This week, KCSourceLink, the leading entrepreneurship connection in Kansas City, announced its list of Kansas City startups and scaling companies turning ideas, passions and dreams into great businesses … and on top of all that, pivoting and innovating to help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not only did every company on the KCSourceLink Watch List for 2020-2021 receive equity funding or grants in 2018 and 2019, or two investments or grants in 2019, but many also pivoted and shifted to fill a much-needed niche in 2020.
KCSourceLink asked every company on the Watch List for information about their biggest moves in 2020, so this information comes straight from the source. Though the list isn’t a ranking, it does highlight some of KC’s stellar new companies and KCSourceLink Watch List veterans and the amazing things they are doing to innovate, adapt and pioneer during the pandemic. This year, 16 companies are newcomers to the Watch List and are featured alongside 12 repeat businesses. One company has even appeared for a record six times on the list.
Several, including HCI Energy, are alums of Digital Sandbox KC, ScaleUP! KC and Pipeline Entrepreneurs. See how these KC startups and scaling businesses, despite the challenges, leveraged opportunities and the nonprofit business-building organizations to help them put their name on the map, provide help where it’s most needed and elevate Kansas City.
Lenexa, Kansas
Founder: Ray Ansari
HCI Energy provides a pre-packaged, turn-key industrial power solution that integrates renewable energy (wind, solar, and battery energy storage) to provide more efficient and economical power. The Hybrid Cube reduces our customers’ carbon footprint and offers clean, conditioned power to grid-tied or off-grid locations.
In 2019, Digital Sandbox KC provided HCI Energy with initial funding to help with engineering on one of the components of the Hybrid Cube. The Hybrid Cube is being adopted by wireless carriers as an alternative to traditional tower infrastructure, and it was deployed in the Bahamas as part of the wireless infrastructure rebuild after Hurricane Dorian.
This is HCI’s first year on the Watch List.
Other companies on the Watch List include: BacklotCars, Boddle Learning Inc., Bungii, Daupler Inc., Eduralock, Fast Democracy, Genesis Systems LLC, Healthy Hip Hop Inc., Helix Health, Lelex Prime, Lula, Mobility+Designed Inc., Mycroft AI, PayIt, Phoreus Biotechology Inc., PlanIT Impact Inc., Scollar Inc., ShotTracker, Sickweather, Spear Power Systems, Stackify, Stenovate, TheraWe, TradeLanes, Udo, UpDownNighlife and Venture 360/LIQUIFI.