Opinion Stories

Reporter turned entrepreneur, LeVota offers 6 takeaways from Startup Weekend KC

A little under a year ago, I joined the Startland News team. Since then, I bet I’ve witnessed at least 150 entrepreneurs pitch their company. It’s safe to say I’ve learned a lot about innovation and entrepreneurship. I’m lucky I get to spend my days asking people who have “done it” how they “did it.”…

The thought process behind how Niall founder Michael Wilson relinquished reins as CEO

Editor’s note: Niall founder Michael Wilson recently hired a CEO to run the growing luxury watch company he founded five years ago. Here’s more on his thought process.  I started Niall as a far-fetched idea five years ago while at 1810 Cherry St. in the Crossroads Arts District. Since then, I’ve faced a lot of adversity…

Jeff Shackelford: Why would KC want to build the next Silicon Valley?

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone.  I recently read an article that shows you can slant a story anyway you want and that many authors write to match their preconceived notions — whether it’s true or not. The article that got me thinking about this was from Bloomberg’s Sarah…

Gooding: Your customers don’t care about you

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Check out more from Grant Gooding here.  It’s true. The moment you start talking about yourself is the moment you start losing.   There is no doubt that as human beings we have a natural affinity to talk about ourselves; self-promotion is hard-wired…

Williams to critical Bloomberg piece: KC shouldn’t try to be Silicon Valley

Editor’s note: The following piece is in response to a Bloomberg article critical of the Kansas City Startup Village and Kansas City’s ability to use Google Fiber to become the “next Silicon Valley.” Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone.  In 2012, Kansas City experienced what at the time must have felt like winning…