ScaleUP! Kansas City Reveals Seventh Cohort of Business Owners

These Kansas City business owners are primed, pumped and ready to grow. Meet the next 18 companies that will go through the ScaleUP! Kansas City program and get the community, confidence and curriculum they need to accelerate their businesses and jump start revenue growth.

Like their six cohorts of business owners that have preceded them, this new batch of small business entrepreneurs lead businesses located across the Kansas City metro and represent such varied industries as software development, health care, construction, consulting, cleaning services and more.

For four months, these ScaleUP! KC participants are immersed in intensive training that will connect them with subject matter experts and equip them with the strategic perspective necessary to position their businesses for growth.

Meet ScaleUP! Kansas City Cohort 7

Vince Barreto, PowerPlus Cleaning Systems, Blue Springs, Missouri

PowerPlus Cleaning Systems manufactures and markets the IMPULSE® Cleaning System, a patented on-line cleaning technology that provides an alternative to traditional soot blowers used in large utilities and small industrial boiler applications.

Richard Brewer, Kornerstone Contracting Specialists LLC, Belton, Missouri  

Kornerstone Contracting Specialties LLC is a low voltage electrical contracting firm that serves the Midwest region with customers from South Dakota to Southern Missouri.

Larry Carr, Bradford Interior Group, Raytown, Missouri

Bradford Interior Group is a MBE certified full service restoration and remodeling construction company performing both residential and commercial work. Bradford’s specialties include commercial tenant finishing, insurance losses, full remodels and new construction.

Pete Casey, KC North Spine and Joint Center Kansas City, Missouri

KC North Spine & Joint Center is a specialized chiropractic practice with two locations in the KC North area. KCNSJC takes a dynamic, patient-centered approach that focuses on overuse injuries of the muscles, tendons and joints.

Brett Davis, Command.App, Overland Park, Kansas

Command.App® is a cloud-based platform that helps companies gain control of their digital-media content. The platform helps businesses easily build, deploy and manage company-wide mobile apps and toolsets, all in one place.

Shawn Davison, Kansas City Board Game Company, LLC, Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City Board Game Company is a business devoted to board gaming, tabletop gaming and “nerd”-associated pop culture. It is focused on using technology and startup principles to improve the industry approach to game design, production, distribution and sales.

Don Derry, K.C. Waterproofing, Inc., North Kansas City, Missouri

KC Waterproofing, Inc. provides foundation repair, waterproofing and air quality solutions for residential and commercial properties. KC Waterproofing has completed projects on more than 7000 commercial and residential properties in the KC area over the past 32 years.

Joel Gerhardt, Epic Bike and Sport, Kansas City, Missouri

Epic Bike and Sport is a full service and sales bicycle retailer in the Northland. In 11 years of business, Epic has established itself as a leader in customer service and is accessible to all levels of bicyclists.

James Hayworth, Beyond Exchange, Lees Summit, Missouri

Beyond Exchange is a buy and sell/curated resell store that specializes in fun and fashion. Beyond carries a little bit of something for everyone, including men’s and women’s clothing, shoes and accessories.

Ana Nubia Hernandez, La Mega 100.5 FM/1160 Am Spanish Radio, Overland Park, Kansas

LaMega 100.5 FM is a family-owned and operated local Spanish radio station. LaMega is the only commercial Spanish radio station on the FM dial in Kansas & Missouri.

Tiffany King, SouveNEAR, Kansas City, Missouri

SouveNEAR is a brand that gives travelers easy access to meaningful gifts designed and crafted in the cities they visit via vending machines, while creating opportunities for local artists and makers to reach a large and ongoing audience.

Mike Knopke, KC Shave Co, Overland Park, Kansas

KC Shave Co. was founded in 2016 as a men’s fine grooming line that offers a luxury experience at an affordable price. Its offerings include both straight and safety razors kits, and beard grooming products to help the everyday guy.

Raina Knox, Stratex Solutions, LLC, Lees Summit, Missouri

Stratex Solutions helps organizations develop, implement, monitor and measure plans. Stratex provides software, tools and services using a proprietary framework to embed best practice strategic planning at all organizational levels.

Michelle Macrorie, Autism from the Start, Lenexa, Kansas

Autism From The Start® is a warm and inviting treatment center for children with autism, ages five and younger. Its interdisciplinary team of autism specialists provide applied behavior analysis, speech and occupational therapies within a comprehensive plan of care.

Angela Turner, Simmons Security & Protection Services, Inc., Kansas City, Kansas

Simmons Security is a minority owned and operated private security guard company located in Kansas City, Kansas. Established in 2007, the family owned company provides uniformed armed and unarmed security guard services.

Roger Wagy, Tick Tock Escape Games, Overland Park, Kansas

Tick Tock Escape Games provides a fun team-building experience for families, friends, corporate clients and tourists. Tick Tock game rooms are interactive, well decorated and may use special effects which add excitement of the games.

Gabrielle Wallace, Go Natural English, Independence, Missouri

Go Natural English helps English language learners improve their fluency, confidence, connection and careers with digital learning materials and online programs.

Christina Williams, Posh Restoration Facilities, Kansas City, Missouri

Posh Restoration Facilities provides healthy solutions for hair and skin within its communities by looking at beauty differently. Posh teaches natural care methods and provides consultation, products and services to help restore the skin, body and mind.

Where are they now?

ScaleUP! KC has already helped 92 Kansas City business owners. Alumni have expanded facilities, launched new products, discovered new markets, streamlined processes and improved operations. 

Numerous Scalers have experienced personal success stories. To name just a few:

Onspring Technologies has been recognized as Excellence Award finalist in the Best Regulatory Compliance Solution category for the 2018 SC Awards.

MusicSpoke received a grant from Digital Sandbox KC to expand the capabilities of their tech platform (like etsy, for composers).

Cherry and Thirsty Coconut enter the elite ranks of Thinking Bigger Media’s 25 Under 25 awards community.

H3 Enterprise bags $25k at Lean Lab’s Launch[ED] Day pitch event and plans on launching their tech platform for educators in the coming year.  

Ruby Jean’s Juicery opened its fourth and fifth locations, on Troost Avenue and in North Kansas City, respectively.

Cambrian Tech takes home the $100k grand prize at Launch KC to continue to scale its augmented reality DIY company.

SkuTouch Solutions and Freedom Transportation, Inc. founders Doug Obershaw and Dan Shirey, respectively, were inducted into the 2017 class of the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program.

The Sundry opens a new concept in Plexpod Westport Commons.

What’s your business’s next move?

Send us some info about your business and we will be in touch ASAP with your personalized action plan, an individualized curated list of just the resources you need to keep your business moving forward.