million Cups debut just more than a year ago. In that time, she says business has continued to grow. One of the ways she’s been able to keep the momentum going is by focusing on the pain points of her ideal clients (which would be a mid-sized firm that is looking to partner with a sustainable development company).
Davison says another way she continues to build her business is by understanding what she doesn’t know. By hiring team members that have strengths she doesn’t, Dominique is able to develop a more well-rounded and stable business.
