Kansas City’s Black-owned businesses court World Cup visitors with a new shopping guide
The hope is that the World Cup, predicted to bring in more prospective shoppers than Kansas City has ever seen at once, jumpstarts long-term growth.
Read MoreWestport mural honors Kansas City drag artists dating back to the 1870s
“Drag is one of the most living art forms today. Folks talk about preserving ballet and opera, painting, and sculpture, which are rooted in a lot of tradition,” said Jared Horman. “Drag has the power to have commentary in a quick, meaningful, and artistic way, and that feels very 2026.”
Read More‘Come out, Kansas City’: Cafe owner calls on KC to fill World Cup tourism gap as small businesses outside FIFA footprint struggle
Construction on Southwest Boulevard slowed traffic to nearby storefronts and restaurants for more than a year, said Cait Benedict, with many small business owners holding out hope that if they could just make it to the FIFA World Cup, they could survive.
Read MoreEntrepreneur tackling healthcare’s everyday inconveniences wins top pitch night prize
Tuesday’s evening pitch event showcased founders working across healthcare, consumer products, community development and other sectors, while underscoring the relationships built throughout the program.
Read More‘You never know who’s watching’: Marketplace prize winner refused to quit; now she’s one of KC’s star founders
Stage after stage, LaToya Ebony Sirls delivers her company pitch. She tweaks the delivery, adjusts certain words and details to address past judges’ questions, but her overall confidence in herself and the product never outwardly wavers, she said.
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