Latest Stories

Blue Springs farm, retail space invites city diners to the orchard for ‘Alpaca Brunch’

Brunching with a multicolor trio of alpacas is just one of the experiential offerings coming to Colonial Gardens this spring and summer as the rural Blue Springs retail space leans into agritourism and hands-on education, said Grace Ames. Not only can community members buy plants, trees, and flowers for their yards at Colonial Gardens, the…

Equal Minded Cafe serves a wealth of wins as taste buds power Troost bistro’s word-of-mouth appeal

Dontavious Young will happily brew customers at Equal Minded Cafe a chai or latte, but his main goal is to blend ideas, not ingredients. “Our mission is to provide resources, opportunities, and connections to people from all districts of Kansas City,” said Young, the property owner, event coordinator, and cafe manager at Equal Minded Cafe….

City leader: Newly OK’d limits on Airbnbs will help keep Kansas Citians from being priced out of homes by unchecked rentals

Voter approval of a pair of ballot measures that regulate and tax short-term rentals will boost the city budget and make neighborhoods more affordable as brands like Airbnb and Vrbo continue to operate in Kansas City, said Eric Bunch. “The successful ballot questions are really about making this city whole on our financial expectations and…

Grow with us: The Rolling Garden plants perennial vibes from its new North KC shop 

A houseplant oasis on wheels is putting down roots in the Iron District as the small business’ life cycle sprouts new opportunities for owners Tryce Nelson and Steven Morrill. “We’ve rolled all over Kansas City this past year — popping up at wineries, breweries, coffee shops, universities, events,” said Nelson, who co-founded The Rolling Garden…

Wanderfest returns April 23 to Midtown alongside Flavorpak jam and other Tower East oddities

After a four-year hiatus, community members are once again invited to wander and explore a collection of local businesses dubbed the Tower East District for a special day of spring events. Wanderfest is returning April 23 to the area near 31st Street and Gillham Road, shared organizers — and the sisters behind Two Tone Press…

Nonprofit shopping platform presents guardians with dignity to choose their child’s birthday gift

Birthdays are important developmental milestones, Benita Webber said, and every guardian deserves the opportunity to shop for a gift that matches the relevance of their child’s big day.  “Kids who are struggling and facing chaos every day of their lives deserve to wake up — on the day that’s most special to them — and…

LaunchKC winner shows value with $900K pre-seed round, earns critical local support

Kansas City’s DataAppraisal has secured $900,000 in pre-seed funding for its AI-powered proprietary software that helps healthcare organizations unlock the monetary value of their enterprise data, said Tam Tran. And the tech startup’s recent developments come after a year of earning local resources and support, its co-founder and CEO said. DataAppraisal’s unique solution contains two…

Her henna art goes far beyond copy and paste; how one Kansan’s craft (and kindness) went TikTok viral

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 Go Topeka, which seeks economic success for all companies and citizens across Shawnee County through implementation of an aggressive economic development strategy that capitalizes…

Votes are in: ‘Fan favorite’ winners bake in support at KC Chamber showcase; Top 10 coming April 21

Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program. Two Black- and women-owned ventures were named “fan favorites” Tuesday in a public vote that followed this week’s Small Business Showcase at Union Station. The honors are…

Jeff Blackwood New Frontier Mobile Diagnostics

New Frontier diagnoses need, expands its imaging solution to rural, underserved patients

A hands-on Kansas City healthtech company is extending its diagnostic imaging services to support clinics across Kansas and Missouri with a focus on rural health centers and “lookalike” clinics serving patients in underserved communities and healthcare deserts. New Frontier Mobile Diagnostics was founded to improve access to imaging care for patients regardless of race, gender,…