Four Missouri startups are the most recent recipients of support from Digital Sandbox KC.
Associated with either the Ennovation Center in Independence or the Innovation Stockyard in St. Joseph, all four companies join the ranks of entrepreneurs who can benefit from Digital Sandbox KC’s funding.
Digital Sandbox KC, a subdivision of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Innovation Center, offers startup companies funding for early-stage commercialization, resources in technology and access to business and marketing experts.
“We continue to see a high volume of creative, innovative business concepts from across the region,” said Jeff Shackelford, director of Digital Sandbox KC. “It’s great that we’ve funded 100 early-stage concepts in the last five years, but our results show that we could be doing even more to make Kansas City America’s most entrepreneurial city.”
Go Natural English, a digital classroom and community to help adults learn to speak English, and K12 Perform, an EdTech software company that supports school districts in data collection, both received business services through the nonprofit Ennovation Center in Independence prior to the funding from Digital Sandbox KC.
“The project funding from Digital Sandbox KC and support from the Ennovation Center will allow us to hit key milestones and reach new customers,” said Brett Simpson, co-founder of K12 Perform.
DocuLock, a cloud-based software to help businesses archive paper documents, along with WHETStone Devices, which designs an innovative brace to assist plumbing companies safely install water heaters, worked out of the St. Joseph Innovation Stockyard business incubator, located on the campus of Missouri Western State University.
“The support from St. Joseph and the funding from the Digital Sandbox KC provides an important validation for our growing business,” said Paul Janicek, CEO of DocuLock.
Since launching in 2013, Digital Sandbox KC has supported more than 500 entrepreneurs in their startup pursuits. The organization has provided more than $1.9 million in project funding, spurring creation of more than 580 new jobs.
