Kansas City Kansas City native Arash Ferdowsi (far left) may have a unique career path and success in the tech industry, but he still shares one thing in common with many in his hometown: he's a huge Kansas City Chiefs fans. And a frustrated one, too, the Kansas City Star noted in its Saturday feature story on Ferdowsi. Now in San Francisco, Ferdowsi is the co-founder and CTO of Dropbox. The path that got him there, Star reporter Eric Adler shared, started … read more

Des Moines What do Justin Bieber and a Des Moines executive have in common? The answer is BillMyParents, a San Diego-based startup that aims to help teens and their parents come to grips with financial independence. Of course, Bieber and chairman and CEO Mike McCoy (left) have very different roles with the company. Bieber acts as a brand ambassador for BillMyParents' SpendSmart card, while McCoy manages the company's business and strategic direction. But how did the former president of Wells Fargo Consumer Credit Cards end up as CEO of a San Diego-based payments company? … read more

The Wall Street Journal today is presenting four voices from Nerbaska's startup community in a series that answers the question: "Can startups be successful anywhere in the U.S.?" Startup founders Ben Vu, Julie Malhoch and Stephanie Jarrett chime in along with entrepreneur-in-residence Brian Ardinger. "Make no doubt about it; some of the most talented and driven people I've ever met are on the coasts," Vu wrote in his guest post, "but there's also impressive talent in the Midwest who possess a strong work ethic … read more

Des Moines Des Moines software developer Derek Brooks never thought he would find himself working on a political campaign. A registered independent voter, he was never very interested in politics. But over the past year, Brooks along with fellow Iowan and friend Nick Leeper were employed by President Barack Obama's re-election campaign in Chicago. "I was there for the candidate," Brooks said … read more

Cedar Falls The day after I called the expansion of Cedar Falls, Iowa startup Banno one of the Silicon Prarie's biggest stories of 2012, a banking industry publication posted an in-depth article providing insight into the mind of its founder and CEO, Wade Arnold (left). "This former, semi-pro BMX rider is part of a new generation of entrepreneurs trying to capitalize on the growing need for technology at banks," Bank Technology News reporter Sean Sposito … read more

Kansas City As Tom McDonnell takes the helm of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as its new president and CEO, he is determined to help the $1.8 billion foundation increase its visibility and build on existing strengths without veering from its focus on entrepreneurship and education. The Kansas City, Mo.-based Kauffman Foundation announced on Dec. 4 that McDonnell would become its next president and CEO, effective … read more

Kansas City Tom McDonnell is making a move from one Kansas City institution to another. In September, McDonnell revealed plans to retire at year's end from his role as chief executive of DST Systems, and on Dec. 4 the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation announced that McDonnell would become its new president and CEO, effective Jan. 1. McDonnell helped start DST, a company that provides information processing and software services and products, in 1969. Today the company, which began as a spinoff of Kansas City Southern Railways, employs some 13,000 people worldwide. At the Kauffman Foundation, McDonnell will oversee an organization with an asset base of $1.8 billion and a mission centered around entrepreneurship and education. McDonnell has served … read more

Lincoln Hudl co-founder and chief technology officer Brian Kaiser today was named to a dream team that includes the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Deron Williams. No, not that Dream Team. But Kaiser, 29, was recognized on Forbes' annual 30 Under 30 list in the sports category for his work with Hudl, the Lincoln company that makes web-based video analysis and coaching tools. Forbes chose 30 honorees apiece in 15 categories, filling its list with "disruptors and entrepreneurs" who are "impatient to change the world before they leave their twenties behind." The teens and 20-somethings on the list include Mark Zuckerberg, Lady Gaga … read more