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‘Superstars’ opens the door to KC Chamber, making room for small biz, startups: Apply through Feb. 1
Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program. Recognized as a Small Business Superstar twice in the program’s first two years, More Than a Meal earned a sense of validation from the Chamber’s initiative for…
Four KC-area startups tapped for custom accelerator targeting diverse range of Kansas entrepreneurs
Only a handful of Kansas City startups — three of which hail from Johnson County — are among 21 companies selected for a Wichita-based accelerator designed for growth-minded startups in the thick of their product-market fit and customer-acquisition journeys. The NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort is designed to help early-stage companies break through barriers to generate revenue…
Just funded: Digital Sandbox KC ‘fuels innovation’ for five emerging tech startups
Scaling past the proof-of-concept stage is key for young startups, so making them fundable by the time their product is built can mean the difference between success and stagnation, said Jill Meyer, announcing the latest round of companies backed by Digital Sandbox KC. The five startups receiving up to $20,000 each include ventures focused on…
Coworking blueprint for contractors trades home for critical back-office business support
Trades CoWork provides a professional office environment, storage space, and back-office support to contractors and trades workers who have long been “dismissed,” said William Hayes, an entrepreneur who “sold everything” to fuel the venture. “There is nothing out there for the small contractors that gives them an affordable option to move out of their house,…
Why these Big Jay collectibles are a nod to bobblehead hall of fame’s love of KC-area sports
A cross-country childhood trip to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum inspired a young baseball fan and rookie sports collector to keep Kansas City on his map — later incorporating an array of local major league and collegiate teams into his entrepreneurial venture: a national hall of fame for bobbleheads. The most recent additions to his…
Federal ban on noncompetes would ‘unleash’ entrepreneurs, open door to more startups, advocate says
A proposed rule change that would stop employers from imposing and enforcing contract clauses to limit their workers’ ability to change jobs within their fields is being hailed as a “vital step on the path to expanding economic growth in the United States,” according to one Kansas City-based advocate for entrepreneurs. Earlier this month, the…
Ice Cream Bae returns to the Country Club Plaza with its own storefront, more flavors
Adison and Jackie Sichampanakhone have a soft spot for the Country Club Plaza, they shared. It’s where the journey with their soft-serve ice cream shop began. “We’re excited to be back. We had so many great customers down here before, so we’re happy to be able to serve them again,” said Adison, who co-founded Ice…
Just Walk Out: Crossroads Market features Amazon tech for checkout-free convenience
Grocery shoppers in the Crossroads can now skip the checkout line. Newly outfitted with Amazon’s Just Walk Out and Amazon One technology, Community Groceries Crossroads Market reopened to the public Friday. The Crossroads Market — owned by Kortney Lee at 640 East 18th St. — is the first store in Kansas City and the first…
UMKC receives $12.97M grant from Kauffman Foundation to boost barrier breaking across KC region, beyond
Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. New grant provides support to continue and expand entrepreneurship programs on the UMKC campus and across the Kansas City region The University of Missouri-Kansas City has received a historic, five-year, $12.97 million grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation…












