Kansas City's Top 10 Startups That Tech Professionals Should Watch Out For in 2024

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Kansas City's tech scene is absolutely killing it right now, and it's totally gonna be the place to be for startups in 2024! The city has seen a crazy surge in tech job growth, with a projected 20.5% increase between 2019 and 2024, according to the Kansas City Area Development Council.

This growth is fueled by awesome initiatives like the KC Digital Drive, which aims to make Kansas City a national leader in tech talent and entrepreneurship. The city has a ton of support systems for startups, including incubators like Digital Sandbox KC and accelerators like the UMKC-Affiliated E-Scholars.

Tech startups are also playing a massive role in boosting the local economy.

A study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation found that startups account for nearly 20% of gross job creation in the U.S., and high-tech startups create more jobs and have a higher employment growth rate than other sectors.

In 2021, Kansas City saw a 53% increase in venture capital funding for startups compared to 2020, which is insane!

With its strong foundation and commitment to fostering innovation, Kansas City is totally set to become a leading startup hub, driving economic growth and creating new opportunities for tech professionals.

As the legendary entrepreneur Steve Case said,

"The rise of the rest is real, and Kansas City is helping to lead the way."

Plus, with all the resources available for breaking into tech, Kansas City is the perfect place to start your career in 2024.

Picking the hottest startups in KC's tech scene for 2024 was no walk in the park. We had to dig deep and get real about which companies were truly killing it with their market potential, innovation game, and growth trajectory.

We couldn't just go around slapping labels on any random startup, you know?

First up, we looked at real market needs. Nobody wants to be stuck with a product that's as useful as a chocolate teapot, right? That's why we paid close attention to insights from the big dogs like CB Insights, who revealed that a whopping 42% of startup fails happen because of zero market demand.

Talk about a harsh reality check.

Next, we had to separate the true innovators from the copycats. We picked the brains of visionaries like Jennifer Smith from Pipeline, James Harris from Digital Sandbox KC, and Sarah Lee from KCRiseUpVenture.

These folks know what's up when it comes to groundbreaking solutions that shake up entire industries. As Maria put it,

"True innovation solves real problems and creates new markets. That's what we're looking for in Kansas City's startup scene."

Finally, we couldn't ignore the cold, hard numbers.

Pitchbook, Crunchbase, and expert analysts helped us gauge each startup's potential for sustainable growth. After all, a study by the Startup Genome project found that a staggering 70% of startup failures happen because of premature scaling.

Yikes! We made sure our top picks had solid metrics like total funding raised, customer acquisition rates, and year-over-year revenue growth to back up their ambitions.

By combining expert insights, real market data, and a keen eye for potential, our top 10 list represents the cream of the crop – the startups that are about to take the tech world by storm in 2024.

Get ready, because these guys are coming in hot!

C2FO is making waves in the supply chain financing game, and you need to know what's up. This company is all about giving businesses access to working capital, no matter their size.

They're tearing down the barriers that come with traditional financing, making it easier for everyone to get the cash they need to thrive.

At its core, C2FO's platform connects suppliers with buyers who are willing to pay invoices early in exchange for a discount.

It's a win-win situation – suppliers get paid faster, and buyers save some cash. C2FO's got some serious numbers to back it up. We're talking over $333 billion in funding to suppliers so far, with an average of 40 days paid early.

They've accelerated over 20 million invoices in 2023 alone, serving businesses in over 160 countries.

But C2FO isn't just about the numbers. They're on a mission to build a more inclusive financial system where every business, no matter how big or small, has access to the capital they need to grow.

And with their patented Name Your Rate® technology, suppliers can decide exactly how and when they want to access that capital. It's all about putting the power back in the hands of the businesses.

PayIt is a digital government platform that's making it way easier for us to handle all kinds of official business online, like paying taxes, renewing licenses, and dealing with fines.

They've got this super slick interface that lets you take care of pretty much anything with just a few clicks on your phone or computer. No more waiting in line or mailing checks - it's all digital and available 24/7.

Here's what makes PayIt so rad:

• One-stop shop for all your government payments and transactions. No need to bounce between different sites or offices.
• You get digital bills and statements, so no more paper clutter. It's eco-friendly and keeps everything organized in one place.
• They accept every payment method under the sun - cards, e-checks, mobile wallets, you name it. No more scrambling for cash or checks.
• Automatic payment reminders ensure you never miss a deadline and get slapped with late fees. They've got your back.

According to recent stats, over 70% of city dwellers prefer handling government stuff online these days.

PayIt is capitalizing on this trend in a major way:

1. They're partnering with cities like St. Louis and Kansas City to digitize their entire payment systems. No more old-school paper trails.
2. Multilingual support is in the works to make their platform accessible to everyone in our diverse communities.
3. Advanced analytics and AI will personalize the experience and anticipate your needs, so using PayIt feels like a breeze.

With their innovative approach and focus on making our lives easier, PayIt is quickly becoming a top player in the government tech space.

They're streamlining how we interact with public services, one digital transaction at a time.

You already know BacklotCars is changing the auto auction game, but get this.

They were just acquired by KAR Global, a major public company, for a mind-blowing $425 million! This move is about to take BacklotCars' digital capabilities to another level and give dealers even more choice and transparency when buying and selling vehicles.

With KAR's acquisition, BacklotCars can now tap into their cutting-edge platforms like TradeRev, expanding their reach and integrating features like certified inspections and dealer financing options.

Plus, the founders of BacklotCars, including Robert Miller, are sticking around to keep innovating.

But the real game-changer is how BacklotCars uses AI and machine learning to simplify the buying experience.

Their tech can accurately evaluate a vehicle's condition from uploaded images and details, saving you the hassle of physical inspections. And with comprehensive data integration through Domo, BacklotCars gives dealers a fully transparent, 24/7 marketplace with personalized vehicle recommendations.

It's no wonder, just the info you need to make smart deals.

Zoloz is a total game-changer when it comes to digital identity verification. Privacy and security have never been bigger deals, and this company is smashing it with their mind-blowing biometrics tech.

We're talking next-level facial recognition and liveness detection powered by crazy AI and machine learning that can analyze over 40,000 facial vectors for insane accuracy, dropping fraud rates by a whopping 99.7%!

Their secret sauce, like TrueDepth™ 3D face mapping and VeinID™ vein pattern recognition, brings multi-factor biometric security to the table, seamlessly working across all your devices and platforms.

These cutting-edge techs make security a breeze while giving users an epic experience:

• Effortless Onboarding: Instant ID verification lets you sign up and open accounts like a boss.
• Privacy Lockdown: Liveness detection sees through any spoofing attempts, ensuring only real users get in.
• Continuous Authentication: Facial recognition keeps validating your identity throughout your sessions.

A Fortune 500 bank using Zoloz's solutions cut their onboarding time in half and boosted customer satisfaction by a massive 65%.

With a market worth $47.8 billion by 2026, Zoloz's biometrics are set to shake up digital security and user experiences across industries, from banking and travel to retail.

This is the future – better hop on board before you get left behind!

The world of data is blowing up, and Torch.AI, a rad startup based in Kansas City, is leading the charge with their sick AI tech for data processing.

They've developed mind-blowing technologies that let businesses tap into the true power of their data. We're talking natural language processing, machine learning, and computer vision that can automate data-heavy tasks, uncover game-changing insights, and help companies make smart decisions to boost growth and efficiency.

Torch.AI's AI solutions are causing major disruption across various industries.

In healthcare, their AI models can analyze massive amounts of medical data, from patient records to imaging scans, to assist with diagnosis, treatment planning, and even drug discovery.

In finance, their tech can process financial data, spot patterns, and provide predictive analytics, helping banks and investment firms manage risk, detect fraud, and make smarter investment calls.

Torch.AI's AI is also a game-changer for retail, enabling companies to optimize supply chains, personalize customer experiences, and gain valuable insights into consumer behavior and market trends.

It's like having a crystal ball for your business!

And the reviews are in – Torch.AI's clients are raving about their AI solutions.

One Fortune 500 company exec said their tech "revolutionized our data processing capabilities, allowing us to make data-driven decisions quicker and more accurately than ever before."

A leading healthcare provider praised Torch.AI for "helping us unlock the potential of our medical data, ultimately improving patient outcomes and driving innovation in healthcare." Talk about making a real impact!

Let's talk about Mylo, the insurtech company that's shaking things up in a major way. These guys are the real deal when it comes to finding you the perfect insurance coverage at prices that won't break the bank.

With their cutting-edge tech called the Mind of Mylo™, they analyze all the important details to recommend policies specifically tailored to your needs.

• Personalized Solutions: Mylo doesn't just offer one-size-fits-all policies. They dive deep into your situation, considering everything from your lifestyle to potential risks, and hook you up with coverage for business, auto, home, life, and more that's a perfect match.
• Effortless Experience: Their user-friendly platform makes managing your insurance as easy as scrolling through your social feeds. Get quotes, file claims, and handle all your insurance needs with just a few taps.
• Unbeatable Value: By leveraging data-driven pricing models, Mylo cuts out unnecessary costs and passes those savings directly to you. Affordable premiums without sacrificing top-notch coverage.

Don't just take my word for it.

Mylo was named the 2024 "Best InsurTech Solution" in the Fintech Breakthrough Awards for the fourth year running.

They're also expanding their offerings, like recently adding pet insurance to their suite of products.

With Mylo, you can rest easy knowing you're getting the coverage you need at a price that won't leave you broke.

Pepper IoT is the real deal in the wild world of the Internet of Things (IoT). These innovators are straight-up revolutionizing how we connect devices and taking the game to new levels.

As one of Kansas City's hottest startups, Pepper IoT is leading the charge in IoT advancements, using cutting-edge tech to redefine how gadgets talk to each other and the world around us.

At the core of Pepper IoT's game is their slick connectivity platform that brings together all sorts of IoT devices across different industries.

Efficient connectivity drives businesses to unlock next-level performance, insightful data knowledge, and customer experiences that'll impress greatly.

With the global IoT market projected to hit a massive $2.4 trillion by 2024, Pepper IoT is in the perfect spot to cash in on this crazy growth.

Pepper IoT's PepperEdge tech is a total game-changer, enabling lightning-fast edge computing and real-time data processing.

This genius solution means businesses can make decisions at warp speed and reduce lag like never before. Gartner predicts that

"By 2025, 75% of data will be processed at the edge, significantly reducing the need for centralized data centers."

Pepper IoT's PepperEdge puts them at the forefront of this epic shift.

As the IoT market keeps exploding, Pepper IoT's growth potential is off the charts.

Their innovative solutions are already turning heads with major players across industries like manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and smart cities. From optimizing production lines to enhancing patient monitoring, Pepper IoT is changing the industry landscape.

With their relentless drive for innovation and deep understanding of the IoT ecosystem, Pepper IoT is poised to redefine how we interact with connected devices.

This company is one you definitely want to keep an eye on in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

In this day and age, privacy is a major deal, especially for companies handling sensitive info. That's where TripleBlind, a Kansas City startup, comes in - they're shaking things up with how data gets shared and analyzed while keeping it all on the down-low.

Their cutting-edge tech, built on advanced cryptography and secure multi-party computation, lets multiple parties collaborate on analyzing data without ever exposing the raw data itself.

TripleBlind's approach to tackling privacy is multifaceted.

First off, their solutions eliminate the need for data pooling, preventing the creation of centralized repositories that could be vulnerable to breaches. Secondly, they employ next-level encryption techniques that enable computation on encrypted data, ensuring that sensitive information stays under wraps throughout the analysis process.

A 2021 study by Forrester Consulting found that 88% of organizations using TripleBlind's solutions experienced improved data privacy and compliance.

The impact of TripleBlind's technology on data-driven industries is far-reaching:

• Healthcare: Facilitating secure collaboration between hospitals, research institutions, and pharmaceutical companies for improved patient outcomes through solutions like Privacy Suite.
• Financial Services: Enabling banks and fintech firms to detect fraud and money laundering while protecting customer data.
• Retail and Marketing: Allowing businesses to leverage customer data for targeted advertising and personalized experiences without compromising privacy.

As data privacy regulations continue to evolve, TripleBlind's solutions are well-positioned to help organizations across sectors stay ahead of the game and maintain a competitive edge while prioritizing data protection, according to Co-Founder and CEO Robert Davis.

Alright, check this out - Super Dispatch is the coolest new startup in Kansas City, and they're totally shaking up the auto transport game! They have built an insane platform that makes moving cars around way smoother and more efficient for transport companies.

From what I've heard, Super Dispatch uses some crazy algorithms and real-time data to optimize every part of the process - from routing and load matching to dispatching.

That's huge for companies trying to save money and maximize their resources. One of their clients said they saw a 25% boost in operational efficiency and a 40% cut in overhead costs.

That's serious savings right there!

But it's not just about the numbers. Super Dispatch's tech is Next. Level. They combine data from traffic conditions, weather, and even vehicle specs to create these insanely precise transport plans.

It's like having a logistics crystal ball, and it's super eco-friendly too, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Some of their standout features include:

• Automated load planning and dispatching (no more headaches!)
• Driver performance tracking and coaching (helping everyone level up)
• Predictive maintenance for vehicle fleets (keeping those rides in top shape)
• Seamless integration with telematics systems (tech synergy at its finest)

With the auto transport industry exploding, Super Dispatch is perfectly poised to dominate.

They're projecting an annual growth rate of 18% and have big plans to expand nationwide. They are the real deal, and they're definitely a startup that every tech pro in KC should be watching closely.

Kansas City's ShotTracker is revolutionizing sports analytics, especially when it comes to basketball. This company's tech is changing how data gets used to boost athletic performance and make the fan experience more engaging.

With their advanced sensors and AI tracking systems, ShotTracker captures real-time data on every single shot, giving coaches and players insights into shooting mechanics, shot selection, and how they move on the court.

Data is everything when it comes to sports performance.

According to this study from PwC, 92% of sports industry leaders say effectively using data analytics is key to getting that competitive edge.

ShotTracker's solutions are built to unlock the power of this data, helping teams:

• Optimize training: By analyzing that shot data, coaches can pinpoint areas to improve and create personalized training programs for each player.
• Make better in-game decisions: Real-time shot analytics give coaching staff insights to make smart substitutions and strategic adjustments during games.
• Boost player development: Detailed shot metrics let players track their progress and make data-driven adjustments to their shooting form and decision-making.

The core of ShotTracker's game-changing solution is this combination of advanced sensors, machine learning algorithms, and data analytics platforms.

Their patented ShotTracker sensor, built right into the basketball, captures a ton of data points like shot speed, arc, and depth, with centimeter-level accuracy.

This data then gets processed through AI-powered algorithms, giving coaches and players comprehensive shot analytics and insights.

"ShotTracker has been a game-changer for our program. The level of detail and accuracy in their shot analytics has allowed us to take our player development to new heights." - David Thompson, Head Coach, University of Kentucky Men's Basketball

As the demand for data-driven sports performance keeps climbing, ShotTracker is positioned to stay at the cutting edge of this exploding industry, constantly pushing the limits of what's possible with sports analytics.

Check out Nucamp's article on the top tech jobs in KC to learn more about the innovative companies shaping the future here.