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New CEO for KC Fashion Week; transition keeps an industry champion on the runway

A shift in leadership at Kansas City Fashion Week is expected to emphasize the brand’s commitment to showcasing and promoting local and national talent within the industry, its outgoing executive said. “The future of the fashion industry in Kansas City is in the best possible hands,” said co-founder and CEO Philip Willoughby, announcing the sale…

Early buy-in from Latinx shoppers pushes paraMi toward surprise storefront; here’s where you’ll find them soon

A physical storefront wasn’t originally part of the plan for paraMi, co-founder Veronica Alvidrez shared, until the women behind the brand listened to the needs of their community. “We knew we wanted to offer our customers a shopping experience,” Alvidrez explained. “When we did pop-up events, we realized our shoppers are tactile shoppers and they…

Is there a doctor on board? Dragon boat race puts KC professionals in the rower’s seat

Brush Creek will put teams of professionals and other competitors to the test this weekend as Kansas City’s annual Dragon Boat Festival returns to the Country Club Plaza. For at least one crew, the waterway will become a lab of sorts — with leaders evaluating their teamwork and collaboration skills. Chris Jurief, a fourth-year resident…

Scaling his superpower: How BXKC’s new app amplifies Black professionals’ connections

A new tech platform recently unveiled by Black Excellence KC is expected to provide Black entrepreneurs with resources to elevate their careers and journeys, said Craig Moore II — a move that aims to boost the group’s human capital beyond one-on-one interactions. “We’re trying to create a tool where we can create better engagement among…

New in KC: West Coast transplant impressed by local startup, tech scene; says KC should embrace more flops

Editor’s note: New in KC is an ongoing profile series that highlights newly relocated members of the Kansas City startup community, their reasons for a change of scenery, and what they’ve found so far in KC. This series is sponsored by C2FO, a Leawood-based, global financial services company. Click here to read more New in KC profiles. Kansas City is a…

LendingStandard closes $6.7M round with Flyover Capital among key longterm investors

A Kansas City startup’s efforts to streamline the commercial real estate industry are not only reducing wasted time and frustration for lenders and borrowers, said Keith Molzer, it’s making good on investors’ expectations of the tech-driven Saas marketplace. “LendingStandard has listened and responded to what the market needs,” said Molzer, founding managing partner at Flyover…

The journey can make or break an entrepreneur; Pipeline gala returns June 15 to celebrate connectivity at the intersection

Editor’s note: Pipeline Entrepreneurs is a partner of Startland News, though this report was produced independently by the nonprofit newsroom. Pipeline Entrepreneurs’ new era is all about community, said Melissa Vincent, with more than a nod to the resilience needed to sustain a vibrant startup ecosystem. “When you go through the Pipeline program, it becomes…

Royals partner with KC-linked CBD brand to tout health benefits of hemp for athletes

As an entrepreneur who grew up in Kansas City, teaming up with the Kansas City Royals to promote high-quality CBD products is a dream come true, said Dan Huerter, CEO of Pure Spectrum CBD. “To be able to work with such an iconic organization and to be a part of promoting health and wellness in…

Yoli Tortilleria’s grind to “honor the very humble tortilla” earns James Beard Award

Editor’s note: The following story was originally published by KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR member station, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for KCUR’s email newsletter. Yoli Tortilleria, a Mexican tortilla bakery with a retail store on Jefferson Street on Kansas City’s Westside and a manufacturing location…

Multitasking might feel good, but working on autopilot isn’t actually productive in the present (Holistic Hustle)

Kharissa Parker is a news producer, writer, certified health coach, and “Holistic Hustle” columnist for Startland News. The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. For more of her self-care tips on how to keep your cup full, visit kparker.co. Similar to stress and anxiety (we’ll tackle that next month), mindfulness and meditation…