Startups Stories

Pipeline gala salutes ‘thriving, ever-evolving’ Midwest startup scene boosted by its fellows

The 2023 edition of the Pipeline Entrepreneurs Annual Innovation Gala honored a slate of innovators and inspirational forces from across the region, hailing the growth of entrepreneurship in the heartland — and a handful of top award winners. Melissa Vincent, executive director of Pipeline Entrepreneurs, credited the fellows with fostering a now-thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in…

Esports league brings new Midwest Fest event to KC, launching new Army National Guard partnership

Gamers and esports enthusiasts around the Midwest are invited to congregate, connect and create at the first annual Midwest Fest. Midwest Fest, organized by the Kansas City Pioneers and LEVELUP Arena, is a gaming and streaming convention featuring multi-title gaming tournaments for amateurs, opportunities to meet with popular creators, workshops and giveaways. The event is…

IT firm honored as ‘Emerging Business of the Year’ finds inclusive welcome in Kansas City

Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program. NvisionKC — founded during the throes of the pandemic — more than survived 2020, Grace Ahn said; the IT consulting company is positioned for power, earning the…

Photos: Rebooted Startup Crawl reconnects entrepreneurs with a curious Kansas City

Kansas City’s Power & Light District was crawling with curiosity Friday as a sellout crowd made its rounds, participating in the recently revived Startup Crawl event and exploring a new side of the city they call home. “We saw a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces,” said Austin Barnes, executive editor of Startland News and…

Global capital network selects IoT startup as its first ‘Endeavor Entrepreneur’ candidate from KC

Endeavor Heartland, the Northwest Arkansas-based division of a global network built to support high-impact entrepreneurs, has officially made its first foray into the Kansas City market, the organization announced. Pepper, a full-stack Internet of Things (IoT) platform-as-a-service provider, in May became the inaugural company from the Kansas City region to join Endeavor’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Shawn…