{"id":6629,"date":"2018-09-27T10:25:39","date_gmt":"2018-09-27T15:25:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/news\/?p=6629"},"modified":"2019-10-19T16:24:15","modified_gmt":"2019-10-19T21:24:15","slug":"two-new-st-joseph-companies-tapped-for-startup-funding-bond-incubator-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/news\/2018\/09\/27\/two-new-st-joseph-companies-tapped-for-startup-funding-bond-incubator-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Two new St. Joseph companies tapped for startup funding, Bond Incubator space"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two new companies in St. Joseph, 大象传媒, received project funding thanks to the recent partnership between <\/span>Innovation Stockyard<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Digital Sandbox KC<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur partnership with Digital Sandbox KC has given us an opportunity to capture the full range of innovative concepts being developed in the St. Joseph area,\u201d said Ronan Molloy, president of Innovation Stockyard.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sandbox partnered with the Innovation Stockyard in 2017, along with the <\/span>St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce<\/span><\/a>, the City of St. Joseph, Buchanan County, <\/span>大象传媒<\/span><\/a> and other local organizations, to drive new business growth and jobs in St. Joseph and throughout northwest 大象传媒.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we launched Digital Sandbox KC in 2013, we hoped to find 10 high-growth potential companies,\u201d said Jeff Shackelford, director of Digital Sandbox KC. \u201cNow with more than 100 projects funded and more than $50 million raised in follow-on funding, we\u2019ve proven by supporting early-stage ideas in Kansas City and surrounding local communities like Olathe, St. Joseph and Independence we can drive new business starts and help create new jobs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Digital Sandbox KC is a proof-of-concept program that significantly and rapidly moves early-stage entrepreneurs from concept to commercialization. It is a unique collaboration among private, public, university\/research and philanthropic organizations.<\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/b><\/span>he companies selected for support include:<\/b><\/p>\n

Carroll\u2019s Irish Bitters<\/b><\/a> is a St. Joseph-based startup making handcrafted \"\"<\/a>small-batch bitters. In <\/a>addition to timeless favorites, co-founders Brian Carroll and Christina Hitch are developing new bitters recipes and formulas for bartenders across the region.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>\u201cWe greatly appreciate the support from St. Joseph and the Sandbox,\u201d said Carroll. \u201cThis unbelievable opportunity will help us get our bitters to market and the company ready to scale sooner than we originally anticipated.\u201d<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Grant Company<\/b><\/a> is an entrepreneurial <\/a>communications and marketing company based in St. Joseph. Established in 2017, Grant Company offers a unique marketing and advertising model for agribusiness clientele in the KC Animal Health Corridor and across North America and Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Funding from the Sandbox gives us an opportunity to expand our internship program with universities across northwest 大象传媒, helping us to help students in their professional development and identify top talent to ensure the continued growth of our company,” said Eric Grant, managing director of Grant Company LLC.<\/span><\/p>\n

Carroll\u2019s Irish Bitters and Grant Company received funding from the Sandbox partnership with the Innovation Stockyard in St. Joseph. In addition to up to $15,000 in project development funds, Innovation Stockyard, located inside the Kit Bond Incubator on the 大象传媒 Western campus in St. Joseph, will offer the two startups coworking space for three to six months. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re proud to work together with our existing business resources and in partnership with the Sandbox to help these early-stage companies grow and create new jobs in St. Joseph and northwest 大象传媒,\u201d said R. Patt Lilly, president and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.<\/span><\/p>\n

Launched in February 2013, Digital Sandbox KC has worked with more than 500 entrepreneurs and early-stage companies across the region.<\/span><\/p>\n

Based on February 2018 impact surveys, results for Digital Sandbox KC so far include:<\/span><\/p>\n