Latest Stories
They told him to build it in California; this agtech founder came back to Kansas instead
When it came time to plant Trevor McKeeman’s agtech startup, he refused to farm the groundbreaking company’s future out to the coasts — specifically California where potential funders said he could find “money and talent.” “I was actually in Boston at the time,” explained McKeeman, founder and CEO of HitchPin, a digital marketplace for farmers…
Stream smarter, safer: Former Cisco engineer aims to replace Zoom as top video conferencing platform
Kenneth Yancy has been live streaming since the early 2000s — a time when not many were interested in the technology, he said. But 20 years later, a virtual-hybrid work model featuring video conferencing is the norm. “In 2001, I was working for Cisco as an engineer. My team and I built the first live…
‘Fan favorite’ among KC startups joining Wichita cohort; the prize: a playbook for reaching corporate customers
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 the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. WICHITA…
None More Lonesome: Creative’s expression takes new form as ‘street art meets pop art meets tattoo flash’
Growing up in Olathe, Brett Crawford doesn’t really remember many places for local artists to put their work on display, he said. But times have changed and the artist and musician, who moved back to the Kansas City area during the pandemic, will see his None More Lonesome collection of paintings on display at Mean…
Feeling bad vibes at work? It actually could be your own fault (Holistic Hustle)
Kharissa Parker-Forte is a news producer, writer, certified health coach, and columnist for Startland News. Read her “Holistic Hustle” columns for Startland News here. For more of her self-care tips on how to keep your cup full, visit kparker.co. Editor’s note: This commentary kicks off Parker-Forte’s series on the 7 Pillars of Self-Care by discussing…
Rapidly scaling PayIt raises another $90M amid ‘long-overdue transformation’ of govtech
Growth and continued innovation are on the docket as Kansas City-filed PayIt closes a $90 million funding round. Led by the global firm Macquarie Capital Principal Finance, the capital injection is expected to keep fueling PayIt’s commitment to simplify the way people interact with the public sector in everyday places like the DMV and court…
Outside look from the inside: What a visiting economic fellow found in KC (rival BBQ is just a taste)
After spending his summer in Kansas City, the metro reminds Alvin Gusman a lot of his hometown, Austin, he said. The Texas A&M student is in the last two weeks of his 10-week Equity in Economic Development Fellowship with the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC), reflecting on the experience. “I’ve actually really enjoyed…
55-shoe collection to online sneaker platform: How Nazr El-Scari opened a market to affordable, rare kicks
Sneakers are a distinct statement of individuality, Nazr El-Scari said, lacing up his venture’s sole purpose: to put dream shoes within reach “Growing up, I remember the excitement of opening a new pair of shoes. My older brother and his friends always had the dopest sneakers that you couldn’t find anywhere in Kansas City; it…
Fairwave adds another Minneapolis coffee company to its fresh-brewed collective alongside Messenger, Roasterie
FairWave Coffee Collective has pulled another shot of growth, serving up news Tuesday of its acquisition of a second Minneapolis-based purveyor in as many years. “We are thrilled to welcome Up Coffee Roasters to the FairWave collective,” Suzanne Gunning, vice president of marketing, said in a release. The acquisition keeps Kansas City-based FairWave on track with…
LaunchKC reviving $50K grants competition with 8 big checks for startups ready to call KC home
After a four-year hiatus, LaunchKC is officially set to bring back its signature grants competition. Early-stage tech companies will have the opportunity to each win $50,000 in non-dilutive grants, plus access to business support and networking. Co-founded by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri, (EDCKC) and Downtown Council (DTC), the non-profit LaunchKC’s cornerstone…
