Opinion Stories

Facing his daughter’s near-death sparked life in George Brooks’ business

Nine years ago, Avalie was born. My first kiddo. She had already had a number of procedures in the womb to address the cyst growing in her chest and neck. An emergency C-section eight weeks early brought her into a world of tubes, ventilators, needles and an entire staff of amazing nurses and doctors trying…

Gooding: Is that a lion? Yes, and it’s keeping your business from growing

Ever watch one of those nature shows where you see a herd of gazelle that gets spooked by a lion and they all take off running together? In the ensuing chaos, the camera always follows that one gazelle that breaks from the pack. Why do they follow that one gazelle? The correct answer is “Good…

Unearthing Kansas City’s startup gems (with your help)

Last week, Startland News published its Top 10 startups and four honorable mentions to watch in 2016. By and large, the piece has been well received with thousands of readers issuing kudos to startups that made the list. But as with any subjective “Top 10-whatever” list, we expected grumbles about the worthiness of the startups…

Roberts: My New Year’s resolution is a lie

Someone recently asked me what my New Year’s resolution was. I panicked and made one up on the spot. It was about learning to bake. I feel badly about that for a few reasons: It was inane; It was a lie—nothing short of a psychotic break could change my personality to give me the patience…

Advisors, role models and the importance of ‘champions’

“What types of support relationships do you find beneficial as a startup founder?” I asked a group of six women founders this question as part of a whiteboard conversation conducted last year by WhiteSpace Consulting and Startland News. Their answers reveal a broad range of support relationships, including one that is a must-have for every…