Startups Stories

Clockwork Architecture

Clockwork founder Christian Arnold: When to explore new workspace for your startup

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. If your startup is ready to graduate from your home office and the local coffee shop, you have a lot of considerations for that perfect workspace. Yes, real estate is typically the second highest business cost, but the right space has the power…

The Self Boutique

Self-expression, happiness drive expansion of Selfie Boutique playground

What started as a side project four months ago has grown into a huge, interactive exhibit dedicated to cultivating joy, said Alex Altomare, founder of the Selfie Boutique. “The mission is to bring people together and create happiness,” Altomare said. “The growth has been entirely driven by our supporters on all fronts, and we have…

Lisa Bledsoe, Tea-Biotics Kombucha

Brewers ferment market opportunity, health benefits with kombucha startups

Fermented foods represent more than just trendy, niche products, Kansas City’s kombucha startups say. They’re where gut health and market opportunity meet. “If it’s not local, it’s not fresh,” said Lisa Bledsoe, emphasizing the quality advantage Kansas City brewers have over national brands competing for cooler space at metro grocery stores. Bledsoe’s Tea-Biotics Kombucha has…

Applicants pour in for a chance at $500K in LaunchKC grants

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by LaunchKC but was independently produced by Startland News. After dishing out $1.5 million to 29 startups over the last three years, LaunchKC returns in 2018 with more experience and an enduring determination to drive entrepreneurial impact in Kansas City. The area’s most-popular grants contest already has garnered hundreds…

Christine Clutton, The Wild Way Coffee Creations

Peek inside: Wild Way coffee rolling Austin flavor onto Kansas City’s bean scene

Christine Clutton is taking the rollout of her Wild Way coffee camper concept one cup at a time, she said. Debuting Friday in Midtown, the mobile shop — serving coffee, tea and pastries with a mix of Austin and local flavors — is envisioned as a temporary stop on Clutton’s entrepreneurial journey, she said. “Our…