Explore perspectives on the issues impacting business in Kansas City.
Hear from local entrepreneurs, innovators and community leaders as they share insights and commentary on topics impacting business and innovation.
The TAM Scam: Why the next economy won’t need your pitch deck’s market-size slide
For most of modern business history, directly observing economic activity was slow, expensive, or impossible. We developed proxies to compress uncertainty into numbers that executives, lenders, and investors could use. But as technology makes economic activity more observable, the proxies we built for an earlier era become harder to defend.
I was wrong about sports: Why KC’s ‘escape velocity’ keeps pointing back to 18th and Vine
Sports, music, and barbecue are not three separate Kansas City brands, writes urbanist and entrepreneur Kemet Coleman. “They are one story, and it starts at 18th and Vine,” the Vine Street Brewing co-founder explained.
300 pitches later, GIFT founder offers a cheat sheet for selling your vision (hint: it starts with the pitch deck)
“What does your business do? Tell me directly, clearly, and avoid unnecessary fluff,” writes Brandon Calloway in an open letter to entrepreneurs. “As someone making a snap judgment about your business, I need to quickly understand what it offers.”
Smart glasses at work: How employers using (or banning) the tech could face legal challenges
AI-enabled smart glasses take a step further than the traditional “body camera” surveillance footage, given the technology’s ability to retain and assess information, such as biometric information. That creates new concerns for employers who might want to implement the devices — or even keep them out of the workplace altogether, writes a team of attorneys from Polsinelli.
Missouri founders need rules for crypto, digital assets that protect infrastructure and consumers, advocate says
Congress should act quickly, writes Ryan Wright. If the United States waits too long, other countries will continue setting the standards for digital assets, AI provenance, and the next generation of financial infrastructure. Missouri should not be left reacting to that future. We should help build it.
Royals chose Crown Center; KC now must decide how 18th & Vine stays in the game
The Royals ballpark announcement was still eye-opening, because moments like this reveal what a city is actually willing to organize itself around, writes Kemet Coleman.
How can 90 days fix 18 months of revenue? Make trust and consistency your currency
Many leaders start buying marketing the same way they buy any other solution .. one need at a time. It’s not uncommon for one company to have a web vendor, a PR partner, a graphic designer, an email vendor, and so on. The hire is based on need, not strategy; and the real cost shows up in places most leadership teams don’t calculate.
Chris Brown: Don’t make this common mistake when signing contracts
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. This article is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Readers with legal questions should consult an attorney. Among the benefits of operating your startup or freelance business as an LLC is the limited liability for the company’s owners. Limited liability means the…
Networking guru Alana Muller’s tips on having a successful GEW
Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. With Global Entrepreneurship Week just around the corner, seems like a great time to dust off a few key networking tips for entrepreneurs. But, first, let’s begin by answering the question, why should entrepreneurs care about networking? Some of you are probably thinking, “I don’t…
Melissa Roberts on what the Kansas budget crunch means for area startups
The opinions expressed in the commentary are the author’s alone. Kansas is in the midst of a budget crunch of epic proportions — and we all know how and why we got here and who led the charge. We’ve finally reached the moment when all of our dirty jeans’ pockets have been turned out,…
Grant Gooding delivers 8 key ingredients to a killer pitch
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Check out more from Grant Gooding here. Recently I worked with some startups for LaunchKC and several folks asked me if I had my pitch “system” written down. I hadn’t, so I thought it was time I did. To be fair, you will…
The WTF Series: Compute Midwest inspires with floating trains, NASA’s plans
On a daily basis, Ben Kittrell translates the jargon-filled world of technology for clients of his tech consultancy. The Words that Frustrate (WTF) series aims to offer readers some clarity in an industry dominated by techies’ confusing argot. On Wednesday, Compute Midwest brought world-class innovators to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas…
Chris Brown: Non-compete alternatives KC business leaders should consider
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. This article is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Readers with legal questions should consult an attorney. In addition to reducing risk and protecting employers, non-compete agreements can have community-wide benefits. But recent research by organizations including the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation…