Woman-led Stories

Missouri founder offers a triple shot of bold business, distilling branding for small ventures

Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it. HERMANN, Missouri — Even tiny teams deserve strong branding,…

K-State opens physical innovation hub space to boost research, economic development

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.  MANHATTAN, Kansas — A newly unveiled collaborative office space at Kansas State University  is expected to catalyze research commercialization, industry partnerships and economic growth, said Richard Linton.  “This new space…

Northeast Pizza shop bakes KC’s most accessible food into a new restaurant for all, owner says

Rising from a family of restaurateurs, Noah Quillec is striking out on his own — with the help of some culinary friends — to bring a new pizzeria to Kansas City’s Northeast; it’s a move he hopes will bring unity by the slice. “This neighborhood is very accessible, so diverse and so all over the…

Best-selling tea towel maker’s business model hangs by this thread: ‘the more I give back, the more I’ll succeed’

​​Elene Banks, founder of Kansas City-based Absorb-Lumen, turned her boutique clothing store into a mission-driven business that puts eco-friendly kitchen essentials in the spotlight, all while giving back to the community through a charitable business model. “It was a happy accident,” Banks said, “We started a boutique online and tried to carry tea towels from…

Acting camp to cast: Lifetime movie filmed in KC gives young actors their TV dream moment 

A Lifetime movie debuting this weekend not only shines a spotlight on Kansas City, said Elaina Paige Thomas, but it showcases talent at The Next Paige, Kansas City’s first Black-owned talent management agency. “Girl in the Garage: The Laura Cowan Story” — set to premiere Saturday, Jan. 18 — was filmed this fall in various…