Startups Stories

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10 gift exchange ideas from Kansas City startups

Editor’s note: Below you’ll find a list of 10 ideas for your next office or family holiday gift exchange — each from a Kansas City startup or maker. Click here to check out the rest of Startland News’ 2019 Gift Guide. wlle drink sweater Made by Sandlot Goods, the WLLE drink sweater uses the insulating…

5 Kansas City-crafted gifts for kids

Editor’s note: Below you’ll find a list of five Kansas City-crafted gift ideas for the kids on your holiday shopping list. Click here to check out the rest of Startland News’ 2019 Gift Guide. Nanables Created by the minds at Kansas City’s Tesseract Ventures,  miniature, unique houses show kids seeing is believing — with a…

10 ways to wear (or gift) KC’s maker scene

Editor’s note: Below you’ll find a list of 10 wearable gift ideas for your holiday shopping list. Click here to check out the rest of Startland News’ 2019 Gift Guide. Mackbecks shuttlecock earrings Handcrafted in Kansas City, Mackbecks’ tassel earrings capture the spirit of the iconic Nelson Atkins Museum’s shuttlecocks. Price: $25 Where to buy: Midcoast…

Chad Hickman, Sandlot Goods

Opening pitch: Sandlot Goods’ new workshop puts fresh spin on its best-selling wallet 

As Sandlot Goods moves deeper into a new workspace off Southwest Boulevard, the six-year-old premier maker is stitching an aesthetic that holds true to its classic appeal but ventures away from hometown branding. “In the last year, we have been dialing back the overly Kansas City feel,” said Chad Hickman, owner of Sandlot Goods. “We…

Jason Mispagel, Year-Round Garden

Hemp startup founders cultivate Year Round partnership in light of growing interest

A casual supply run produced more than equipment for United American Hemp; the team behind the Olathe startup walked away co-owners of another new venture.  “We hit it off and invested both time and money in [the] business. … Since then [its] exploded in revenue,” Michael Wilson, director of research and development at United American…