The KCRise Fund announced today that it has selected two KC area companies, SpiderOak and Innara Health, for the fund’s first investments.
“SpiderOak and Innara Health got our attention early on and we are so excited to play a role in their future success,” said Darcy Howe, KCRise Fund manager. “The KCRise Fund is officially on its way to making capital more accessible to our home-based entrepreneurs,” she added.
SpiderOak, an online data security company with several successful products currently on the market, is based in Mission, Kansas. The company was co-founded by Alan Fairless in 2006.
“We are very excited to be working with KCRise Fund to bring secure messaging to enterprise customers through our latest product Semaphor.” said Alan Fairless, CEO of SpiderOak. “I’m glad Kansas City is home, and a great place to grow a technology business.”
Innara Health is a global leader in developing new neonatal medical products. Innara Health’s first product, the NTrainer System, assesses and develops non‐nutritive suck (NNS) in infants and newborns born prematurely, and is in use today in hospitals across the United States. Based in Olathe, Kansas, at 10900 S. Blair Blvd., Innara Health was founded in 2012 and has been led by Michael Peck as CEO since its inception.
“We are exceptionally proud to partner with KCRise Fund to help us accelerate some of our current initiatives and ensure we continue our growth path,” said CEO Michael Peck of Innara Health. “Kansas City has a strong history of innovation and our relationship with another strong Kansas City team at KCRise Fund only adds to our pride in our hometown.”
The KCRise Fund announced February 29, 2016 as an initiative of KC Rising which is creating economic prosperity for the KC region through a focus on its globally competitive sectors, human capital, and innovation & entrepreneurship. The KCRise Fund is led by Darcy Howe with board members Toby Rush, founder of EyeVerify and Ron LeMay with Open Air Equity Partners.
To qualify as a KCRise Fund portfolio company, the company will have high growth potential; reside or have substantial operations between Manhattan, Kansas and Columbia, Missouri; be seeking at least $1 million in a Series A round and have an approved venture capital firm investor in the funding round.
About SpiderOak
SpiderOak gives people control of their data online. The company’s Zero Knowledge privacy cloud solution, SpiderOakONE, and collaboration solution, Semaphor, are designed to be 100% private, innovative, reliable, and affordable for individuals, groups and enterprises. Take control of your privacy with SpiderOak. spideroak.com
About Innara Health
Innara Health’s mission is to advance the global understanding and improvement of neonatal, pediatric and adult feeding. The company offers the FDA cleared NTrainer System, the first neonatal technology that assesses and develops non-nutritive suck (NNS) for newborns and infants born prematurely. Neonatal clinicians use the NTrainer System in children’s hospitals, medical centers and rehabilitation hospitals. innarahealth.com
About KCRise Fund
The KCRise Fund is a venture capital sidecar fund that co-invests with institutional VC investors in early stage companies based in the Greater Kansas City Area. This model centralizes the due diligence needed to vet a new entrepreneurial venture. To date, $10.7 million has been secured from KC area investors.