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Jolie Justus’ open letter to startups: In many ways, the city has failed you — let’s do better together
[Editor’s note: Startland News invited Kansas City mayoral candidates Jolie Justus and Quinton Lucas to compose open letters to address their potential constituents in KC’s entrepreneur community of startups, makers, creatives and risk-takers. Justus’ response is below. Lucas did not participate. The vote is set for Tuesday, June 18.] I trust this community to see…
Take a peek: Industrious offers glimpse of what new Plaza coworking space could look like
Startup energy will soon take hold on Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza, as Industrious — the nation’s largest coworking space — prepares to set up shop in a 30,000-square-foot chunk of the historic retail and entertainment district, the company announced Thursday. “Kansas City is a dominant market in the Silicon Prairie. As one of the…
Readers asked, city answered: No rainbow crosswalks in KC, but earth tone design submissions welcome
Kansas City decision makers are welcoming advocates of a rainbow crosswalk to walk the line and make their passions known — so long as they’re willing to get creative. “Your article sparked some great conversation within our department too,” Maggie Green, KCMO public works information officer, said in reference to active social media conversations ignited by…
Growing into WallyGro: I knew I couldn’t let leaving Rawxies ruin me, says Callie England
Entrepreneurship is a drug and Callie England couldn’t neglect the euphoric high she felt with each hit. “I wasn’t even thinking and that first year was so painful … yet it was so, just like, glorious … You don’t really remember anything until after the fact, but you’re like, man, that was great,” England, founder…
KCultivator Q&A: Lauren Conaway finds passion in womxn-led InnovateHER KC
Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The KCultivator Series is sponsored by Plexpod, a progressive coworking platform offering next generation workspace for entrepreneurs, startups, and growth-stage companies of all sizes. Kansas City’s female entrepreneurs are begging for the opportunity to champion each…
Forget the war on drugs — Marijuana is a war on chronic pain, says founder in ProjectUK cohort
Don’t look at marijuana through a societal lens, said Jessica Sanders. Instead view the natural substance as a potential life-saving measure. “My mother had multiple sclerosis and seeing her suffer really changed a lot about me,” explained Sanders, founder of Lisa’s Gifts — a high-quality THC extraction facility named after Sanders’ mom, expected to provide and…
We Grow KC investment summit aims to harness opportunity zones to empower neighborhood social fabric
Investment is a two-way street that can have a positive impact on both investors and community residents, said Dianne Cleaver. A new gathering — the June 26-27 We Grow KC Opportunity Zones Investor Summit — aims to bridge the potential divide between such neighbors with the back of Cleaver’s Urban Neighborhoods Initiative, the Ewing Marion…
USDA moving two key agencies to KC, expected to bring 568 new jobs to the animal health corridor
Corporate and government leaders agree: Kansas City is positioned at the hub of innovation in the animal health space, they said Thursday, announcing the metro has been chosen as the new home of two federal agencies. “Kansas City is a city with a small town feel, which makes it a great place to build a…
Bellwethr grows $2.5M in seed funding, building two-city talent base between KC, Manhattan
A $2.5 million seed funding round will infuse Bellwethr with more than cash, said Matt Moody. “We’ve been able to find some high quality talent and the big thing now is to apply that, build out the product more and start selling even faster,” Moody, founder and CEO, said of Bellwethr’s alignment for rapid growth….
Local Legends unplugs Westport eSports gaming center; founder vows his vision won’t be reduced by May shooting
The doors at 3933 Main St. are locked tight, but the startup journey once housed inside them is far from over, teased AbdulRasheed Yahaya. “Local Legends isn’t going anywhere … unless we’re talking about the video game truck. That’s going everywhere,” said Yahaya, owner of Local Legends Gaming — an eSports and gaming business that…
