KCRise Fund

Organizer of high school level esports leagues and tournaments intended to help people compete and showcase their abilities. The company's events harness the student's passion for games by bringing seamless, easy, and rewarding esports competition and academics for high school students, enabling sports athletes to enhance grade point averages and have better career prospects.

TripleBlind, Inc. is a Kansas City-based company established in 2019 that provides a platform designed for secure collaboration involving sensitive data and algorithms. The company offers digital privacy as a service, equipping organizations with a suite of tools that allows them to share and utilize highly sensitive information in an encrypted environment. This innovative approach ensures that privacy is maintained, enabling entities to work together without the risk of compromising their data security.

Daupler is a developer of an incident response platform aimed at assisting cities and utilities in managing emergencies effectively. The platform primarily focuses on coordinating and documenting responses to various incidents, such as water main breaks, sewer stoppages, street obstructions, storms, and power outages. By providing operational insights and facilitating immediate, objective results, Daupler helps public works departments streamline their response efforts. The company serves organizations of various sizes, from small water districts to large municipalities, and its tools integrate seamlessly with existing customer service and work order management systems. This approach reduces workload while ensuring accurate data collection and improved operational efficiency.

Dynamhex operates an emission monitoring platform that provides detailed insights into energy consumption data for individuals, corporations, and government entities. The platform enables users to measure their emission footprints and develop effective reduction strategies aligned with science-based targets. By employing geospatial analytics and advanced visualization techniques, Dynamhex helps city governments and businesses make informed, environmentally responsible decisions. This functionality supports climate leaders in their efforts to combat climate change by facilitating timely and data-driven decision-making.

TripleBlind, Inc. is a Kansas City-based company established in 2019 that provides a platform designed for secure collaboration involving sensitive data and algorithms. The company offers digital privacy as a service, equipping organizations with a suite of tools that allows them to share and utilize highly sensitive information in an encrypted environment. This innovative approach ensures that privacy is maintained, enabling entities to work together without the risk of compromising their data security.

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.

Spear Power Systems, LLC specializes in the design and manufacture of lithium-ion battery storage systems tailored for demanding applications across various industries, including defense, marine propulsion, oil and gas, and mining. Established in 2013 and located in Grandview, Missouri, the company provides a diverse range of energy storage solutions, including lithium-ion cells, modules, and battery packs. Their TRIDENT maritime batteries feature multiple cell chemistries to offer industry-leading energy density or ultra-high power density, depending on specific application needs. Spear Power Systems also delivers integrated power services, ensuring that their efficient, compact, and lightweight energy storage systems can be easily transported and installed, thereby maximizing value and reducing deployment time for clients in sectors such as aerospace, renewable energy, communications, and medical.

Daupler is a developer of an incident response platform aimed at assisting cities and utilities in managing emergencies effectively. The platform primarily focuses on coordinating and documenting responses to various incidents, such as water main breaks, sewer stoppages, street obstructions, storms, and power outages. By providing operational insights and facilitating immediate, objective results, Daupler helps public works departments streamline their response efforts. The company serves organizations of various sizes, from small water districts to large municipalities, and its tools integrate seamlessly with existing customer service and work order management systems. This approach reduces workload while ensuring accurate data collection and improved operational efficiency.

Backstitch Inc. is a company that specializes in employee engagement software aimed at enhancing internal communications within organizations. Founded in 2012 and based in Kansas City, Missouri, the platform allows users to create and distribute employee newsletters, surveys, and announcements across various channels. It provides business communicators with tools for push notifications and access to curated industry news. Additionally, Backstitch's technology enables organizations to analyze trends, identify key allies within departments, and measure the return on investment of their communication efforts. The platform integrates a media monitoring application, further enriching the user experience by combining internal updates with relevant external information.

BacklotCars is an online marketplace that simplifies wholesale automotive transactions for auto dealers, finance companies, and rental car businesses. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the platform eliminates the need for physical auctions by offering a seamless, end-to-end solution that includes vehicle inspections, transportation, and inventory finance services. It operates a 24/7 bid-ask marketplace, allowing users to engage in transactions in real time. By addressing common challenges associated with online vehicle sales, such as the need for certified inspections, BacklotCars enhances the selling and buying experience. The service is utilized by dealers across 46 states, promoting transparency and efficiency in the wholesale automotive market.

Zohr, Inc. is a retail and service company specializing in tires, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The company offers a variety of services, including tire replacement, rotation, pressure monitoring system installation, flat tire repair, and fleet services. Zohr aims to simplify the tire replacement process by providing mobile services that allow customers to have new tires delivered and installed at their homes or offices. In addition to its Kansas City headquarters, Zohr operates multiple locations across Kansas and Missouri, including Bonner Springs, Fairway, Mission Hills, Piper, Shawnee, Belton, Gladstone, Riverside, Liberty, and Raytown.

BacklotCars is an online marketplace that simplifies wholesale automotive transactions for auto dealers, finance companies, and rental car businesses. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the platform eliminates the need for physical auctions by offering a seamless, end-to-end solution that includes vehicle inspections, transportation, and inventory finance services. It operates a 24/7 bid-ask marketplace, allowing users to engage in transactions in real time. By addressing common challenges associated with online vehicle sales, such as the need for certified inspections, BacklotCars enhances the selling and buying experience. The service is utilized by dealers across 46 states, promoting transparency and efficiency in the wholesale automotive market.

Main Street Data Corp is a data-driven company focused on transforming the agricultural industry through advanced machine learning tools. Founded in 2016 and based in Kansas City, Missouri, the company develops applications that consolidate current and historical agronomic data, enabling farmers to benchmark yield performance and enhance their return on investment. Its primary product, Validator, provides insights into yield, yield gaps, and potential ROI in both bushels and dollars. Main Street Data applies sophisticated analytical techniques to large volumes of field data, serving diverse agricultural markets, including grain, cotton, and specialty crops. The company aims to deliver precise, rapid, and value-adding insights and tools to support risk management and decision-making in the agriculture sector.

PayIt, LLC is a Kansas City-based company founded in 2013 that specializes in developing cloud-based solutions to modernize government payments. Its platform simplifies interactions with state, local, and federal governments by offering a digital wallet and a user-friendly website. PayIt employs various technologies, including microservices, RESTful web services, and cloud-native development, to create a seamless experience for residents accessing essential government services. The company's innovative platform enables governments to accept digital payments securely across multiple devices, enhancing service delivery to constituents. Through its patent-pending mobile transaction platform, PayIt aims to foster collaboration among partners in the industry to improve government services.

Pepper offers an IoT operating system and service delivery platform that empowers enterprises to deploy sophisticated IoT solutions. The introduction of billions of new connected devices (and other "things") requires a new user-experience paradigm—one that enables both consumers and enterprises the ability to effectively manage, control, and engage with their increasingly connected worlds. Pepper solves the problems associated with this increased complexity through the combination of its user operating system and service delivery platform.

Zego Inc. is a technology company based in Kansas City, Missouri, that specializes in creating a smart amenity platform designed for apartment communities. Founded in 2017 and previously known as CasaiQ Inc., Zego develops an application that integrates smart home devices, enabling residents to connect seamlessly with property management, maintenance services, and a marketplace for local offerings. The platform enhances resident engagement and facilitates the sale of additional services within apartment complexes. As of May 2019, Zego operates as a subsidiary of PayLease LLC, further expanding its capabilities in the property management sector.

Site 1001, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in a cloud-based building performance and operations platform known as Skylight FM. This platform integrates essential building information, real-time systems, sensors, and user-generated data such as work requests, utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance building efficiency and user experience. Skylight FM offers various functionalities including asset management, document storage, inventory control, maintenance scheduling, and security management. The platform is designed for a wide range of users, including property investors, owners, and managers across sectors such as hospitality, commercial real estate, casinos, and smart cities. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Site 1001 also maintains offices in San Clemente, California, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

BacklotCars is an online marketplace that simplifies wholesale automotive transactions for auto dealers, finance companies, and rental car businesses. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the platform eliminates the need for physical auctions by offering a seamless, end-to-end solution that includes vehicle inspections, transportation, and inventory finance services. It operates a 24/7 bid-ask marketplace, allowing users to engage in transactions in real time. By addressing common challenges associated with online vehicle sales, such as the need for certified inspections, BacklotCars enhances the selling and buying experience. The service is utilized by dealers across 46 states, promoting transparency and efficiency in the wholesale automotive market.

Pepper offers an IoT operating system and service delivery platform that empowers enterprises to deploy sophisticated IoT solutions. The introduction of billions of new connected devices (and other "things") requires a new user-experience paradigm—one that enables both consumers and enterprises the ability to effectively manage, control, and engage with their increasingly connected worlds. Pepper solves the problems associated with this increased complexity through the combination of its user operating system and service delivery platform.

Pepper offers an IoT operating system and service delivery platform that empowers enterprises to deploy sophisticated IoT solutions. The introduction of billions of new connected devices (and other "things") requires a new user-experience paradigm—one that enables both consumers and enterprises the ability to effectively manage, control, and engage with their increasingly connected worlds. Pepper solves the problems associated with this increased complexity through the combination of its user operating system and service delivery platform.

SpiderOak, Inc. is a cybersecurity company that focuses on eliminating various categories of cyber-attacks while addressing compliance, security, and usability needs. Founded in 2007 and based in Kansas City, Missouri, with an additional office in Chicago, the company offers a range of products that employ Zero-Trust encryption and private blockchain technology. Its flagship solutions include SpiderOak CrossClave, which enables secure file exchange and synchronization through no-knowledge encryption, and The SpiderOak, a secure platform for group messaging and file sharing. The company also provides SpiderOak One Backup, a desktop application for multiple operating systems, and SpiderOak Enterprise Backup, which offers ransomware protection and disaster recovery for sensitive data. SpiderOak’s innovations allow clients to safely operationalize sensitive datasets, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability in collaborative environments.