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Tech KC: History, Startups, Digital Divide

Sylvia Maria Gross
/
KCUR

How Far Has Kansas City Come As A Tech Town?

Long before Google Fiber arrived in 2011, Kansas City has had a thriving technology sector, with cutting-edge companies like Cerner, Garmin and Sprint (whose roots go back to 1899 in Abilene, Kan.). But when Google announced it would build its first fiber-optic cable network in the Kansas City area, the idea of a gigabit internet, and its possibilities sparked a bi-state drive to take full advantage of the new resource.  So where are we now as a tech town? We ask technology attorney Greg Kratofil, the Kauffman Foundation’s Dane Stangler and KC Digital Drive’s Aaron Deacon.

One Million Cups, The Heartbeat Of Kansas City's Startup Community

One Million Cups, a weekly showcase and get-together for Kansas City's startup community, a has become the place to be and be seen. Every Wednesday morning at 9 a.m., the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation opens its doors, puts on coffee, and some weeks, welcomes as many as 400.

The Benefits And Disadvantages To Launching A Startup In Kansas City

The Kansas City metro area has become home to numerous tech startups over the last few years, in part because of  Google Fiber, but also because low rental prices and large cutting-edge tech companies  that call the city home.

Tell KCUR: You Know You’re A KC Techie When _________

We asked you to Tweet us with your answers via the #TellKCUR hashtag or comment on our Facebook page. Here’s what you said.

Google Fiber And Kansas City's Digital Divide

While Google has cast a spotlight on Kansas City that has the country excited about high speed internet, like most cities around the country, access is not equally available.

Sylvia Maria Gross is storytelling editor at KCUR 89.3. Reach her on Twitter @pubradiosly.
Matthew Long-Middleton has been a talk-show producer, community producer, Media Training Manager and now the Community Engagement Manager at KCUR. You can reach him at Matthew@kcur.org, or on Twitter @MLMIndustries.
I partner with communities to uncover the ignored or misrepresented stories by listening and letting communities help identify and shape a narrative. My work brings new voices, sounds, and an authentic sense of place to our coverage of the Kansas City region. My goal is to tell stories on the radio, online, on social media and through face to face conversations that enhance civic dialogue and provide solutions.
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