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April Boyd-Noronha: Q&A offers cyber security insight ahead of Tech on Tap
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Cyber security is a topic worthy of constant discussion because the threat landscape, as well as the needed protective measures, are ever-evolving, Kara Lowe said. Lowe, vice president of the KC Tech Council, joined me for a Q&A on the coming Tech on…
Cerner ‘call for innovation’ hopes to bring brand to life alongside KC startups
One of Kansas City’s largest employers is looking for help from the smaller firms in its backyard. Health IT giant Cerner Corp. is looking to collaborate with startups and entrepreneurs to feature their innovative custom furniture, properties or experiential design elements for a coming conference. If selected, each startup’s work would be featured in front…
Heartshaped Clothing: A love story fashioned into a Dad-hat
Corey Reed’s wife opened his heart to true love, he said. Love of God, community, creativity and family. The revelation didn’t just inspire Reed’s Heartshaped Clothing line, it allowed him to recognize and appreciate the gifts and sacrifices of his faith and those around him, like his parents, who adopted him at birth, he said….
Kritiq fashion show MADE for Kansas City designers
Designers don’t need to go to the east or west coasts to pursue their dreams, Mark Launiu said. “There’s so much passion and grind here in Kansas City. And a lot of people on the outside don’t know that,” said Launiu, co-founder at MADE Urban Apparel. “We’re always overlooked because they think of just our…
Random origins, but no fluke: MADE grinds to grand expansion
The MADE Mobb is getting used to risk taking. “We know what it’s like to walk into something blind,” laughed Mark Launiu, co-founder at MADE Urban Apparel. Launiu, along with co-founders Vu Radley and Jonathan “JP” Platz, launched MADE in 2012 with the streetwear apparel line selling in just a few pop-up shops. Early partnerships…
Smart city leader: Can technology predict deadly shooters before it’s too late?
A smart city is a safe city, Herb Sih said. And technology can help. “If you don’t have safety, you don’t have anything,” said Sih, managing partner at Think Big Partners, one of the key collaborators in Kansas City’s $15.7 million public-private Smart City initiative. Having grown up in St. Louis, Sih said he has…
T-shirt printer GOEX hopes to clad workers in dignity
A Kansas City T-shirt screen printer has a lofty mission: Turn local purchases into global impact. “Your dollar has value in how it’s treating others across the world,” said Ryan Hudnall, engagement director at the Global Orphan Project. Tucked away near Wyandotte and 31st streets, GOEX serves as an offshoot of the Global Orphan Project,…
Looping back? Missouri partners with Hyperloop to study 23-minute KC-St Louis route
Missouri’s prospects for landing a Hyperloop route apparently aren’t off the rails after all. Despite the company revealing four U.S. finalist routes in September — which did not include a proposed route through the Show Me State – Hyperloop One announced Tuesday it has entered into a public-private partnership with the State of Missouri to conduct…
Techstars Spotlight: GRIT Virtual builds 3-D tech into 2-D construction mindset
3-D should stay 3-D, said Chris Callen, CEO of GRIT Virtual. And with the rise of virtual reality and augmented reality technology, that philosophy can be applied to the construction of 3-D buildings, Callen said. Wichita-based GRIT Virtual is a software-as-a-service platform for large contractors. It uses VR software to streamline the workflow for construction…
Cherry Pit Collective offers community-first workspace for female artists, makers
For artists and makers, coworking is often more than just a preference for a non-traditional space – it can be a necessity. When Kelsey Pike graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2011, she came to the realization that she wouldn’t be able to continue her craft — papermaking — without the tools and…
