News Stories

SpraySeeMo 2019

SpraySeeMo returns to Crossroads, painting a shared space for graffiti artists, businesses (Photos)

An annual transformation of the Crossroads Arts District, SpraySeeMO paints more than graffiti-like murals, explained Lexi Walz. It creates energetic and collaborative opportunities for area businesses and talented artists.  “Essentially, we’re a group of architects and designers all consumed with creating experiences and emotions through design,” said Walz, marketing and content manager at Generator Studio…

Hyperloop One on display at the American Royal in Kansas City

Hyperloop One on display in KC: Imagine being first-ever passenger to ride its 600 mph pod (Photos)

While not a single passenger has yet stepped foot aboard Virgin’s Hyperloop One, that doesn’t mean the technology isn’t more realistic than ever before, explained Jay Walder.  “People can’t really imagine what it would feel like to go 600 miles an hour,” said Walder, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop One — which pulled onto the track…

Ian Merzwinski, Hy-Vee commercial with Patrick Mahomes

Social Side Effect: Ex-KC influencer lands commercial with Patrick Mahomes (but building an Instagram brand isn’t magic) 

Editor’s note: Social Side Effect is an ongoing profile series that identifies the intersection between social influencing and entrepreneurship   People follow Ian Merzwinski on Instagram because they like him, the social influencer said as he explained the importance of personal brand building.  “The best thing that you can do is just be consistent,” Merzwinski, founder…

Nick Bowden, Replica

Replica’s $11M round: Alphabet-owned urban planning tool hits the streets as KC-based spinout

Kansas City is suddenly home to a new, heavy-hitter-backed startup with a built-in $11 million in Series A funding, Nick Bowden announced Thursday. Replica — a next-generation urban planning tool by Sidewalk Labs (itself a smart city firm owned by Alphabet, the parent company of Google) — has been spun out into its own standalone…

Katie Boody, LEANLAB Education

From KC to Down Under, expanded LEANLAB attracts education innovators to latest fellowship

Ten companies arriving Friday to LEANLAB Education’s latest fellowship are expected to be met with real-world classroom partners from nine school systems in the Kansas City metro and Colorado. “When those closest to the issues in education — teachers, parents and students — have access to cutting-edge innovators and researchers, they’ll be able to collectively…