This Month's Latest Tech News in Olathe, KS - Saturday May 31st 2025 Edition

Olathe's tech landscape is surging ahead in May 2025, shaped by the region's expanding tech workforce, booming manufacturing, and rapid AI adoption. Kansas City's tech sector, now representing nearly 10% of local economic output, has added over 77,000 skilled professionals and saw a 16% workforce increase since 2021, outpacing major cities thanks to investments with over 31% dedicated to AI, more than double the national average (KC Tech Specs 2024 Report).

This transformation extends to Olathe, where Excellerate will create 250 new jobs at its expanded facility by 2026, riding the wave of data center and AI-driven demand (Excellerate expansion news).

Meanwhile, workforce needs are being met with programs at K-State Olathe's Advanced Manufacturing Center, delivering custom training to over 120 learners from 68 companies in 2024.

As workforce expert Mike Abare notes,

“a highly educated workforce has significant impact on the industry and communities they serve.”

Gain insight into regional job trends, upskilling opportunities, and how AI is reshaping hiring and industry at events like the Kansas City AI Club's upcoming panel (AI's impact on workforce and talent panel).

Kansas lawmakers have earmarked $10 million to assist school districts in adopting AI-powered gun detection, primarily benefiting ZeroEyes, a system that uses existing security cameras to identify firearms and rapidly notify authorities.

While proponents, such as Superintendent Brian Graham, claim the technology “works fast” and bolsters family confidence in school safety, skepticism persists over reliability, cost, and competition, since the grant requirements effectively exclude other vendors from state funding - a point highlighted in Kansas Reflector's reporting on legislative exclusivity.

Concerns have intensified following false alarms - such as a lockdown triggered by an AI misidentification in Texas - raising questions about data transparency since ZeroEyes refuses to disclose its false positive rates.

Critics like National School Safety and Security Services' Ken Trump argue funds could be better spent on human-centered safety measures, while privacy advocates and rival Omnilert protest anti-competitive grant structures and heightened surveillance.

The following table summarizes key vendor criteria embedded in Kansas legislation:

Requirement	Effect
Contracted in 30+ states	Excludes most rivals
U.S. DHS “Safety Act” designation	ZeroEyes only
US-developed, no open-source data	Limits vendor pool

As school boards weigh AI security against fundamental safety and mental health needs, transparency and accountability remain points of contention.

To explore fiscal and ethical implications further, read detailed coverage at The Beacon's report on Kansas AI gun detection funding and examine how lobbyists and legislative design shaped Kansas' school security future in Associated Press analysis of state funding for AI gun detection.

Johnson County has formally approved a new plan to ensure responsible and transparent use of artificial intelligence within its government operations, marking a significant step as AI quietly becomes embedded in critical county workflows.

The policy - recently adopted by county commissioners - emphasizes ethical guidelines, transparency, and strict oversight, with a focus on protecting sensitive data and ensuring human review of AI decisions.

Noteworthy deployments include AI-powered 911 dispatcher training simulations and email tracking in the district attorney's office; the mental health department is preparing to implement Bells AI by Netsmart to streamline clinician documentation, potentially saving seven minutes per patient note and freeing up time for patient care.

As outlined by technology leaders,

“You cannot trust the output from AI. You have to independently validate it.”

Read the in-depth analysis of Johnson County's AI rollout.

The policy insists on robust data governance, vendor vetting, and a commitment to enhance - not replace - human decision-making, with provisions to retrain affected staff and ensure AI is not used for resume screening due to bias risks.

For specifics on how these principles shape government services, visit the latest coverage of Johnson County's responsible AI adoption.

In emergency services, the county is leading the state with AI-driven 911 call training designed to adapt to unpredictable real-world scenarios, reviewed for accuracy by personnel, and highlighted by local law enforcement as a potential model for others - details can be found in this report on AI's role in dispatcher training.

As Johnson County navigates these advances, its approach stands as a model for balancing technological innovation with ethical public service.

Kansas City's tech scene is making waves as 2Quip acquires Rentz Corp, cementing its position as a leader in AI-driven equipment rentals.

By integrating Rentz Corp's peer-to-peer platform and 8,500 equipment listings valued at over $30 million, 2Quip now connects 23,000 users across 48 states with smart matching algorithms, instant listing generation, and competitive pricing powered by its proprietary AI, “Alex.” In the words of CEO Mark Costa,

“Today, 2Quip sets a new industry standard as the undisputed leader in online equipment rentals and AI-driven technology. Our acquisition of Rentz Corp's vibrant community accelerates our mission to reinvent how equipment is accessed and monetised.”

The combined user base and technological advancements are expected to cut rental business operating costs by 15% and spur a 2–5% increase in renter demand, with a $2 million seed round fueling ambitions to scale to 35,000 users and expand internationally.

For a deeper dive into how this acquisition is shaping the $56 billion rental sector and future growth, see 2Quip strengthens equipment rental market position and the official press release on PRWeb.

Metric	Value
Combined User Base	23,000 (targeting 35,000)
Equipment Listings	8,500+ (valued at $30M+)
Seed Funding (2025)	$2 million
Market Size	$56 billion

VML has promoted Kansas City-based Jeff Geheb to CEO of its $1.5 billion Enterprise Solutions division, marking a new era for VML's global tech operations headquartered in KC. With more than 10,000 staff across 40+ offices, VML Enterprise Solutions unifies consulting, commerce, customer experience, engineering, and AI-driven transformation for top global brands such as Ford, Coca-Cola, Google, and Sainsbury's.

In his new role, Geheb, who previously served as Global Executive Lead, is credited by VML Global CEO John Cook as being

“the architect and pioneer” of fusing technology, data, and creative across VML's offerings.

Notably, since VML's 2024 merger and business unit launch, the division has onboarded over 150 clients and now contributes 40% of the agency's total business.

The division has garnered industry recognition with VML and parent WPP named “leaders” or “strong performers” in Forrester, Gartner, and IDC analyst reports for commerce, CX, and digital transformation services.

For more details on VML's leadership shift, read the Kansas City Business Journal's coverage on Jeff Geheb's promotion; for an overview of VML Enterprise Solutions' consulting and technology portfolio, refer to VML's official Enterprise Solutions page; and for context on Geheb's impact and division growth, see the MediaPost analysis of VML's new tech leadership.

Below is a snapshot of VML Enterprise Solutions:

Metric	Detail
Annual Revenue	$1.5 Billion
Global Staff	10,000+
Offices	40+
Recent Clients Added	150+
Share of Global VML Business	40%
Major Awards	Leader in Forrester, Gartner, IDC reports (2024-25)

WellSky, a leading health and community care technology company based in Overland Park, continues to garner national recognition for its innovative solutions and sustained growth in the sector.

The company was recently named a 2025 League of Champions honoree by the Kansas City Business Journal, reflecting its significant expansion marked by strategic acquisitions and a workforce increase of more than 200 employees according to local business reports.

Further cementing its role as a digital health pioneer, WellSky's Enterprise Referral Manager was awarded “Best Home Health Care Solution” at the 2025 MedTech Breakthrough Awards - its sixth consecutive win - standing out among over 4,500 nominations worldwide as announced by MedTech Breakthrough.

The platform streamlines the referral and intake process for more than 2,000 hospitals, centralizes critical data, and integrates seamlessly into electronic health records, driving better efficiency and patient outcomes.

As MedTech Breakthrough's Steve Johansson noted,

“WellSky Enterprise Referral Manager helps agencies transform referral and intake processes, putting them on a path for efficient, effective, and sustainable growth.”

WellSky's commitment to advancing care is also highlighted by its collaborative awards program, celebrating clients such as Option Care Health and Highmark Health for leveraging technology to deliver innovative, data-driven care across diverse settings as detailed in their Spotlight Awards coverage.

As WellSky continues to expand and enhance its solutions, the company is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of health tech in Olathe and beyond.

As supply chains become more complex and vulnerable, Kansas City's Commerce Bank is spotlighting the critical role of AI and data analytics in ensuring resilient, efficient operations across the region.

Innovative platforms like TrusTrace's AI-powered supply chain data hub are revolutionizing risk management and compliance by unifying fragmented data and providing actionable insights for businesses of all sizes.

In the words of TrusTrace CEO Shameek Ghosh,

“We've built a powerful, AI-assisted supply chain data hub that allows companies to quickly and easily collect and analyze data at any scale, empowering them to move from reactive crisis management to proactive impact-driven strategies. This is the future of responsible, resilient business.”

AI-driven logistics - exemplified by Uber Freight's machine learning platform that reduces empty trucking miles - are cutting costs and improving efficiency for industry leaders and smaller firms alike.

Recent recognition and community engagement by Commerce Bank reinforce its commitment to leveraging advanced technologies for smarter, sustainable supply chains that benefit both customers and local economies.

To learn more about Commerce Bank's local impact, visit their Commerce Bank newsroom highlighting community involvement and innovation, explore how TrusTrace's AI supply chain data hub enhances transparency, and discover how Uber Freight is optimizing trucking routes with AI to maximize every mile.

The tech sector continues to see major restructuring in 2025, with layoffs rippling from Silicon Valley giants to regional employers and the public sector, including the Olathe, KS area.

As documented in this comprehensive list of 2025 tech layoffs, over 22,000 technology jobs have been lost so far this year, including significant cuts at Microsoft (6,500 jobs), Amazon, Chegg, and a range of other firms.

Locally, the impact is apparent: Veyer, LLC, a Kansas City-area distribution center, will lay off 77 employees and close its Edwardsville facility by mid-July, part of wider cost reduction strategies affecting supply chain operations (Wyandotte County distribution center layoffs).

Meanwhile, nearly 30,000 federal workers in Kansas City face deep uncertainty as "reductions in force" loom, reflecting the broader workforce volatility as organizations both public and private adapt to automation and AI-driven efficiency demands.

Economists caution that a loss of 3,000 federal jobs could double the economic impact by triggering the loss of an additional 3,000 local positions, threatening both families and service continuity.

As one federal email warned,

“These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status of a substantial number of federal employees.”

For more on the regional public sector's struggle with restructuring in the age of automation, see reports on federal layoffs and economic risk.

The following table summarizes monthly U.S. tech job cuts so far in 2025:

Month	Layoffs Reported
January	2,403
February	16,234
March	8,834
April	23,400+
May	Ongoing

Amid this turbulence, the AI workforce is being reshaped, with both opportunity and risk for Olathe's tech and adjacent sectors.

Microsoft's Build 2025 developer conference was rocked by employee Joe Lopez's onstage protest against the company's provision of AI technology to the Israeli military, reigniting debate over corporate responsibility and internal dissent.

Lopez interrupted CEO Satya Nadella with accusations that Microsoft's Azure cloud powers surveillance and military operations in Gaza, shouting, “As a Microsoft worker, I refuse to be complicit in this genocide” and later sending an email to colleagues accusing leadership of “bold-faced lie[s]” about the technology's use in the conflict full coverage of Joe Lopez's protest at Build 2025.

Lopez's immediate dismissal highlights Microsoft's increasingly hardline stance on public dissent, echoing earlier firings of workers protesting at its 50th anniversary event analysis of Microsoft's response to protests during its 50th anniversary and drawing criticism from advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid, which alleges internal censorship of terms like “Palestine” and “Gaza.” As further protests disrupted multiple Build sessions, Microsoft maintained it found “no evidence” its platforms targeted civilians, a claim disputed by outspoken employees and activists.

The incident underscores a broader trend across Big Tech of strict enforcement against political speech and AI ethics advocacy - prompting one worker to warn,

“If leadership continues to ignore this demand... our image will continue to spiral into disrepair”

see The Guardian's reporting on Microsoft's controversy and employee dissent.

The chart below outlines recent high-profile firings and company responses:

Date	Protester(s)	Incident
April 2025	Ibtihal Aboussad, Vaniya Agrawal	Fired after protesting Microsoft's AI chief over Israel contracts
May 2025 (Build)	Joe Lopez	Fired after interrupting Satya Nadella's keynote protesting Azure's military use

Tech N9ne's Strange Music compound in Kansas City stands as a model for how independent music labels can fuse creativity with high-end technology, shaping a unique cultural and enterprise footprint in the region.

Founded in 2000 by Tech N9ne and Travis O'Guin, this expansive multi-building headquarters houses state-of-the-art recording studios, a print shop for on-demand merchandise production, and facilities dedicated to storing music archives, tour equipment, and an impressive array of luxury vehicles, including multiple Lamborghinis and a Rolls Royce.

The compound is designed for optimal creativity, comfort, and in-house control over all aspects of music production and artist promotion. As described in an exclusive tour of the Strange Music headquarters, the environment caters to both functional business needs and the psyche of artists, with unique visual elements and branded motifs at every turn.

“The facility houses recording studios, business operations, merchandise production, storage for music archives, tour gear, vehicles, and more... The label has signed artists worldwide who prefer working with an independent label over a major one.”

Strange Music sustains a bustling calendar of tours - including Tech N9ne's “Summer Daze” and King ISO's “More Group Therapy” - and supports a diverse roster of popular artists and product releases, such as the anticipated “5816 Forest” album.

The compound's integrated, high-tech approach not only enables Strange Music to manage everything internally but also offers a striking example of how Kansas City continues to drive innovation at the intersection of technology and the arts.

For more context on the company's operations and local impact, check out a report exploring Tech N9ne's secret KC compound.

Facility Feature	Description
Recording Studios	Multiple, soundproofed, for albums and video shoots
Merch Production	In-house print shop for posters and apparel
On-site Storage	Music archives, tour equipment, luxury vehicles

The Kansas City region is experiencing a robust surge in artificial intelligence adoption, with initiatives that are rapidly shaping both economic growth and workforce policy across Olathe and the broader metropolitan area.

According to the 2024 KC Tech Specs Report, Kansas City boasts one of the densest tech workforces in the Midwest, with over 77,000 professionals and tech accounting for 9% of total economic output; notably, AI now comprises 31% of local tech investments - more than double the national average - underscoring the area's position as a leader in AI-driven innovation (Kansas City's AI investment leadership in the 2024 KC Tech Specs Report).

Local policymakers are aligning with this momentum: the KC Tech Council actively promotes workforce development and ethical AI frameworks, supporting readiness for the AI era (KC Tech Council workforce development and ethical AI policy advocacy).

In Johnson County, a recently adopted plan mandates transparency, review, and ethical considerations in county government AI use, emphasizing both the promise and responsibility of the technology (Johnson County's responsible AI governance plan in government use).

These collective efforts highlight a balanced approach, positioning Kansas and neighboring communities as innovation hubs with policies that drive economic opportunity while addressing emerging workforce demands and societal impacts.

Olathe's roadmap to a tech-driven future is gaining momentum, anchored by substantial investments in advanced manufacturing and fintech, alongside a swiftly evolving national AI policy landscape.

Honeywell's $84 million expansion of its Olathe aerospace facility will generate nearly 156 new high-tech jobs and contribute almost $47 million to the local GDP in just six years, with a focus on resilient supply chains for next-generation avionics and flight control systems (Honeywell's Kansas Aerospace investment details).

Meanwhile, Kansas welcomes a game-changing $175 million Fiserv fintech hub in Overland Park, projected to create 2,000 technology roles averaging $102,000 in annual salary and injecting $6.5 billion in economic impact across a decade (Fiserv fintech hub announcement).

However, a potential 10-year federal moratorium on state and local AI regulation is now under scrutiny in Congress, posing questions about the ability for local communities - rural Midwestern towns like Olathe included - to shape AI policy tailored to their citizens' safety, privacy, and economic opportunities (Critical federal AI regulation debate).

As billions flow into the region and jobs surge, Olathe must balance excitement about growth with advocacy for responsible, locally-informed innovation and investment in workforce development - ensuring the city remains not just a beneficiary, but a leader, in the next tech era.