Latest Stories
BKS Artisan Ales takes measured approach with nano-brewery concept
It takes only about an hour for BKS Artisan Ales to sell out of its packaged bottles and cans each Saturday afternoon, Brian Rooney said. “We thought it would be great if maybe 40 people came in and maybe each of those 40 took a beer home,” said Rooney, a craft brewer who owns and…
KC named a top ‘dark horse’ to land Amazon HQ2
National media is lending credence to Kansas City’s prospects of attracting Amazon’s second headquarters. Inc. Magazine on Wednesday published a list of “5 Dark Horse Cities” to land Amazon HQ2, a prospective project that promises to create upward of 50,000 new jobs in whatever locale that nabs the online retailer’s massive new hub. While speculative,…
Couple with tech, startup background embraces risk-taking as new Pitch owners
Local ownership of The Pitch will preserve the Kansas City alternative news publication’s voice, as well as expanding digital content for readers, and promotions and services for advertisers, Stephanie Carey said. “I love the independent voice. I love the fact that we can push those boundaries, push the envelope on stories, dig a little deeper,”…
Cultural differences contribute to entrepreneur access gap, Porter House founder says
Early education about entrepreneurism and the resources available aren’t typically priorities in low- to moderate-income communities, said Daniel Smith. “A lack of access results because we don’t really have a lot of programs in our communities that focus on small business and entrepreneurism,” said Smith, founder of The Porter House KC. “It’s more focused on…
Missouri, Airbnb announce revenue-sharing state sales tax deal
As Kansas City wrangles with its own short-term rental rules, Airbnb and the Show Me State announced an agreement Wednesday that will allow the home-sharing giant to collect and remit taxes on behalf of 6,300 Missouri hosts. Effective Feb. 1, the tax agreement with the Missouri Department of Revenue adds a state sales tax — now…
FEWDM drops high-tech fitness devices, pivots to workout apparel
Not every promising startup venture can keep the ball moving toward the end zone. It’s a lesson FEWDM founder Tommy Saunders says he’s blessed to have learned — despite the bittersweet turn for the former Detroit Lions receiver’s company. “We have a strong brand that our customers connect with and have grown to love,” Saunders…
Fund Me, KC: Bow Blast KC soft combat offers adrenaline-pumping fun
Editor’s note: Startland News is continuing its segment to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com. Who are you? My name is Jason McCarthy, Owner of Bow Blast KC. What’s your product? We are a mix of dodgeball,…
CubeMonk lauded at forefront of disruptive blockchain cryptocurrency revolution
Momentum is building for Kansas City-based CubeMonk — and the blockchain cryptography platform behind it is poised to go further than most people can even imagine, said Todd Haselhorst. “You’re talking about a wave of innovation the likes of which we’ve never seen before,” said Haselhorst, CEO and co-founder of CubeMonk. “If the internet was…
Happy holidays: Three startups receive Digital Sandbox funds
They might not be wrapped with a bow, but Digital Sandbox KC has delivered three gifts to area startups ahead of the holidays. The proof-of-concept incubator program is dishing grants to TradeLanes, Hungry? and MusicSpoke — three startups that aim to revamp their respective industries with innovative technologies, said Jeff Shackelford, director of Digital Sandbox….
BoysGrow bootstrapping on-site culinary center for KC farm
Budding youth entrepreneurs at BoysGrow need more room to cook their farm-to-table meals, John Gordon Jr. said. “The culinary program has really taken off,” said Gordon, founder of BoysGrow, a nonprofit that teaches inner-city boys entrepreneurial skills through farming. “We were wanting to grow that aspect of BoysGrow, but our farm has a small, residential…
