Woman-led Stories
Kitchen grit caramelizes into smooth storefront opportunity for soon-to-open candy shop
The secret ingredient in Brandi Robertson’s signature sweet — a handcrafted take on her Grandmother Betty’s caramel dessert topping — isn’t found in the pantry or recipe box. Perseverance itself is the perfection within her confection, she said. “If you are going to waste calories, it better be good,” said Robertson, who spent nearly a…
A blank slate for whimsy (and work): Elevator opens doors to KC co-warehousing concept
A new co-warehousing space in North Kansas City is providing entrepreneurs like LaToya Ebony Sirls a manufacturing-ready environment that supports production — features the surging small business owner can’t get in a typical co-working setup, she said. Elevator — launched in 2022 in Omaha, Nebraska — expanded into the Kansas City market late last year….
Kansas’ bracket-style pitch competition just revealed 32 startups vying for its $25K prize
An innovation-led startup tournament taking Kansas by storm is just built different, said Conor Adler, announcing the nearly three-dozen contenders featured in this spring’s competition. “One of the most inspiring facets of Gamechangers and Champions is seeing founders from rural Kansas standing alongside entrepreneurs from our largest cities,” said Adler, investment manager for Wichita-based NXTUS,…
Determined optimism: How small and mid-sized businesses are growing in 2026
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Kimberly Burris is a business banking senior relationship manager for Bank of America Kansas City. The 2025 Business Owner Report confirmed what we see every day from entrepreneurs across our communities: cautious yet determined optimism. Nearly three in four business owners expect revenue…
Her family helped bring Argentine comfort food to KC’s masses; World Cup base camp kicks open new doors
As Kansas City prepares to become the FIFA World Cup base camp for four national teams — amid an expected influx of hundreds of thousands of fans from across the globe — Dulcinea Herrera is still reeling from news that Argentina’s roster will be among those calling the region home this summer. “We’re so excited. When…
