Firebrand Ventures
Firebrand Management, LLC, founded in 2016 and based in Kansas City, Missouri, is a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in early-stage software startups primarily located in the Midwest region of the United States. The firm targets a geographical area stretching from San Antonio to Minneapolis and from Boulder to Columbus. Firebrand Ventures typically invests an average of $1,500,000 in funding rounds that range from $300,000 to $500,000, with additional capital allocated for select follow-on investments. The firm deliberately avoids investments in regulated markets, such as those requiring FDA approval, to concentrate on sectors where it can leverage its expertise and network effectively.
Super Dispatch, Inc. specializes in car hauler automation software designed for carriers, brokers, and shippers in the auto transportation industry. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas, the company offers an end-to-end platform that includes tools such as Super Loadboard for booking loads and finding vetted carriers, Carrier TMS for managing loads, drivers, and billing, and Shipper TMS for automating and digitizing daily operations. This comprehensive solution enables trucking companies to eliminate paper forms and streamline their processes through mobile applications and a web platform, enhancing efficiency and visibility in logistics management.
Sickweather Inc. is a company that specializes in illness forecasting and mapping through its innovative mobile application. Founded in 2011 and based in Windsor Mill, Maryland, Sickweather utilizes patented social listening technology to scan social networks for indicators of illness. This allows the platform to detect real-time illness trends at a hyper-local level across more than 120 countries. Users receive alerts via email about potential sickness in their vicinity, and the application also provides a 15-week forecast and a threat level index known as the SickScore, effectively acting as a Doppler radar for illness.
FitBark Inc. specializes in pet technology, offering a dog activity and sleep monitor that tracks a dog's physical activity and rest levels. This device provides valuable insights into a dog's health and behavior, enabling users to share information with veterinarians. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, FitBark sells its products through its online store and various retailers in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The company serves customers in over 125 countries, helping dog owners manage their pets' activity, sleep quality, calorie expenditure, and overall health. Additionally, FitBark's platform is utilized by more than 45 veterinary schools and research institutions, supporting the validation of new drugs, foods, procedures, and medical treatments.