News Stories

Austin Evans and Kelly Dahl family, Kris and Kate's Ice Cream

Treat yourself: Iconic pink cone fits entrepreneur’s hunger for nostalgia, growth 

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. Just…

Terry Keith, DoubleTapKC

DoubleTapKC powers past real-world complications with River Market VR arcade, pub

Timing and preparation are everything for DoubleTapKC as the virtual reality arcade and pub prepares to unleash a new experience in the River Market — one its owners say is a perfect release for COVID-wary Kansas Citians eager to reconnect.  “To be quite honest with you, I feel really blessed,” co-founder Terry Keith said, reflecting…

Juan Carlos Chaurand, Diego Chi, Enrique Chi, and Duncan Burnett, Making Movies

Pandemic pauses genre-bending band’s tour, but amplifies message of music as a business, form of activism

In a world where empathy can be in short supply, the brothers behind Kansas City Latinx rock band Making Movies see music and songwriting as a way young people growing up in a divided country can level the playing field. The key is exposing them to mentors who can illustrate what’s possible, said Enrique Chi,…

Kirk Simpson, Wave Financial

Wave Money: H&R Block deposits its $405M startup investment into small business banking

A year to the day after its acquisition by Kansas City tax giant H&R Block, Wave Financial is churning up change in the sea of small business banking.  The Toronto,Canada-based fintech company announced Thursday the launch of Wave Money — a first-of-its-kind small business banking solution that eliminates banking fees, has built-in bookkeeping, and gives business…

Photo by Daniel Cheung

Employer survey: KC digital media talent weak on tech, soft skills — even with a college degree

Area colleges and universities are falling short in preparing graduates for careers in digital media, a new study suggests. Cross-industry collaborations could help fill in the missing pixels.  “The survey really highlights some gaps that are preventing the industry from moving forward,” explained Ron Green, executive director of digiSTORY KC — a Kansas City-based non-profit…