News Stories

This brand on the rise smells a lot like cookies fresh out the oven; why Brown Suga tastes better in Leawood

A fan-favorite Kansas City cookie shop has found its sweet spot in Leawood’s mixed-use Park Place district, said founder Ebony Paul, noting the setting for Brown Suga Bakes’ second storefront clicked right away. “We have people coming in from other businesses, visitors from the hotels, and residents from nearby apartment complexes,” she explained. “We see…

KC-backed (and built) AI startup rebrands amid shift to tackling America’s supply chain pain points

With its pivot from video transcriptions to bulk inventory tracking, one of Kansas City’s most-promising, emerging tech startups is rebranding to match the new direction, co-founders Warren Wang and Cole Robertson said. “‘Rebulk‘ feels like the right name for the future we want to build,” said Wang, reflecting on the company’s efforts to use AI-powered…

The end of gear hunting: Wacka wants to automate-away manual price chasing

Late nights. Too many browser tabs. Price comparisons across half a dozen retailers. Waiting weeks for the right moment to buy. Justen Wack knows exactly how outdoor gear purchases usually happen, he said — because the tech founder used to grind through the process himself. It’s a ritual familiar to skiers, cyclists, backpackers and climbers…

No late risers: KC’s hottest line leads to a sell-out doughnut; owners balance appetite with days-long production

At 4:45 a.m. on a rainy Saturday morning, Susan Worrel of Overland Park was first in line at the new Slow Rise doughnut shop by her subdivision.  She had tried the week before, arriving an hour before the doors opened, only to find a line of hungry would-be diners stretching down the shopping center. The…

Kansas City data centers and AI flip the script on job security

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by The Beacon, a member of the KC Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story from The Beacon, an online news outlet focused on local, in-depth journalism in the public interest….