Startups Stories

Edison District rendering, Opus Group

OP greenlights Edison District walking community envisioned by former startup executive

Less than a month after announcing the launch of a second coworking location in Johnson County, the former startup executive behind Edison Spaces revealed news of a new project: a mixed-use district that repurposes a block previously defined by its church grounds. Centered around a five-story office building that features a chef-driven food hall, the Edison…

Digital Sandbox KC nabs $950K to continue regional startup impact

Already with a lasting legacy of growing the area entrepreneurial ecosystem, Digital Sandbox KC has received significant support that should fuel its program for years to come. The proof-of-concept incubator was recently awarded a combined $950,000 — $450,000 from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and $500,000 from the Missouri Technology Corporation. The two grants will…

The city of Medellin, Colombia, as seen from the coffee fields of La Sierra. Photo by Megan Finck

Startup newbie: How researching entrepreneurship in Medellin led me to Kansas City

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. When my wife Megan and I visited Kansas City this past January as part of our “city shopping tour,” there was much that impressed us and led to our decision to make it our new home.  In many respects, we chose Kansas City…

Mary Kay O'Connor, PatientsVoices

KC-based PatientsVoices pulls $150K in first round of seed capital, additional $75K from MTC

Competing for a spot in a Nashville-based health tech accelerator, PatientsVoices landed its first round of seed capital — with a booster shot from the State of Missouri. A $150,000 innovation grant from Jumpstart Foundry investment group represents a leap forward for PatientsVoices, headquartered in iWerx’s North Kansas City entrepreneurial development center, said founder and…

Jordan Fox and Ryan Hetu, Foxtrot Supply Co.

Beyond buzzwords: Foxtrot Supply mounts protest of an increasingly online-only world

A large butcher block table stands between the owners of Foxtrot Supply Co. and its customers. But the found-object centerpiece of their Crossroads store is meant as a meeting place, not a barrier, said Ryan Hetu. “It’s alluring, inviting and kind of vulnerable,” the Foxtrot co-founder explained. Stitched into the high-traffic fabric of First Fridays…