News Stories

Pantry Goods

More than a virtual grocery store, Pantry Goods is keeping food (and soil) ‘alive’

Whole foods have never been so affordable, Marcelle Clements said, as Pantry Goods sews seeds of sustainability in Kansas City and consumers reap a harvest full of benefits.  “I’ve always had one foot in this farming, sustainable world,” said Clements, founder of Pantry Goods, discussing her passion for the project — a virtual grocery store, stocked…

Charon Thompson and Daniel Smith, the Porter House KC

‘Someone to lean on’ — Forward KC partners to bring 1-on-1 mentorship to Troost, Prospect

It’s obvious where Kansas City’s underserved areas for entrepreneurial and community resources fall — the east side, said Morgan Perry, noting that 22 chambers of commerce serve other portions of Jackson County. “But for Troost, for Prospect — where are the resources on the ground for them? They are no one’s focus,” said Perry, who…

Aasma Tufail, Chai Shai

Better the next day: Halal street food thrives to-go with a simple recipe — optimism, good food and hungry neighbors

While countless local restaurants have struggled through pandemic-served challenges, business has been nothing short of amazing for Brookside Pakastani staple Chai Shai, said Aasma Tufail.  “I cook simple food — and people love it so much. I am so blessed, business has been better than before,” said Tufail, who owns the restaurant alongside son, Kashif,…

Hailee Bland Walsh, City Gym

A place to belong: Business model built to shatter intimidation lifted City Gym through COVID’s heaviest season yet

Ahead-of-the-curve thinking helped keep City Gym strong in the early days of COVID-19 when the weight of the pandemic dropped on people-focused industries.  “We lost a fair amount of members — maybe they couldn’t  financially afford it anymore, maybe they didn’t feel safe,” said Hailee Bland Walsh, founder and owner of City Gym in Waldo….

Chris Mathia, Innara Health

Timing ‘couldn’t be better’ for scaling Innara Health’s solution for preemies, CEO says

One of Kansas City’s most under the radar startups is scaling up amid COVID-19 — thanks in part to a share of $250 thousand in non-dilutive funding from a Los Angeles-based accelerator and FDA sponsored pediatric device consortia. “When COVID hit, one of the things I took from that was, ‘When you’re not selling, your process better…