InvestMidwest’s Kansas City event showcases companies for investors

InvestMidwest held its 16th annual venture capital conference Thursday in Kansas City, opening the microphone to dozens of companies to pitch their stories.

The presentations stretched throughout the morning, followed by networking time and lunch at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel.

Organizers said the event drew presenters from 12 states and an address by Boulevard Brewery founder John McDonald.

Among the local presenters was ClaimJockey, a Lee’s Summit business that helps policyholders file and manage claims under their long-term-care policies.

Some of the happenings were up in the air like this drone.

Audiences listened to businesses in three tracks at the event: technology, life sciences and agriculture-food-bioenergy. Along they way they also heard from the University of Missouri System and the FastTrac program at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

The event attracted students too, including a group from Blue Valley schools’ CAPS program, which focuses on students interested in biosciences, business, engineering, medicine, law and education.

InvestMidwest says it has helped companies in the region attract $1 billion of investment.

This story was originally published April 2, 2015 at 5:34 PM with the headline "InvestMidwest’s Kansas City event showcases companies for investors."