Latest Stories
Mary Shannon’s two words to describe the complexity of supplier diversity: Competitive advantage
Editor’s note: The following story was sponsored by KC Rising, a regional initiative to help Kansas City grow faster and more intentionally, as part of a campaign to promote its CEO-to-CEO Challenge on supplier diversity. Don’t try to fake your way through diversity initiatives for optics, advised Mary Shannon, noting half-hearted commitment to efforts like supplier diversity — which…
Why a social network for basketball players bounced off court to recruit STEM, solar players
In an industry where connections can mean as much as talent, DeMarcus Weeks envisioned a LinkedIn-type network to create exposure for athletes — specifically basketball players from historically Black colleges and universities, as well as other small schools. Put in his words: to give the small guys a voice by providing them a network to connect…
Plot builds momentum as its new-to-market tool digs into construction communications tech gap
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. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. WICHITA…
This KC-designed LEGOLAND attraction puts young builders in the driver’s seat of their own Ferrari
Racers, start your (virtual) engines. Dimensional Innovations has partnered with Merlin Entertainments and Ferrari to bring a one-of-a-kind experience to LEGOLAND California Resort in Carlsbad, California, shared Spencer Farley. “We continue to liberate the world from mediocre experiences,” said Farley, an account director for Entertainment and Retail at the Overland Park-based design firm, Dimensional Innovations. …
His portable lab can detect COVID in saliva within minutes; how this former Navy SEAL’s startup is expanding its target
Foothold Labs is on a mission to develop a next-generation, portable diagnostics system that can not only rapidly detect infectious diseases in saliva within five-to-eight minutes, but also indicate deadly contaminants in other common substances, shared Sean McIntosh. “To get equivalent results to our technology, someone would need to submit a sample to a professional…
Meet 5 new Digital Sandbox-funded startups poised as the next wave of KC innovation
A just-announced first-quarter cohort of startups are set to receive more than just $20,000 each in project funding from Digital Sandbox KC, said Jill Meyer, emphasizing the holistic support headed toward selected founders. “Early-stage funding is just one piece of the puzzle that helps our founders succeed and our startups accelerate toward commercialization and follow-on…
Calling citizen scientists: KC Digital Drive asking residents along Troost to help measure air pollution
Editor’s note: The following story was originally published by The Kansas City Beacon, a non-profit online news outlet focused on in-depth journalism in the public interest, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for the twice-weekly Kansas City Beacon email newsletter. To learn about Kansas City air…
New lease on life: ‘Southern cookhouse’ bringing fried flavor to former sushi space in Crossroads
Editor’s note: The following story was originally published by CityScene KC, an online news source focused on Greater Downtown Kansas City. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for the weekly CityScene KC email review. Brad Gilmore celebrated his 40th birthday last week with the gift he always wanted, the opportunity to run his…
‘Beats, beer, biologics’ coming to KC: Check out the bands set for Innovation Festival’s debut
It might look like an indie rock music festival on the outside, but a just-announced, three-day event coming to Kansas City this summer is as much about the heartbeat of innovation in the region as the beats dropped by Grammy-nominated headliner Black Pumas, said Sonia Hall. “What we want to do is start to disrupt…
Kara Lowe taking KC Tech Council helm as longtime CEO Ryan Weber departs
The KC Tech Council will soon welcome a familiar face as its new leader, the organization announced Tuesday. Kara Lowe, the council’s longtime COO, will succeed Ryan Weber as CEO next month — putting her commitment to Kansas City’s tech sector on full display and allowing her contributions to the regions tech ecosystem to further shape…
