Opinion Stories
(S)heStarts: How demographics affect views of your pitch
Welcome to our new series exploring news and views on men, women, start-ups and the entrepreneurial experience. In July of 2015, Startland News collaborated with WhiteSpace Consulting to conduct a whiteboard conversation with women entrepreneurs in the Kansas City region. Women entrepreneurs shared their perceptions about launching and leading companies, and identified topics for ongoing…
Startup families: You’re not perfect
I’m not perfect. At being a father or running a startup. I’m 33 with two kids ages 7 and 5. I remember when they were younger. I would work until 3 a.m. on something I thought was extremely valuable at the time. My daughter would wake me up at 7 a.m., tugging on the sheets, “Daddy,…
The WTF Series: Big data
On a daily basis, Ben Kittrell translates the jargon-filled world of technology for clients of his tech consultancy. The Words that Frustrate (WTF) series aims to offer readers some clarity in an industry dominated by techies’ confusing argot. I don’t remember if I had heard the term “Big Data” before 2012 but after attending South-by-Southwest that year…
Roberts: 5 things the world can learn from KC entrepreneurs
This week, entrepreneurship is king in Kansas City. As we welcome the world to our burgeoning tech hub during Techweek, it’s tempting to think that Kansas City’s startup community is a new phenomenon. But in fact, the names of the city fathers (and mothers) — the Kauffmans, Kempers, Blochs and Helzbergs — that adorn almost…
Markel: Education fix can fill local talent gap
Carrie Markel is a co-founder of The Lean Lab, a Kansas City-based education incubator that helps educators create and implement innovative ideas in schools to help students. It was August of 2013, and I was readying my classroom for 24-second graders. I had neatly arranged six groups of four chairs with their own supply buckets,…
