Meet the cohort: Founder scaling Startup Weekend’s winning idea through Columbia venture fund, studio
COLUMBIA, Missouri — Winning Missouri Startup Weekend this spring put Chrystal Graves one step closer to revolutionizing the beauty industry, she shared, noting the victory helped secure her spot in the Scale venture fund and studio. “I have been passionate about helping salons be profitable and inclusive for a long time, but I thought building…
Read MoreStartup Crawl is back June 9: Get your passport to KC bands, businesses, beverages
More than 50 startups and a quartet of local bands and performers will headline the June 9 return of Startup Crawl — and it’s a pretty sweet symphony, teased event organizers. “It’s been almost four years since we’ve been able to host our community in this way,” said Austin Barnes, executive editor of Startland News and…
Read MoreThey could’ve cracked into any industry; Why this dynamic team paired its talents with snacks
A local foodie’s quest to recreate her favorite discontinued cracker led a trio of longtime friends to build their own company, serving up specialty appetizer kits that customers are savoring in Kansas City and beyond. Crackerology produces shelf-stable, gourmet appetizer and dessert kits featuring made-from-scratch crackers and cookies that can be assembled in minutes. “Yes,…
Read More‘I Am’ the domino effect: This changemaker wants to show youth impacted by redlining another reality
When Elijah Dormeus moved to Kansas City in 2019, he brought with him a nonprofit that provides mentorship and leadership training to students in underserved communities, with the end goal of empowering them to achieve their dreams. “The I Am Foundation really came from leading, encouraging, and motivating students to see themselves greater than their…
Read MoreWorld Cup is coming to KC (and so are the asks): How leaders must boost the region before 2026
Kansas City is steadily growing and evolving, said Neal Sharma, making it more important than ever to engage at the community level to tackle challenges and secure opportunities facing the region. That’s especially true as Kansas City prepares for the 2026 World Cup, echoed fellow leaders who spoke Thursday at KC Rising’s Horizon 2023 event.…
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