News Stories

HERImpact $50K pitch competition returning March 8; Here’s how KC women entrepreneurs can apply

Women business owners and social entrepreneurs in Kansas City are encouraged to compete this spring for up to $50,000 in a Shark Tank-style funding event aimed at investing in women’s ambitions to start and scale local businesses. “Expanding access to capital and mentorship is critical to women’s success as they start their own businesses,” said…

Startland enters new chapter with leadership transition, momentum for news, education programs

A leadership change at Startland is an opportunity for growth within the organization’s dual marquee programs — both of which have evolved rapidly since their inception as ecosystem-building efforts in Kansas City, the organization’s interim CEO said. Business operations for Startland News and its sister program, Startland Education, are now being steered by the two…

It began as a one-man DJ; now this ‘Platinum’ experience is landing KCI’s first big event at the new terminal

In-person events are back with vengeance, said Kris Nardini; and Platinum XP is positioned to plan experiences coming only from one’s wildest imagination.  “Platinum XP is a single-source, full-service event planning agency. This means that we can quickly create proposals — that are very creative — but also on budget,” explained Nardini, the owner and…

‘Every business matters, every job matters’: How $69M in federal funds is already boosting KS entrepreneurs

Kansas will use a recent influx of federal funding to strengthen the state’s small business and venture capital ecosystems, according to project leaders of a new high-profile effort focusing on equitable access. The state was allocated $69 million earlier this year as part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), a federal program that…

Scavenger Tech greenlights indoor-outdoor exploration with box that only unlocks by visiting GPS markers

An inventor’s GPS-driven scavenger hunt device provides needed adventure in the physical world — minimizing screen time while unlocking meaningful challenges and experiences, said Jeff VanDeusen. “I’ve always been someone who likes to go outside and enjoy nature, and I know that’s not always what engineers are known for,” said VanDeusen, creator of Scavenger Tech and…