Minority-Led Stories

Jasper Sanders, Deposit The Work

KCK trainer launches lifestyle, fitness app that pays users cashback for burning calories 

Investing in your health just got a lot more literal with Deposit The Work — an app that pays users when they burn calories — explained Jasper Sanders. “I was trying to come up with a way for people to stay with fitness,” said Sanders, the app’s Kansas City, Kansas-based founder. “A lot of people…

Herd that beef was grass-fed? KC inventor’s cattle facial ID could drive steak through origin uncertainty

One of Kansas City’s most active serial inventors recently harvested his 88th patent, but it’s the revolutionary new way he’s using blockchain technology and augmented reality that’s turning heads (of cattle) down on the farm. Shekhar Gupta’s latest reveal: a facial recognition platform specifically designed to identify and track bovine for the bottom line — reducing…

Kearra Johnson, Revolution Card Deck, Studio Lo

KC designer’s new deck of cards celebrates Black icons who refused to play the hands they were dealt

Learning and celebrating Black history should be in the cards for more than just the month of February, Kearra Johnson said, unveiling a new design project that’s set to hit metro store shelves soon. “I really just want to create fun ways to get serious conversations started for the younger generation,” explained Johnson, founder of…

KreativeMindsKC

No ‘playing it safe’: Husband-wife team tackles Super Bowl demand with hometown-inspired tees

A family-owned side hustle is getting a major boost thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs second rush to a Super Bowl victory — and it couldn’t have come at a better time, explained Kendra’h Simmons.  “Now everyone is in a tizzy,” said Simmons, who co-founded KreativeMindsKC in 2019 alongside her husband, Reggie, describing ways excitement for…

Chicken Kalguksu; photo by Ashlin Wang

Limited run, limited risk: Sura Eats chef tests appetite for expansion with Korean noodle bar 

One of Crossroads-cooked Parlor’s longest serving tenants is getting an extra helping of success, launching a limited-run concept just feet away from its original counter.  Keeyoung Kim, chef and owner of Sura Eats, plans to formally open Sura Noodle Bar Thursday — the result of a growing hunger for his Korean cuisine and a strong partnership…