Meet the 26 Innovations Part of Comeback KC Ventures
While COVID-19 took a tremendous toll on our community, it also unleashed a wave of creativity and energy as local innovators developed technologies, startups and new business lines in response to the pandemic. From the early days of the pandemic, a wide-ranging group of public and private sector partners sought to address needs, fill gaps and develop new solutions.
Comeback KC Ventures, an effort to help turn innovative solutions into a permanent part of our economic recovery, is an innovation-based entrepreneur support program originally funded through an 18-month SPRINT Challenge grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and administered in partnership by KC Digital Drive and the University of Missouri-Kansas City Innovation Center to accelerate innovation.
Meet the 23 innovations and three research projects that have been part of the program.
A Traveled Path
A Traveled Path connects traveling medical professionals with local property owners so that professionals with specific accommodation requests can find affordable places to stay.
College Coaching Network
College Coaching Network provides college and career readiness opportunities using virtual reality in the metaverse.
Come On Now!
Come On Now! notifies their customers about no-show openings at a medical office so that underserved communities can take advantage of on-demand telehealth appointments.
Contagion Solutions
Contagion Solutions has created an Arc Tent that limits COVID-19 exposure to health care workers by creating a rapidly deployable cleanroom for infected patients and allows providers to administer care with minimal fear of exposure.
Crib Coaching
Crib Coaching expands the reach of parent support services by providing a gamified educational platform for parents who need the help.
Desksides
Desksides is a digital platform that streamlines the processes of a public relations agency so brands and journalists can quickly and efficiently conduct PR without a publicist.
Glow Healthcare Staffing
Glow Healthcare Staffing helps health care facilities close critical staffing shortages where and when they occur.
Health Partners MD
Health Partners MD provides education and training to employees with obesity so that employers can invest in bettering their employees health and save money in healthcare costs.
IA Quality
IA Quality leads the charge to improve indoor air quality by providing a portable filtration unit with state of the art pathogen control.
Kadogo
Kadogo is creating a streamlined and accessible fundraising platform for nonprofits by turning everyday transactions into charitable donations.
MD Matchup
MD Matchup is creating a platform that matches patient to a provider they can use and trust long-term by focusing on each patient’s needs and preferences.
MediView
MediView is a surgical navigation medical device that uses augmented reality for bedside and interventional procedures.
MoodSpark
Moodspark digital companion that detects sadness and uplifts their users with memories, conversations and video visits from loved ones.
More than a Meal
More than a Meal provides a personalized meaningful gift in meal kit form to help strengthen your most valued relationships.
MyDigiRecords
MyDigiRecords manages digital immunization records for the vulnerable populations who do not have access or control over their paper or electronic records.
New Frontier Mobile Diagnostics
New Frontier Mobile Diagnostics brings quality, affordable, and convenient mobile diagnostic imaging to patients in doctors’ offices, clinics and care facilities.
NoW Video
NoW is a virtual meeting platform that will disrupt the video conferencing space to provide consistent, easy video communications from anywhere.
Perfect Day
Perfect Day is a fully customizable weather and wellness app that encourages its users to get outdoors more often, harnessing the proven health benefits of the sun and nature.
Techne360
Techne360 leverages VR in the form of digital twin technology to create virtual retail stores that enable interactive workflows, multi-person access, and collaboration across global teams.
VaccineAssist
VaccineAssist is a platform that keeps patients informed and engaged with their pharmacy providers and allows these providers to optimize their workflows.
Venues Made Simple
Venues Made Simple is a two-sided marketplace that simplifies the lead process for smaller event venues and allows engaged couples to find and book venues more efficiently.
We Link Local
We Link Local is a data-driven platform that increases profitability for urban local farmers by coordinating crop surpluses, renting farming equipment and connecting farmers to local consumers
XReps
XReps provides democratized access to elite football training by providing a VR coach-assisted training program to a larger population of youth and college players.
Dr. Ye Wang & Dr. Yugyung Lee, UMKC Communications & Engineering, We Listen
WeListen is a data collection platform that allows researchers to conduct virtual focus groups and facilitates the discussion more effectively and protects participants anonymity.
Dr. Jingxin Wang, Medicinal Chemistry in the KU School of Pharmacy, New RNA-targeting Approach to Combat Virus
Dr. Wang has created an antiviral compound that can combat COVID-19 by targeting the RNA genome sequence of cells and degrading them.
Dr. Chenglin Wu, Materials Scientist at Missouri S&T, Flexible Virus Sensor Mask
Dr. Wu has created a flexible sensor probe that can detect COVID-19 and flu through breath in 30 seconds and send the results to your phone instantly.
