News Stories

These ‘Urban Heroes’ are helping evolve downtown KC; here’s why they’re on the right path

In a prelude to today’s celebration of downtown Kansas City’s evolution and momentum, four “urban heroes” were honored Thursday for their passionate work to make downtown a more vibrant place to live, work, and play, organizers said. Winners of the “Urban Hero Awards” ranged from honorees on the east side to the Crossroads and the…

Honey bunches of joy: How this Raytown bee farm landed its blooming business model

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Kansas City PBS/Flatland, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, The Kansas City Beacon, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story. Erik and Rachael Messner’s home on an acre in south Kansas City gave…

Startup Weekend winners could have a billion-dollar solution for struggling taxpayers

Organizers of Missouri Startup Weekend predicted this year’s winner could be poised to be the competition’s next billion-dollar alumni. Solvtax presented the weekend’s winning pitch: a solution for avoiding financial implications through better business and personal property tax management. The idea struck a chord with entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs in both the audience and judge’s…

KU spinout earns $180K+ in prizes at business plan competition; students going full-time with startup

LAWRENCE, Kansas — A sustainable engineering startup that emerged from the University of Kansas took fifth place in a recent business competition at Rice University in Houston, earning more than $180,000 in prizes and an opportunity to make history for the founders’ alma mater. Icorium Engineering, the first-ever team from Kansas to compete in the…

Coffee shop owner (and superhero super fan) pours himself into the pages of Darkmoon Comics

Mike Gladney might not be living in the Marvel or DC universes, but he is dwelling within the realm of his own dream world surrounded by comic books, he shared. Gladney — and his wife, Vania — own Comic Coffeehouse in Olathe, and now he’s also the editor-in-chief for Kansas City-based Darkmoon Comics. “I’m doing…