Gather the latest news about Groover Labs, Wichita Coworking, Startups, and Founders on our blog.
InfoFluency to Launch Revenue Management Tool
Groover Labs member InfoFluency is launching a new Revenue Management Tool. We sat down with Alyssa McGuinn, managing director of business development, to discuss the tool and the reasons they decided to build it.
Local Software Firm Flint Hills Group Launches Whiskey Shelf App
Dave Cunningham, founder and CEO of Flint Hills Group and Groover Labs early adopter, has spent the past several months with his team building a new mobile app for whiskey lovers. Dave, a whiskey enthusiast himself, drew inspiration for the app while leading Campfire, a 12-week startup course taught at Groover Labs.
Member News: Block-It-Socket Launches
Congratulations to Groover Labs member Tate Hancock on the launch of his latest product, the Block-It-Socket, an innovatively designed babyproofing device that stays attached to power outlets so owners can’t misplace them. The product is made from durable, long-lasting, BPA-free UL94-rated material that stands up against repeated use.
Interview with WorkTorch Cofounders
Longtime Groover Labs members Deborah Gladney and Angela Muhwezi-Hall, cofounders of WorkTorch, recently announced a $2.2M seed round and rebrand (formerly QuickHire). Deborah and Angela, as well as Caleb Bill, have played an integral role in our success.
PLOT Featured in The Construction User Magazine
PLOT Jobsite Management recently one the Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) Industrial Grade Innovation Conference and Expo’s Startup Battle! You can read more about it in an earlier blog post here. TAUC’s industry magazine, The Construction User, covered the pitch battle. Read the story from the magazine below.
QuickHire Rebrands to WorkTorch, Raises $2.2M in Seed Funding
Congratulations to longtime members Deborah Gladney and Angela Muwhezi-Hall, cofounders of WorkTorch, the career discovery platform for service workers, on their $2.2 million seed round. They recently rebranded from QuickHire to WorkTorch to expand their product offerings. Wichita-based Tenzing Capital and Josh Oeding led the new round.
Knowmadics, Inc. and Groover Labs Launch Cyber Center of Excellence
Knowmadics, a provider of innovative end-to-end solutions for solving complex operational challenges and Groover Labs, a 501(c)(3) designated non-profit organization dedicated to innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship, today announced that Knowmadics will open a new Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE) for national cybersecurity initiatives at Groover Labs’ 42,000-square-foot facility in downtown Wichita, Kansas.
Microsoft VP Mary Snapp Announces UpSkill-A-Thon Initative
Last week, we hosted Microsoft Vice President Mary Snapp and Senator Jerry Moran’s State Deputy Director Mike Zimarzla in our event venue to announce Microsoft Philanthropy and FlagshipKansas.Tech’s UpSkill-A-Thon, an initiative to help the workforce become more prepared for in-demand roles in the digital economy.
Wichita Startup Week 2022 Recap
We were thrilled to host Wichita Startup Week 2022 again this year. As the central location for startup activity in Wichita, we’re a natural fit. There were more than 30 sessions, almost all of which took place at Groover Labs. We loved having so many enthusiastic founders and startup ecosystem supporters here throughout the week. They brought the energy and vibe we foster within our community.
Members in the News: Greenfield Incorporated
Greenfield Incorporated completed a round of funding to expand its F2F© | FLEET-TO-FARM throughout the growing season, bringing Robots-as-a-Service to broad-acre farmers and delivering regenerative agriculture ingredients at scale.
Members in the News: FlagshipKansas.Tech
Read the latest news about FlagshipKansas.Tech in the Wichita Business Journal. The article outlines the unique experiences designed for attendees at the first annual Kansas technology conference.
Groover Labs Members Join 2022 Enterprise Engagement Series
Congrats to all of the Groover Labs members and former Groover Labs members who were accepted into NXTUS’s 2022 Enterprise Engagement Series. NXTUS, a local nonprofit whose mission is to support entrepreneurship in Wichita, developed the Enterprise Engagement Series under its NXTSTAGE umbrella.
Member News: FlagshipKansas.Tech Wins WBJ Award
Congratulations to long-time Groover Labs member FlagshipKansas.Tech for being honored by the Wichita Business Journal as an “entity pushing [Wichita’s’ entrepreneurial ecosystem forward.” FlagshipKansas.Tech is a non-profit organization who’s mission is propel the tech sector within the state through continuous efforts in awareness, education, and the workforce.”
Chris Callen on the ICTPodcast with Brandon Paulseen
If you haven’t had a chance to listen to Groover Labs member Brandon Paulseen podcast, ICTPodcast, which he records in our podcast studio, we highly recommend it. He talks with people who do difficult things at the very highest level. Last week, he interviewed PLOT Jobsite Management founder and Groover Labs member Chris Callen.
Members in the News: QuickHire on Washington Post Live on 6/22
On Tuesday, June 21, Deborah Gladney and Angela Muhwezi-Hall, co-founders of QuickHire and Groover Labs members, were featured on Washington Post Live, the Post’s live journalism platform. Gladney and Muhwezi-Hall were interviewed by the Post’s technology and policy reporter Cat Zakrzewski.
Member Profile: Ryan DiBrito
Meet Ryan DiBrito, principal at Dynamic Acumen, a consulting firm that provides financial and strategic consulting to startups, SMBs, and enterprises. DiBrito has an extensive background in the VC world.
Member Profile: Alyssa McGinn
Meet Alyssa McGinn, managing director of business development for infoFluency, a data and analytics visualization company. She's also co-founder of Luminous, a resource for VCs and startups. Read our interview with here here
QuickHire Press Release
QuickHire, a career discovery platform working with service workers to find job and advancement opportunities, announces an oversubscribed $1.41 million financing round, led by MATH Venture Partners.
The funding will go towards technology investments and team expansion of this female, African American-run company, led by co-founders Deborah Gladney (34) and Angela Muhwezi-Hall (31).
IdeaTek in the news
One of our members, IdeaTek, was in the news recently. On Monday, October 25, the Wichita Eagle, in partnership with the Kansas Reflector, published an article about how CARES Act relief money to the tune of $50 million has gone into expanding broadband internet access in rural communities across Kansas. Photo Courtesy of the Kansas Reflector.
An Interview with the KaaS Team
Knowledge as a Service, Inc., or “KaaS”, operates Ringorang®, an app-based software solution designed to disrupt corporate learning. Companies that subscribe to Ringorang will use the technology to ensure employees retain and apply critical information from each learning session. The KaaS team brings high energy to Groover Labs. They walk fast and talk faster.