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.
Best of 2022: Customer Service with Steve Roseberry
Congratulations to Groover Labs Steve Roseberry and his company, PowerPortalz, for winning the Best of Wichita, Kansas Customer Service Award, as recognized by Wichita Eagle readers. PowerPortalz are standalone charging stations positioned in bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and convenience stores. Users can plug in their mobile devices (phones, tablets, laptops) with a variety of connections—USB-c, 8-pin, MicroUSB—to recharge their devices in a pinch.
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.