KCRise Fund
Venture capitalKansas City · Pre-Seed–Series A · 2 people tracked
Also known as KCRISE CAPITAL, LLC
Investment thesis
KCRise Fund is a for-profit, co-investment venture capital fund that invests alongside other institutional investors (VCs and corporate investors) in pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A rounds of at least $1 million. It targets early-stage technology companies with a strategic connection to the western half of Missouri or the entire state of Kansas, with a primary focus on B2B companies. The fund aims to fill a gap in strategic capital for local startups and support the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem of the greater Kansas City region.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 2 people
from the firm's website & public directories
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What they invest in
from 24 of 61 portfolio companiesSaaS ×8Healthtech ×6AI & Machine Learning ×5Enterprise Software ×5HR Tech ×4Mobility & Transportation ×4Fintech ×3InsurTech ×3
HQs:United States×30
Investments · 61 tracked
founders shown can be your intro path
Rebulk provides software and computer vision technology to track and manage bulk material inventory across industries like agriculture, recycling, and logistics.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSOlathe, US
Warren Wijaya Wang(Founder)inCole Robertson(Founder)in
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Backstitch provides internal communications and employee engagement software for organizations across industries including non-profits, health systems, manufacturing, and hospitality.
Enterprise SoftwareHR TechSaaSKansas City, US
Stefanie M. Warzecha(Executive Officer, Director)Chris Seago(Director)Jordan P. Warzecha(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatDarcy Howe· per SEC Form D
Cariloop provides digital and human-centered support services to relieve stress and anxiety experienced by family caregivers.
Enterprise SoftwareHealthtechHR TechImpact & Social GoodSaaSDallas, US
Michael Walsh(Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Board Chair)Steven Theesfeld(Executive Officer, Director)Michael Stoltz(Director)
Board seatDarcy Howe· per SEC Form D
Daupler develops a response management platform for utilities, public works, and service organizations to manage service requests and emergency situations more efficiently.
Enterprise SoftwareGovTechSaaSKansas City, US
John Bertrand(Founder and CEO)Ryan Rosenbaum(CTO)
BoardTom Ferguson(Director)Jiten Manglani(Director)
Board seatDarcy Howe· per SEC Form D
Idle Smart makes an automated idle management and battery protection system combining hardware with a SmartPortal software platform for heavy-duty trucking fleets.
CleantechLogistics & Supply ChainMobility & TransportationLenox, US
Jeffrey Lynch(Executive Officer)
Board seatDarcy Howe· per SEC Form D
Columbia, US
Sarah Elizabeth Hill(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatDarcy Howe· per SEC Form D · $2.5M raise · filed Dec 2023
AI assistant for doctors that listens, charts, and codes medical visits automatically.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Machine learning company quantifying higher education value to help students find meaningful careers.
Kirkland, US
Adam Wray(Executive Officer, Director)John Connors(Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Attane Health provides nutritious groceries and educational resources tailored for people with chronic health conditions.
Digital HealthFoodTechHealthtechWellness & Fitness
Emily Brownin
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Backlot Cars is a wholesale vehicle marketplace that provides high-quality engine recordings with AI-generated issue detection for dealer vehicles, helping wholesale buyers source inventory across various age, condition, and price points.
AI & Machine LearningB2B Marketplaces
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Workers' compensation management software company managing employee lifecycle from hire to retirement.
Overland Park, US
Jeff Hogland(Executive Officer, Director)Matthew Condon(Executive Officer, Director)Robert K Green(Director)Paul Morris(Executive Officer, Director)Matthew Ferguson(Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Stay AI is a subscription management platform for Shopify brands that uses machine learning to optimize customer retention, reduce churn, and maximize lifetime value through features like AI-powered cancel flows, personalized engagement journeys, and cohort analytics.
AI & Machine LearningE-commerceSaaSWamego, US
Matthew Moody(Executive Officer, Director)Laura Brady(Director)Daron Jamison(Executive Officer, Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
benefitbay operates an ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement) platform that provides tools for plan modeling, compliance, deployment, and enrollment.
HealthtechHR TechInsurTechKansas City, US
Brandy Burch(Executive Officer, Director)Zach Andrew Harris(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardJohn McIlwraith(Director)Scott Shane(Director)David Lambert(Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Leawood, US
William A. Cilluffo(Director)Robert R. O'Blennis(Executive Officer)Chris K. Costello(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Randall AufDerHeide(Executive Officer, Promoter)Greg Smith(Executive Officer)Kevin M. Conard(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Game-based learning platform for K-6 students delivering gamified e-learning with analytics.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Boddle develops interactive learning software for students that adapts to individual learners and tracks their academic performance.
EdTechTulsa, US
Edna Martinson(Executive Officer)Clarence Tan(Executive Officer, Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Bungii is a logistics technology company offering on-demand delivery of large and bulky items such as appliances, electronics, building supplies, and tires using pickup trucks, cargo vans, and box trucks.
Logistics & Supply ChainMarketplacesMobility & TransportationOverland Park, US
Harrison Profitt(Director)Benjamin Jackson(Executive Officer, Director)Kevin Winkley(Director)Ben JacksonHarrison Proffitt
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Kansas City, US
Megan O'Rear(Executive Officer, Director)Robert Green(Director)Dana Abraham(Director)John Mitchell(Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Overland Park, US
Randall Wasinger(Executive Officer, Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Web3 platform connecting phone numbers to blockchain wallets for enterprise use cases.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Degree Insurance offers an insurance product marketed around guaranteeing outcomes tied to earning a degree.
InsurTech
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Social media intelligence company helping clients identify influential customer segments.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Decarbonization-as-a-Service platform connecting organizations with cleantech vendors for climate action.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
PlayVS is a scholastic esports platform that provides officially sanctioned competitive leagues and educational programs for high school and middle school students across North America.
EdTechGamingSports Tech
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Platform combining tech-enabled clinical navigation and opioid-minimizing surgical pathways.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Healium is an immersive wellness platform that pairs VR with real-time biometric data such as EEG brainwaves and heart rate to give clinicians measurable, drug-free tools for managing patients' stress, anxiety, and pain.
Digital HealthHealthtechMental HealthWellness & Fitness
Sarah Hill(Founder)Dr. Jeff Tarrant(Co-founder)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Neonatal care technology developer for preterm and full-term infants.
BiotechOlathe, US
R. Bruce Richardson(Executive Officer)Michael D. Peck(Executive Officer)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Kenzen develops AI-powered occupational health and safety systems that integrate predictive analytics and real-time monitoring to reduce workplace injuries and improve workforce performance.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareHealthtechHR TechSan Francisco, US
Jake Ireland(Director)Lorenzo Thione(Director)Sonia Sousa(Executive Officer, Director)Steven Pecko(Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Creator of Balance, a superfood shot delivering half a day's recommended servings of fruits and vegetables.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
FINRA-registered broker-dealer and online exchange for trading secondary real estate investment vehicles.
Overland Park, US
Brian King(Executive Officer, Director)Annemarie Tierney(Executive Officer, Director)Jeremy Smith(Executive Officer, Director)Jeffrey S. Kinney(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardJohn Fein(Director)Gary Fish(Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Kansas City, US
Ronald T LeMay(Executive Officer, Director)Holly OKeefe(Executive Officer)Lance LeMay(Executive Officer, Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Virtual primary care and patient advocacy company providing on-demand dedicated care teams.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
FinTech platform offering revenue-based financing for B2B subscription-based companies.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Cloud-based AI agents for healthcare administrative tasks and revenue cycle optimization.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
AR-driven order fulfillment platform with machine learning to optimize retail operations.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
PayIt provides digital payment and online services platforms to government agencies, helping residents pay bills and renew services online.
FintechGovTechSaaSKansas City, US
John Thomson(Founder and CEO)Mike Plunkett(Co-Founder and Chief Development Officer)Scott Murphy(Director)Kevin Childress(Director)Will Weatherford(Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
IoT operating system and service delivery platform for enterprise IoT solutions.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Micro-learning platform delivering bite-sized training for deskless workforces.
Blue Springs, US
Tucker Garrett Graves(Co-manager)Greg Paul Gorgone(Co-manager)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
SaaS-based jobsite management software for construction project coordination and communications.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
API for transforming rich-media content like videos and podcasts into LLM-ready data.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Marketplace connecting fleets and drivers to a nationwide network of mechanics with AI-powered repair insights.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
AI-native compliance platform automating manual document review and audit evidence gathering.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
AI-powered sales enablement solution using natural language processing for top-of-funnel prospecting.
Kansas City, US
Nicholas Smith(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardMichael Rockhold(Director)Jean-Luc Vanhulst(Director)John Tedesco(Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
AAHA-compliant web-based platform for veterinary hospitals managing dental and anesthesia workflows.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
AI-based smart building platform for performance and operations management.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Medication adherence system capturing patient data to drive behavioral interventions.
HealthtechOverland Park, US
MICHAEL J HUFFER(PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER)CHARLES W SCHELLHORN(Director)MICHAEL K MCMAHAN(Director)VICTOR CHU(SECRETARY AND TREASURER)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Advanced ManufacturingGrandview, US
MICHAEL YIM(MANAGEMENT BOARD MEMBER)DARYLL NOTTINGHAM(DIRECTOR BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND CONTRACTS)DENNIS ODELL(MANAGEMENT BOARD MEMBER)WILEY CURRAN(MANAGEMENT BOARD MEMBER)JEFFERY T. KOSTOS(PRESIDENT AND CEO, MANAGEMENT BOARD MEMBER)JOON KIM(CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER AND MANAGEMENT BOARD MEMBER)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Kansas City, Missouri-based data and systems security platform using blockchain and encryption technology.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Stay AI is a subscription management platform for e-commerce merchants that enables A/B testing, cross-selling, and personalized offers to reduce churn and increase average order value.
AI & Machine LearningE-commerceMarketing TechSaaS<UNKNOWN>
Gina Perrelli(Co-Founder, CEO)inPierson(Co-Founder)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
FintechInsurTechKansas City, US
Pat Matthews(Director)Bek Dispatch Abdullayev(Executive Officer, Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Advanced monitoring platform for government authorities to electronically supervise criminal justice populations.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
NFT platform providing creator infrastructure, community tooling, and analytics for artists and collectors.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Kansas City, US
Andrew Krowne(Director)Riddhiman Das(Executive Officer, Director)Greg Storm(Executive Officer, Director)Thad Langford(Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Vytelle offers an integrated technology platform for cattle producers to accelerate genetic progress and enable individual animal management.
AgTechBiotechFoodTechSaaSLenexa, US
James (Jim) Shafter(outgoing director)Kerryann Kocher(Executive Officer, Director)Duane Cantrell(outgoing director)Nicole Johnson-Hoffman(Director)Rudy Leemans(Executive Officer)Anthony James(Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Whipz is a used-vehicle dealership offering in-house financing and inspected cars to buyers regardless of credit history.
FintechMobility & TransportationKansas City, US
Anders Ericson(Executive Officer, Director)Charles Clow(Director)Paul Ericson(Director)
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Hiring and career discovery marketplace for skilled-trade and service industry workers.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Technology platform for resident engagement and smart home solutions in apartment communities.
PartnerDarcy Howe· solo GP
Rows marked “SEC filing” are inferred from directors named on the company's SEC Form D — public regulatory data, not a portfolio list published by the firm.
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does KCRise Fund invest at?
- KCRise Fund invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What is KCRise Fund's typical check size?
- KCRise Fund typically writes checks of $1M.
- What sectors does KCRise Fund focus on?
- KCRise Fund focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Enterprise Software, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is KCRise Fund located?
- KCRise Fund is headquartered in Kansas City, US.
- Does KCRise Fund lead rounds?
- KCRise Fund typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Images
Co-investors · 10
Silicon Badia is a venture capital firm that partners with entrepreneurs to solve major global problems, having invested in over 100 startups across more than 15 tech industries since 2012.
Firebrand Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm that backs early-stage founders in markets between the coasts. It formed in 2019 from the merger of Firebrand and Blue Note Ventures, with offices in Boulder, Kansas City, and Austin.
Revolution is an investment firm that has backed founders, communities, and ideas for over two decades, spanning venture capital, entrepreneurship advocacy, and real estate and hospitality investments.
Origin Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm backing founders building companies in the artificial intelligence economy, focusing on infrastructure, software, applications, services, and marketplaces that transform productivity and automation.
Telescope Partners is a thesis-driven, early growth investor backing entrepreneurs building enterprise software companies, offering hands-on advice and bespoke support to founders.
Kraken is a cryptocurrency exchange operating since 2011, offering crypto trading along with related services such as margin trading, staking, derivatives, and (in the US) equities brokerage through Kraken Securities LLC.
Montage Ventures is a venture capital firm investing in startups across financial services, healthcare, and commerce, with a focus on AI-driven transformation of these sectors.
Ingeborg invests directly in early-stage, women-led startups with a focus on innovations improving motherhood, career, financial security, women's health, and living conditions. The firm also makes select investments in later-stage companies and women-led venture or private equity funds.
Tnt Ventures helps enterprise software founders and other technical professionals with fundraising services to increase capital.
Pritzker Group is a family-backed investment firm that partners with companies for the long term using a permanent capital base, and has acquired or invested in more than 100 companies.
Firms observed investing alongside KCRise Fund, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with KCRise Fund's recorded portfolio.
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