News Stories

ngGirls Kansas City

ngGirls set to debut its one-day programming workshop for girls, women in Kansas City

Developing a “stress-free,” immersive learning environment is key to paving the way for female tech talent in Kansas City, said Alisa Duncan. “There are a lot of studies about how women learn better when they’re with other women and that kind of support system, so that’s what we’re trying to provide,” said Duncan, program director…

KC Legal Hackers plan full-day law and technology conference

Entrepreneurs in the Kansas City startup community know full well that business is evolving at an unprecedented rate. Unfortunately, lawyers don’t have a reputation for keeping up. But thanks to new efforts, that is changing. Legal Hackers — a global movement of lawyers and other legal professionals — is pushing the legal industry forward. Through…

Rhonda Dolan, Udo

Rhonda Dolan, on-demand personal assistant Udo honored as Chamber’s Entrepreneur of the Year

A lunchtime affair at the 2019 Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Awards quickly turned from celebratory mingling to shock and awe for Rhonda Dolan. “For [the Chamber] to recognize my efforts over the last year, which have been pretty intense, means a lot,” said Dolan, founder and CEO of Udo, reflecting on her…

Drew Solomon, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City; and Rodney Sampson, Opportunity Hub Kansas City

Atlanta-based Opportunity Hub announces plans for KC minority accelerator

Opportunity Hub is about building strength in numbers, said Rodney Sampson, a feat that can only be accomplished in Kansas City through inclusive and intentional ecosystem building. “The bottom line is that it takes everybody to be a stakeholder at some level,” said Sampson executive chairman and CEO of Atlanta-based OHUB. “The thesis of a…

KC billion dollar startup

Can KC build the next billion-dollar company? ‘We have the internet here too’

Ambitious startups need to believe they can become Kansas City’s next billion-dollar company, said John Thomson, urging confidence — and the ability to roll with the punches — in the face of risk. “Accomplished entrepreneurs who I’ve met … they just did it. Of course it was risky, and it might fail, but they went and…