Woman-led Stories

Raven Book Store ownership group, front row: Nikita Imafidon, Mary Wahlmeier Bracciano, Jack Hawthorn, Danny Caine; back row: Kelly Barth, Hannah Reidell, Chris Luxem, Sarah Young.; photo by Adam Smith

A radical new chapter: Why Danny Caine gave up 49 percent of his business to form an employee ownership collective

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. LAWRENCE…

Jannae Gammage and Tammy Buckner, TechquityBase

KC’s top emerging business just exited; How a deal forged in the stands at Arrowhead rewrites the code on Black women in tech

No stereotypes here, Tammy Buckner said, announcing a merger between Techquity Digital and a rising Kansas City-born startup that’s expected to elevate Black tech in the region — and the women in its ranks.  “[There’s an idea that] ‘Black women can’t work together.’ … I think this proves that we can,” Buckner, founder and CEO of…

Baby back ribs from Marina 27

Taste 200 restaurants in 10 days? Why your stomach (and hungry neighbors) will thank you

Curious Kansas City diners can step away from their kitchens for the next 10 days, teased Carlos Mortera, as chefs at 200 restaurants across the city plate their latest trending tastes during the metro’s most-anticipated culinary showcase. “It’s a big deal in Kansas City. Many of the restaurants feature items they don’t usually have on the…

Neelima Parasker, SnapIT Solutions, speaks during an announcement event with WSU Tech and Groover Labs in Wichita; photo courtesy of WSU Tech

She’s on a mission to boost the region’s tech talent; SnapIT’s new office in Wichita is the next step

Overland Park-based SnapIT Solutions has expanded its promise to deliver high-quality technology job training and educational services into Wichita, Neelima Parasker said, detailing a new partnership between the information technology firm and Wichita State University.  “The IT side of the tech industry is now more in demand than ever. … I want to maximize Kansas’…

Nicole Paul (aunt), Asia Lockett (sister and co-owner), Ebony Paul (co-owner), and Stephanie Fairweather (aunt); Brown Suga Bakes

‘People eat with their eyes first’: Why pop-ups were just a sample of this new bakery’s appeal

Brown Suga Bakes began modestly — selling cookies out of lunch bags mid-pandemic, said Ebony Paul-Harris, detailing a strategy of starting small to achieve big results. In her case: opening the oven to a brick-and-mortar bakery and storefront in Olathe. “In the beginning, we used to make really small cookies. We also had a sample…