These founders just earned Digital Sandbox KC funds; next comes proving their concepts

A trio of newly funded Digital Sandbox KC companies includes a closely-guarded startup launched by an exited Pipeline founder who also helped bring headline-grabbing sports tech to the forefront of the Kansas City innovation scene.

Mission Hills, Kansas-based Chemniscient (pronounced kemʹniSH(Ə)nt) is currently operating confidentially and is not disclosing any product information to the public at this time, Digital Sandbox said in a release announcing its latest batch of funding. 

The startup is led by founder and CEO Bruce Ianni, who many in the Kansas City startup community know from past ventures Chemidex (later Innovadex) — through which he won Pipeline’s Innovator of the Year award in 2009 — and ShotTracker (DDSports), which he left in 2020. 

“I have benefited from the Kansas City region’s emphasis on supporting entrepreneurship since the early 2000s, when I founded my first company, Innovadex, with the help of many local angel investors,” said Ianni. “Following that successful exit, I have embarked on creating additional companies that leverage that initial experience — including my current venture, Chemniscient.” 

Other just-funded Digital Sandbox companies include:

• AskAvery (Jared Welch) Kansas City, Missouri — Works to strengthen therapy by leveraging software and artificial intelligence to improve the patient experience.

• The Matrescence (Megan Dalton), Prairie Village, Kansas — A platform that aims to revolutionize postpartum care with a comprehensive mobile app tailored to prioritize maternal mental health. Services include access to a supportive community for peer connection, curated educational resources to inform and empower and mindfulness activities that reduce stress.

Entrepreneurs and startups selected to join Digital Sandbox receive proof-of-concept resources, mentorship and up to $20,000 in project funding to accelerate their innovative projects.  They also gain access to the community behind UMKC Technology Venture Studio — which operates Digital Sandbox — as well as technical project support.

“We are proud to welcome these cutting-edge startups into the Sandbox, connecting them to the help and resources needed to accelerate their groundbreaking projects,” said Jill Meyer, senior director of Technology Venture Studio, which houses Digital Sandbox KC. “Digital Sandbox KC looks to support founders and scalable technologies who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Alongside our partnership with Digital Health KC, we look forward to seeing these three startups flourish and make a positive difference in Kansas City and beyond.” 

Click here to learn more about pitching an idea to Digital Sandbox KC for a future round of support.

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