Three Black innovators emerged as winners of the prestigious LaunchKC grants competition, each receiving a $50,000 non-dilutive grant.
The six winners were announced on Nov. 14 as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week. The winning companies received $50,000 in grant funding and gained access to office space in downtown KC for a year, personalized educational programs, mentorship, and other crucial resources throughout 2024.
Each year, LaunchKC, a joint venture between the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC) and the Downtown Council, takes applications for tech startup business grants in the Kansas City area.r. Six Grants were awarded from a pool of nearly 100 grant applicants.
Here’s a look at the three Black-led tech startups that earned LaunchKC grants.
CodeAlgo Academy by Triumfia Houmbie Fulks
Triumfia Houmbie Fulks, co-founder of CodeAlgo Academy, is the first Black female to lead a 3D Computer Science gaming platform in Missouri. Her startup, CodeAlgo Academy, provides K-8 students with a gamified approach to learning coding skills. Fulks expressed gratitude for the LaunchKC grant, saying that the funding will allow CodeAlgo Academy to serve its current waitlist of over 400 students and extend the platform’s reach to thousands across Missouri.
Foresight by Jannae Gammage
Foresight, created by Jannae Gammage, is a tech platform featuring an AI-powered lending assistant. The platform is designed to streamline administrative tasks across the lending cycle and aims to bridge capital access gaps for small businesses. Gammage highlighted the knowledge gap in current lending applications and announced plans to roll out Foresight to approximately 200 local banks. Gammage tells Startland News that the $50k grant will help inject around $100 million into small businesses nationwide and $10 million in Kansas City.
Heft IQ by Learie Hercules
Learie Hercules, founder of Heft IQ, introduced an AI-driven supply chain advanced analytics platform. Positioned as a powerhouse for entrepreneurs seeking to optimize e-commerce operations, Heft IQ hopes to revolutionize inventory management. Hercules expressed the platform’s potential to level the playing field for e-commerce brands competing with industry giants like Amazon. Hercules told Startland News that he’s looking to find brands, logistics companies, and investors aligned with Heft IQ’s vision to build the supply chain’s operating system in Kansas.
These three groundbreaking startups join the ranks of six winners celebrated at the Libations + Liftoff event on Nov. 14 at J. Reiger Distillery.
The other LaunchKC grant winners are:
- Neelima Parasker & Holly Andra Small of Lotus TMS, a cloud-based transportation management software.
- Blake Herren & Ryan Cowdrey of Raven Space Systems, the first entirely 3D printed reentry capsules for affordable and accessible cargo return from space.
- Steven Coen of SaRA Health, a “stress-free” platform for enhancing physical therapy practices nationwide.
