Latest Stories
Switchyards opening ‘work club’ in historic East Crossroads space: ‘It’s an absolute stunner’
Think dive bar with deep focus, said Brandon Hinman, describing the “neighborhood work club” concept that Atlanta-based Switchyards is bringing to the East Crossroads this spring. It’s a third-space workplace with no hot desks, standalone offices, or tiered memberships. “We actually have been more inspired by working out of coffee shops, libraries, boutique hotel lobbies,”…
A night for knock-outs: Pipeline gala adds glitz to the hard-fought battles of entrepreneurship (Photos)
Midwest means resilience, Melissa Vincent told a black-tie crowd of entrepreneurs gathered Friday evening in the Grand Hall at Union Station, ultimately sharing the stage with not one, but two Innovator of the Year honorees. “When they get knocked down, knocked out, they get back up and they stay in the ring,” continued Vincent, CEO…
Topeka startup hub launches diverse entrepreneur community (with fintech help on loan from KC’s Cyphr)
TOPEKA — An initiative aimed at boosting early to mid-stage entrepreneur development in the heart of Kansas launched Friday, said Michael Odupitan, noting the effort by Topeka-based Omni Circle to redefine the startup journey — and who’s allowed to join it — comes with a Kansas City assist. “Omni’s goal is to unite and strengthen…
How an east side community garden gives Ruby Jean’s namesake her storybook ending as juice brand goes national with Whole Foods
While market expansion for Ruby Jean’s harvests the big headlines, Chris Goode’s grassroots health initiatives are staying firmly planted in Kansas City’s east side, the juice brand’s founder said — announcing plans to launch a one-acre community garden this spring on Wabash Avenue. Budding out just blocks from where Goode grew up, the Ruby Jean’s…
Why perfect timing beats perfect products — every time
Editor’s note: The perspectives expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Serial entrepreneur and three-peat exited founder Matt Watson is the host of Product Driven and co-founder of Full Scale, a global staffing company. Click here to subscribe to the free Product Driven newsletter. Have you ever noticed how many “revolutionary” products actually weren’t the…
Kauffman-backed tech coalition gains runway (and funding) to help fill KC’s talent pipeline, leader says
A new talent-focused coalition led by the KC Tech Council envisions a reality where all of Kansas City’s tech jobs can be filled by Kansas City, said Kara Lowe, unveiling new details of an initiative made possible by the Kauffman Foundation’s new “Collective Impact” funding pathway. KC Tech Council on Friday publicly announced its employer-led…
How Silicon Valley, Topeka joined forces for a downtown tech incubator in Top City capital
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. TOPEKA — A new incubator is expected to help homegrown tech idealists turn their dreams into successful startups, said Stephanie Moran, sharing a vision for the Link Innovation Labs that…
Why keep Betty Rae’s from the world? KC ice cream shop franchising brand across region
Matt Shatto wants to “create smiles across the country” — not just in the metro. His plan: scoop a pint of franchising into the handcrafted mix for Betty Rae’s Ice Cream, a shop that developed into multiple must-visit Kansas City destinations over nearly a decade. Betty Rae’s is now targeting seven cities in the region…
ProX calls on KC employers to help plant seeds; 1,700 student interns await program’s summer sunlight
For the fourth consecutive summer, ProX — one of the largest paid internship programs in the country — is giving Kansas City-area employers the opportunity to invest in the region’s future talent, Solissa Franco-McKay shared. The collaborative ProX effort pairs Kansas City students — from both sides of the state line — with area employers…
Omaha-based Elevator expands its co-working with warehousing model to North Kansas City
Editor’s note: The following story was published by Silicon Prairie News, an Omaha-based publication of the Nebraska Journalism Trust. Click here to read the original article or here to subscribe to SPN’s newsletter. Following its expansion into Des Moines, Elevator is set to begin development on an additional space in Kansas City that will open…
