Kansas City innovators will have an opportunity to develop business ideas in a new program for people who want to change the energy industry.
Digital Sandbox KC is partnering with GXP Investments, an area energy investor. They’re collaborating to create Energy Sandbox, which will help entrepreneurs take ideas, test their feasibility and develop prototypes.
Jeff Shackelford, director for Digital Sandbox KC, will also be directing the new initiative. He says they’re looking for what he calls "early, early stage" entrepreneurs — founders who are just beginning to develop an idea.
"They do not have to have a product in the marketplace, they don't have to have customers, they don't have to have revenue, we're pre all of that stuff," Shackelford says.
He says that there are a lot of resources in the Kansas City area, and he's excited to connect bigger corporations with innovative people from the region.
Energy Sandbox will look to fund three to five applicants, and Shackleford says they're looking for ideas from across the spectrum.
“It could be alternative energy, it could be energy management it could be maybe security to help secure the energy infrastructure in the country, we're gonna keep it incredibly broad,” he says.
Energy Sandbox officially launches Friday, July 1. Applications will be accepted online.
Lisa Rodriguez is a reporter and producer at KCUR. Connect with her on Twitter @larodrig.
