Tech company to bring headquarters and 80 new jobs to Kansas City, Gov. Nixon announces

• April 14, 2014

Missouri is gaining another high-tech headquarters, Gov. Jay Nixon announced today. Currently based in Omaha, Neb., Mindmixer, an online hosted engagement software company, has selected Kansas City to be its new home base. The company already operates a small local office but will invest more than $1.5 million to create 80 new jobs in Kansas City.

Once again the Show-Me State has proven itself to be a top destination for growing tech companies, and Mindmixer’s announcement today is the latest win for Missouri,” Gov. Nixon said. “To continue this economic momentum, we must continue to invest in our schools so that we are preparing a next-generation workforce to fill these high-tech, in-demand jobs.

Founded in 2011, Mindmixer is an information technology company that provides an online platform to encourage civic involvement. The company has over 600 clients, including cities, school districts, and other organizations. The online platform encourages stakeholders to participate in online forums and provide ideas on issues from disaster recovery to improving schools.

The company currently has offices in Omaha and Lincoln, Neb., as well as Kansas City. Mindmixer will consolidate all operations to Kansas City.

“We’re a proud Midwestern company, but in order to sustain growth we needed to be in a location with a skilled workforce that meets the needs of our high-tech business,” said Nick Bowden, chief executive officer and co-founder. “That’s where Kansas City comes in. This community already has an abundance of experienced workers and the talent pool only seems to be getting bigger.”

“MindMixer has certainly helped the City of Kansas City capture the pulse of public opinion through their civic technology platform. This is an example of an innovative company choosing to make their home in an innovative city,” said Mayor Sly James. “I’m thrilled that MindMixer has decided to increase its presence in our City and look forward to furthering their footprint in the Crossroads. I’m certain their employees and clients will find their location on the downtown streetcar line an added bonus.”

Since information technology was identified by his Strategic Initiative for Economic Growth as a top target for next-generation job creation, Gov. Nixon has made attracting investments in this field a priority of his administration. In just the past year, the state has attracted numerous investments from expanding IT companies including Netelligent in Chesterfield, BIME Analytics in Kansas City, and Cerner in Kansas City.

As a result of these efforts, Missouri has garnered national attention as a top location for technology companies. In fact, Missouri was the fastest-growing state for technology employment in 2013, according to an analysis by Dice.com of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Missouri gained 2,700 tech positions in 2013 – an increase of 8.4 percent – in the category of Professional and Business Services, Computer Systems design and Related Services.

To assist Mindmixer with its expansion, the Department of Economic Development has offered a strategic economic incentive package that the company can receive if it meets strict job creation and investment criteria. The City of Kansas City, the Kansas City Area Development Council, and the Missouri Partnership also partnered with Mindmixer to make its expansion possible.