Latest Stories

DJ Stewart, Journey Pro

‘Prognosis is pointless’: Journey Pro KC wrestling owner forces cancer statistics to tap out

 Story and photos by Channa Steinmetz, Startland News | Video by Catherine Hoffman, Flatland Two years after his diagnosis, DJ Stewart still has never googled “glioblastoma.” “I have Grade 4 glioblastoma — meaning the highest, most aggressive grade. If you go down that rabbit hole on the internet, it’s a terrible thing to do….

Marcelle Clements, Pantry Goods

Pantry Goods brings wall-to-wall organic, European-style shopping to Midtown micro market

The expansion of Pantry Goods from an online service into a Midtown micro market has brought with it a bushel of changes — all organic — for Marcelle Clements as she continues her mission to grow support for small businesses and sustainable living. “It was a great move,” said Clements, founder of Pantry Goods, recalling her…

Lee Zuvanich, Appsta, Adva Digital Solutions

He wanted to post his pronouns on LinkedIn sooner, but first this startup founder had to come out to himself

The word was simple — sprinkled into a potentially impactful email introduction last week with little fanfare — but for Lee Zuvanich, reading it felt like Christmas morning. His. “When I came out on LinkedIn this summer — with my pronouns and everything — it wasn’t really a choice,” said Zuvanich, a trans man who now…

Father Justin Mathews, Thelma's Kitchen, Reconciliation Services

LaunchKC’s latest: a Social Venture Studio to tackle social, racial, environmental issues

A new Kansas City-based social venture studio is expected to help social entrepreneurs avoid grant starvation — and depending too heavily on financial gifts — in lieu of models that focus on innovative steps toward sustainability, said Father Justin Mathews. “I got very excited about social venturing — this idea of being able to harness…

Silver Bells holiday pop-up bar at Canary; photos by Ashley Elwell

It’s a Wonderful Life: Holiday pop-ups offer KC business owners a second chance, Canary owner says

Sophistication is on the menu as Canary Bar and Bistro unveils its first holiday pop-up, Silver Bell Supper Club, a nostalgic cocktail and culinary experience set to pour hope for a pandemic-fatigued Kansas City and inspired by a classic Christmas film. “We’re going for a chic Christmas vibe. White warm lights, hanging 3D snowflakes, Christmas…

Healium’s mental fitness wearables earn innovation award from world’s largest tech show

A Columbia-based startup’s patented technology that brings wearable biometric data to life via virtual and augmented reality apps has earned a major industry honor, announcing Healium’s selection for a 2022 Innovation Award from the Consumer Technology Association. The awards program is an annual competition honoring outstanding design and engineering in 27 consumer technology product categories….

A rendering of how a gondola line could look crossing the West Bottoms at State Line Road and West Ninth Street. (Rendering from SOM/HR&A Advisors report)

Planner pitches two-mile gondola over West Bottoms, linking KCK, KCMO downtowns

Editor’s note: The following story originally published by CityScene KC, an online news source focused on Greater Downtown Kansas City. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for the weekly CityScene KC email review. The idea of using gondolas for mass transit in Kansas City is back, but this time it’s being floated by…

Isaac Collins, Yogurtini; Photo by Scott Suchman

Retaking the ‘entrepreneur’ label: ‘You need to have a good product, but ultimately it needs to be about more’

In “The New Builders,” written by Times of Entrepreneurship founder Elizabeth MacBride and venture capitalist Seth Levine, the authors look at the landscape of entrepreneurship across America. In this excerpt — from Chapter 3: The Definition Of Success — the authors focus on Isaac Collins, a Kansas City entrepreneur who also faces and fights added obstacles…

Pabst entry logo at 9th & State

Some mysteries at historic 9th & State might never be solved — and bar owner Heather Hamilton is OK with it

Feeling invincible is a thing of the past, Heather Hamilton said, revealing a diagnosis that stopped her in her tracks and poured a change of perspective for the West Bottoms bar owner.  “Knowing that I’m gene-positive for Huntington’s disease has made me even more motivated to make a difference,” Hamilton said, noting the disease has…

Angels in class: How Mizzou’s student-run venture course is investing up to $50K in real startups

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. COLUMBIA,…