Woman-led Stories

Pantry Goods

More than a virtual grocery store, Pantry Goods is keeping food (and soil) ‘alive’

Whole foods have never been so affordable, Marcelle Clements said, as Pantry Goods sews seeds of sustainability in Kansas City and consumers reap a harvest full of benefits.  “I’ve always had one foot in this farming, sustainable world,” said Clements, founder of Pantry Goods, discussing her passion for the project — a virtual grocery store, stocked…

Aasma Tufail, Chai Shai

Better the next day: Halal street food thrives to-go with a simple recipe — optimism, good food and hungry neighbors

While countless local restaurants have struggled through pandemic-served challenges, business has been nothing short of amazing for Brookside Pakastani staple Chai Shai, said Aasma Tufail.  “I cook simple food — and people love it so much. I am so blessed, business has been better than before,” said Tufail, who owns the restaurant alongside son, Kashif,…

Hailee Bland Walsh, City Gym

A place to belong: Business model built to shatter intimidation lifted City Gym through COVID’s heaviest season yet

Ahead-of-the-curve thinking helped keep City Gym strong in the early days of COVID-19 when the weight of the pandemic dropped on people-focused industries.  “We lost a fair amount of members — maybe they couldn’t  financially afford it anymore, maybe they didn’t feel safe,” said Hailee Bland Walsh, founder and owner of City Gym in Waldo….

Jackie Nguyen, Cafe Cà Phê

New in KC: Why Jackie Nguyen hit the brakes on acting to open a mobile coffee cafe

Editor’s note: New in KC is an ongoing profile series that highlights newly relocated members of the Kansas City startup community, their reasons for a change of scenery, and what they’ve found so far in KC. Click here to read more New in KC profiles. Lifting the curtain on the region’s first Vietnamese coffee traveling cafe, Jackie Nguyen is…

Good Bitter Best

Fund Me, KC: Good Bitter Best hopes to mix cocktails with community, pivots to add virtual bartender

Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs — like Jennifer Agnew’s Good Bitter Best campaign — to share their crowdfunding stories to gain a little help from their supporters. Who are you? I am Jennifer Agnew, public school…