Igniting regional innovation, Digital Sandbox KC acts as a catalyst, offering critical proof-of-concept funding, project feedback and industry support.
What is Digital Sandbox KC?
Digital Sandbox KC is a program that provides proof-of-concept support to early-stage technology projects. It’s a public-private partnership aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in the Kansas City region. The program offers project funding, mentorship and resources to startups and entrepreneurs working on tech-driven ideas.
We take pride in being a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship, contributing not only to the economic landscape of our community but also to the broader landscape of technological advancements and groundbreaking ideas.
How it works
Our application process is designed to help you showcase your business concept and secure funding. Curious about what makes a successful pitch to the Sandbox? Download our “How to Pitch to the Sandbox” deck here.
If your application is selected, you’ll have the opportunity to pitch your idea in person to our evaluation team with deep expertise in working with early-stage companies.
Following pitches, all presentations are scored and ranked by the same criteria. Funding decisions are made quarterly, and are based on rigorous evaluation standards to ensure fairness and transparency.
Companies Awarded
202
Follow-on Funding
$220M+
New Jobs Created
1,300+
DON'T JUST TAKE IT FROM US
What Our Founders Say
Tony CaudillDuesy“I’m so grateful for Digital Sandbox KC’s continued support of me and our broader entrepreneur community in KC. We’re lucky to have such an amazing resource in our city.”
JQ SirlsStorytailor“Thanks to Digital Sandbox KC, I was able to really get solid on where I wanted Storytailor to go. I launched an MVP that grew to thousands of users within a few months letting me know that this thing works.”
Dr. Brandy ArchieAskSamie“The value we’ve received from Digital Sandbox KC has been immense. It’s connected us with the entrepreneurial community, the investor community in Kansas City and frankly turned me from a healthcare person into a tech executive.”
Matt GunterRoutine Success“Getting accepted into Digital Sandbox KC really validated our vision and provided the springboard to refine our concept and make it a reality. We learned what worked and what didn’t and have definitely brought that knowledge over to version 2.0 of the company.”
Nomi SmithPMI Rate Pro“Since Digital Sandbox KC, not only have we received funding to build our MVP, but we really got an open door to getting connected to the entrepreneurship community in Kansas City.”
Bek AbdullayevSuper Dispatch“It’s not just a fund. It’s a program run by people who deeply care about building and developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Kansas City.”
Dr. Saroj GuptaMyDigiRecords“Digital Sandbox KC not only provided critical funding for user experience testing, but also helped us make connections and open doors for MyDigiRecords that have been essential to successfully commercialize the app.”
Chris CardinalWelltodo“When we started Welltodo, not many people took the time to fully understand our business. Digital Sandbox KC did. They took a chance on us when most Midwest pocketbooks were closed.”
Tam TranData Appraisal“Digital Sandbox KC played a pivotal role in our business growth by providing not only critical proof-of-concept funding but also invaluable mentoring and connections, which helped us build viable innovations ready for follow-on funding.”
Dr. Nick LoveLove Lifesciences“The impact that Digital Sandbox has had on Love Life Sciences has been to help us take a concept and really turn it into reality. We were able to afford 3-D printers and really bring this concept to life.”
Celebrating 10 years of success
Since its inception in 2013, Digital Sandbox KC has been at the forefront of fostering innovation and driving economic growth in the Kansas City region.
Over the last 10 years, the program has provided vital project development funding to 202 startups. Following Sandbox funding, these startups have gone on to raise a total of more than $220 million in follow-on funding.
Sandbox Awardees
Ready to accelerate your startup journey? Apply to Digital Sandbox KC and unlock project funding, mentorship and resources for your startup.
Latest Sandbox News
THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS WHO MAKE THE WORK WE DO POSSIBLE
Sandbox Partners
