Latest Stories
Sunflower fest opens at KC Wine Co as popular pumpkin patch grows into year-round destination
Transforming from a Jurassic farm to a winter wonderland, the green thumbs at KC Pumpkin Patch have grown their niche as a year-round destination in rural southwest Johnson County. Next set to bloom: a sunflower-rich selfie oasis on the prairie (with wine). “We loved having folks come for the fall [pumpkin patch] season, but people…
Hemp could be the next superfood: How one state-backed company is connecting farmers to retailers now
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. AUGUSTA, Kansas — A Kansas company specializing in agricultural and industrial hemp hopes that a collaborative, educational approach in a burgeoning industry will benefit farmers, the environment, and end users…
17-year-old social entrepreneur among finalists tapped for healthtech pilot competition
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. WICHITA — A Kansas teenager’s telemedicine nonprofit was selected as one of nine finalists for a local health tech startup competition — the only Sunflower State venture chosen for the…
Home-delivered juice maker nibbles its way into sparkling water market with expansion
Zen Donkey Farms — known for its raw, organic, cold-pressed juices available through home delivery — is expanding while continuing its mission of rescuing donkeys and bringing donkey-facilitated wellness programs to Kansas City, said co-founder Kate Barker. The purpose-driven wellness business — which also offers plant-based mylks, hemp protein superfoods, CBD skin care products, and…
This KC investor’s narrow (but global) focus: Technical founders who want to change the world
When launching an investment firm, venture capitalists must consider what distinguishes them from other firms and gives them a competitive edge, said Taylor Clauson. “In my case, I would say that having such a narrow thesis is a tremendous luxury,” said Clauson, who founded Abstraction Capital in 2020. “I’m a specialist fund, and founders like…
KC ranks No. 11 among Midwest startup cities, holding its spot thanks to funding wins amid VC slowdown
A healthy dose of recent funding events kept Kansas City in the No. 11 spot in the 2023 edition of M25’s annual ranking of Midwest startup cities, said Victor Gutwein, founder and managing partner at M25. The comprehensive report explores how metropolitan areas across the Midwest are performing relative to each other based on startup…
Porter House KC earns MO infrastructure grant, pushing its retail incubator closer to opening
Funding from a pilot physical infrastructure grants program is expected to help The Porter House KC complete phase 2 of the build out for its new 811 Retail Incubator, focused on boosting retail entrepreneurs from the urban core. “This grant will allow us to serve over 90 small businesses focused on retail operations within the…
LaunchKC grants competition eyes startups hoping to scale in KC; Applications now open
When LaunchKC’s next round of grant recipients are announced this fall during Global Entrepreneurship Week, winning startups will receive game-changing exposure in addition to the $50,000 in prize money, said Jon Ruiz. His venture, EB Systems, was among six winners in 2022 when the popular grants competition was rebooted by LaunchKC after a four-year hiatus…
Trio of Kansas City startups among Missouri’s latest equity investments; $2.4M awarded in July
Three high-profile tech startups in Kansas City each earned a portion of the $2.4 million awarded in July by the Missouri Technology Corporation, the agency announced this week “We are thrilled to announce another set of awards to support the high-tech, high-growth startups committed to growing in Missouri,” said Jack Scatizzi, executive director of MTC….
‘Picklecon’ coming to KC in 2024 with 100 pickleball courts, $3.9M-projected economic impact
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America, noted Kathy Nelson; and a one-of-a-kind pickleball experience is coming to Kansas City in 2024. In collaboration with Visit KC, Triple Crown Sports is bringing its inaugural celebration of pickleball to Kansas City. Picklecon is an all-encompassing pickleball experience designed to welcome players of all skill levels:…
