Latest Stories
Wholesale to wholesome: This rural Kansas soapery wants you (and your dog) to feel good in your own skin
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 Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures (EGV), a business unit of NetWork Kansas supporting innovative, high-growth entrepreneurs in the State of Kansas. PAOLA — Buying Fire Lake…
KC Current drops apparel collaboration with streetwear brand to celebrate AAPI heritage
A new, limited-edition collection from MADE MOBB and the Kansas City Current features designs that blend the KC streetwear brand’s icon style with input from hometown women’s soccer players Chardonnay Curran and Hailie Mace. The merchandise collaboration — a first between the two organizations — launched this week in celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian…
New culinary center opens in the Northland, offering startup food businesses commercial kitchen space
Mid-Continent Public Library opened the doors to its much-anticipated Culinary Center — with public-facing food and nutrition-focused classes beginning in June, as well as commercial kitchen access for emerging food entrepreneurs. “We are thrilled to finally welcome the community into our space and can’t wait to get cooking!” said Xander Winkel, director for MCPL’s Culinary…
Former Chiefs star wants to change the way employers look at tech talent — starting with untapped ‘forever learners’
A new-to-Kansas City nonprofit is expected to provide young adults from underrepresented backgrounds with workforce development training and placement into technology sector jobs, opening another pathway toward achieving educational, economic, and racial equity. i.c.stars, headquartered in Chicago, launched in Kansas City in April — thanks in part to years of support from NFL Hall of…
WYCO debuts DotteBiz tool to help launch, grow small businesses on KS side of KC
Editor’s note: KC BizCare is a partner of Startland News. A newly-launched government online resource aims to eliminate barriers for local business owners and entrepreneurs in Wyandotte County, project leaders said. “Really, DotteBiz is about wanting to ease friction for entrepreneurs and small business owners to help them not only launch their businesses here in…
Kinship Cafe owner paves plans to take ownership of his coffee shop (with a little help from his community)
In April, TJ Roberts was at risk of losing his coffee shop to a parking lot. Now, Roberts is standing his ground, with the help of his community, to purchase the building that houses Kinship Cafe. “It was a very dark couple of weeks, but now there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Purchasing…
North KC’s new ‘Bob’s Burgers’ tribute bar: It’s what happens when theater kids get together to drink
The grand re-re-re-opening of Vignettes Cocktail Bar as a pop-up tribute to the animated TV series “Bob’s Burgers” is a well-seasoned homage to yet another cult classic, said Edward Schmalz, co-owner of the North Kansas City nightspot. “We wanted to pull upon that wholesome — yet still a little raunchy — vibe that is ‘Bob’s…
Betty Rae’s sells to Shatto: Why the ice cream brand’s young steward is stepping away from the scoop (for now)
An announcement this week that Betty Rae’s Ice Cream could open new shops and push its popular products into grocery stores is exciting growth to envision, agreed Alec Rodgers, the brand’s steward since 2021 when he bought and reopened its two storefronts amid challenges of the ongoing pandemic. Rodgers just won’t be the man behind…
Entrepreneur meets with VP Harris; surprised DC already knew about KC’s first Black-owned brewery
Word travels. A roundtable discussion this week with Vice President Kamala Harris gave Kemet Coleman an opportunity to put his city, and specifically the 18th and Vine neighborhood, on an elevated platform, the Kansas City entrepreneur and musician said. Coleman — one of three co-founders of the soon-to-be-opened Vine Street Brewing, Missouri’s first Black-owned brewery…
This startup’s AI, Bluetooth tech could push traffic to businesses, boost equity when World Cup comes to KC
This spring’s NFL Draft served as a beta test for Kansas City’s implementation of Jonathan Ruiz’s bluetooth technology, he said, noting that the tech and data could help better prepare the city for the World Cup in 2026. “We wanted to start collecting this data for our partners in Kansas City’s Downtown and City Market,…
