Woman-led Stories

Shawna Peña-Downing

Actress-entrepreneur finds sweet inspiration, resiliency in life’s unexpected ingredients

From the stage to the studio to a sweets shop on Main Street, the creative talents of Shawna Peña-Downing have never let her down, she said, crediting her resiliency to a STEAM-focused education. “I finally got a job after being laid off in June,” Peña-Downing, multiplatform artist, teacher, and entrepreneur, said of her reality amid…

Milad Ghasempour and Jannae Gammage, The Market Base

2021 Startups to Watch: The Market Base launches on-demand into a new era of e-commerce

Editor’s note: Startland News selected 10 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2021’s companies. Click here to view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch — presented by sponsors Husch Blackwell and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. You don’t live through a year like 2020 and…

Dr. Shelley Cooper, SureShow by Diversity Telehealth

2021 Startups to Watch: SureShow turns no shows into cash flow amid virtual healthcare boon

Editor’s note: Startland News selected 10 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2021’s companies. Click here to view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch — presented by sponsors Husch Blackwell and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The stage is set, Dr. Shelley Cooper said, recalling…

A.J. Mellott and Heather Decker, Ronawk

2021 Startups to Watch: Ronawk’s T-Blocks stack the future of stem cell research in an Olathe lab

Editor’s note: Startland News selected 10 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2021’s companies. Click here to view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch — presented by sponsors Husch Blackwell and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Born out of a frustration with growing stem cells,…

Nomi Smith and Luke Landau, PMI Rate Pro

2021 Startups to Watch: PMI Rate Pro ensures efficiency for mortgage loan officers as market expands

Editor’s note: Startland News selected 10 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2021’s companies. Click here to view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch — presented by sponsors Husch Blackwell and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Three years into working as a mortgage loan officer,…