News Stories
Pickle and Suede: Sporty new line plays on jewelry brand’s versatility, flexes creative muscle
Nickel and Suede is hitting the court this summer, served co-founder Kilee Nickels. The Liberty-based jewelry brand — which just celebrated its ninth birthday — has released a pickleball paddle in collaboration with Recess Pickleball, along with a line of “just the right” accessories to coordinate. “It’s kind of our stamp of approval,” Nickels said….
Fund Me, KC: Zanago founders seek support to close funding gap for real estate transparency platform
Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses or lend a helping hand to others. This is an opportunity for business owners and innovators — like Louis Byrd and Arlene Byrd from the social impact tech company Zanago — to share their crowdfunding stories and potentially…
C2FO launches empowerment grants to boost Black-owned businesses, entrepreneurs
A new grant program from one of Kansas City’s most high profile scaleups is expected to empower — and help fund — three nonprofit organizations serving Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, said Jessie Fields. “We know small business owners, and especially diverse business owners, face so many challenges,” said Fields, director of talent development and DEI…
Cassie Taylor is just getting queerer and weirder (and thanks to a wild 72 hours, she’s now a Playboy Bunny)
Be your authentic self, said Cassie Taylor, even if that means losing people along the way. “The biggest thing I’ve learned in the music industry is that if you’re not authentic, it is not sustainable — you’ll burn out fast. During the pandemic, I lost a lot of friends because I was very vocal about…
Pitch contest winners salute PHKC as fourth cohort wraps; $15K in prizes awarded to small businesses
A winning night at The Porter House KC’s pitch event this week expands opportunity for more than just the company taking home the biggest check, said Taylor Burris. AI Hub — led by Burris and her husband, James Spikes — earned first place and $8,000 in the competition, which also marked the completion of PHKC’s…
