News Stories

Lindsay Lebahn, Plug and Play Animal Health and AgTech Accelerator

Plug and Play taps leader of Topeka young professionals to lead soon-to-launch accelerator

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. TOPEKA…

Paul McRoberts, Jacque Hansen, Matt Kirchner, and Brian Schumacher, Atonix Digital

Black & Veatch spinout gives Atonix Digital the startup space to scale on its own

A newly independent Atonix Digital is leaning into growth opportunities after being spun out of its corporate home at Black & Veatch earlier this year. “The benefit to Black & Veatch is: they get to stay on their core business model. The benefit to Atonix Digital is: we get to be more nimble, pursue new…

Kyle J. Benson-Smith, Rise Up, Get Started, Determination, Incorporated

‘Rise Up, Get Started’ shifts to matching grant program for formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs

Rather than continue as an entrepreneurship competition for formerly incarcerated people, “Rise Up, Get Started” is pivoting to a matching grant program that supports more individuals seeking a new path through small business, said Kyle J. Benson-Smith.  “I was inspired by hearing the stories of second chance entrepreneurs from folks who were starting successful businesses…

Jessica Washburn, Bliss Chocolatier

How one artisan chocolatier rewrote the recipe for her life — and molded a new, more approachable luxury chocolate

A Blue Springs-dipped chocolate shop isn’t just selling show-stopping sweets, it’s unwrapping a community-coated adventure for a local mom — eight years in the making.  “I feel more a part of this community than I ever have before,” said Jessica Washburn, co-owner of Bliss Chocolatier, an artisan chocolate boutique dedicated to crafting a number of treats…

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…