Latest Stories
WeCode KC founder earns women’s achievement honor; adds national STEM figure to her org’s leadership
Only a few days into March, 2023 is already proving to be a big year for WeCode KC, noted co-founder and CEO Tammy Buckner. The organization — which operates with a mission is to give youth, especially those in the urban core, the opportunity to learn technology concepts and leadership skills and create a pipeline…
‘Shark Tank’ sets stage for Bryght Labs’ new smart play product rollout amid MO funding uptick
Fresh off a successful appearance on “Shark Tank,” Olathe-based connected gaming startup Bryght Labs hopes to capitalize on that exposure to build momentum, said founder and CEO Jeff Wigh. Wigh and co-founder Adam Roush were featured on an episode that aired in December, pitching their product ChessUp, a patented chess board that uses AI technology…
C2FO: $10M investment from Starbucks CEO will unlock $100M in loans to small, diverse businesses
One of Kansas City’s most successful scaling startups announced Tuesday a new initiative — funded by Sheri Schultz and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz — to provide access to $100 million in working capital for small and diverse businesses. The partnership — designed to use Leawood-based C2FO’s innovative lending approach to deliver flexible, equitable access to…
Spring cleaning won’t clear away the old you, but it can juice up your next season (Holistic Hustle)
Kharissa Parker is a news producer, writer, certified health coach, and columnist for Startland News. For more of her self-care tips on how to keep your cup full, visit kparker.co. The first couple months of the year were nothing that I expected them to be. In 2022, I manifested many of my dreams and goals…
Small town KS just blocked its new crypto mining neighbor: Why this could be just the start of a rural-tech clash
Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Kansas City PBS/Flatland, a member of the KC Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, The Kansas City Beacon, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story. MCLOUTH, Kansas — Parked cars lined Lucy Street in the center of a normally quiet…
Massive new cancer center planned for KCK heralds region’s emergence as a life sciences powerhouse
Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Kansas City PBS/Flatland, a member of the KC Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, The Kansas City Beacon, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story. ‘Transformational event of unparalleled impact’ The Children’s Mercy Research Institute stands like a lighthouse…
Consumers expect your startup to keep their data safe; be prepared to use cybersecurity as a differentiator
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Brad Thies is a principal at BARR Advisory, which has offices in Kansas City. BARR Advisory, a cloud-based security and compliance solutions provider, specializing in cybersecurity, is a financial partner of Startland News. Click here to check out more of this three-part cybersecurity…
Designed by women, for athletes: How the woman-led team behind KC Current’s new stadium is ‘equalizing the playing field’ for women’s sports
It’s uncommon to design a first-of-its-kind structure in the world of architecture, said Jill Monaghan, but the new KC Current soccer stadium — the first such facility being built specifically for a professional women’s team — scored her just the opportunity. In her nearly 11 years with Kansas City-based Generator Studio, Monaghan — who serves as senior…
Kauffman awards $5.3M to DreamSpring to expand microlending to underserved entrepreneurs in KC
A newly announced $5.3 million grant is expected to vastly expand access to small business credit among historically underserved entrepreneurs in Kansas City, said Philip Gaskin, detailing the latest in a series of funding awards this week from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. DreamSpring, a nationally recognized nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), is set…
WATCH: KCK-raised R&B artist emerges from the ruins of vulnerability to ‘touch people’s souls’
For Alanzo McIntosh Jr., exploring his voice means journeying through the KCK native’s roots, along with themes of self-doubt and self-discovery, and a deep connection to the struggles faced by Black and brown people across the globe — and here at home, he shared. “I wanted to make music that spoke to the soul and spoke…
