News Stories

Potential innovation district site, Go Topeka

Developers plotting innovation district sites in state capital as Go Topeka creates animal health, ag hub

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…

Photo courtesy of Venture Legal

Pivoting to freelance: Create a brand that speaks for you when you’re not in the room

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Chris Brown is the founder of Venture Legal where he represents startups, freelancers, and small businesses. This column — originally published by Venture Legal and part of a limited series on freelance entrepreneurism — is intended to be general in detail and does…

Stone Cole, Jasmine Baudler, Amber Baudler, and Cassie Florido, Stellar Image Studios

Double exposure: How quick action streamed a stellar survival story for sister-led film studio

When Kansas City’s event scene went dark in the early days of the pandemic, Stellar Image Studios seized a lights-camera-action opportunity to add new value to a suddenly virtual world, said Jasmine Baudler.  “I encourage people not to cancel their virtual events or their fundraisers or galas because — even though it’s hard — it’s…

Spark KC

First look: Excitement builds as Spark KC nears summer coworking debut at Two Light

As Kyla Bradley closed the door to a 22-person suite within the new Spark Kansas City coworking space, the sound of ongoing construction on the first two floors of Two Light nearly vanished. “It’s not technically ‘sound-proofed’ in here,” she said with a smile, noting a dramatic reduction in noise within the customizable, three-room office…

Zach Sliefert, Tyler Beyer, Justin Verbenec, Joe Layne, Brett Karlin, Brent Sliefert, and Brandon Roberts, DashNow

DashNow pivot from QR tech to text trigger helps keep JoCo startup, hundreds of restaurants serving 

In an entrepreneurial landscape chewed up by social distancing, it’s feast or famine for local restaurants — but DashNow has a recipe for recovery, said Brett Karlin.  “The value is being able to work with these local businesses. To help them out, to provide a product that they need to help keep their doors open,” added…