Latest Stories
KC Velocity launches as re-imagined Lee’s Summit accelerator goes metro-wide
An entrepreneur-backed support organization for early stage founders and business leaders across Kansas City went live this week — the culmination of an intensive rebranding campaign for an accelerator previously geared specifically to Lee’s Summit. “KC Velocity is focused on matching growing businesses with experienced, invested experts in a variety of essential capacities including finance, accounting,…
Dogged by pandemic, one KC veterinarian diagnosed potential to expand without just mooving
Editor’s note: The following story is sponsored by Academy Bank, a Kansas City based community bank, and is part of a series of features spotlighting some of the bank’s startup and small business partners. When Dr. Aaron Stohs left Kansas State University in 2004, ready to practice veterinary medicine, his sights were set on a…
WATCH NOW: Kansas City Community Builders to Watch
Join Startland News for a celebratory broadcast that showcases the work of six local leaders with exceptional stories of community impact. This mid-day broadcast — streaming at 11:30 a.m. as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) — features a musical performance by Golden Groves. This edition of Startland News Reports is presented in partnership with Fishtech Group….
Demo day alert: 13 new Comeback KC Ventures fellows set for debut on GEW KC stage
The first crop of Comeback KC Ventures fellows — entrepreneurs offering solutions from healthtech and edtech products to sports evaluations and an animation academy emerging in response to COVID-19 — is expected to highlight more than a dozen companies Thursday during a GEW KC innovation showcase. “The demo day will allow early participants in the…
How Finotta emerged from 2020’s perils with a leap of faith, $3M investment banked
The through line of Parker Graham’s startup journey so far: resiliency. “People like to joke that cockroaches just don’t die,” laughed Graham, reflecting after his fintech company, Finotta — more pheonix rising than cockroach surviving — recently closed a $3 million seed funding round and completely changed the makeup of its team. “I feel like…
New in KC: Wichita-grown foodie whips up 4.5M TikTok, Youtube users with passion (and ramen) as her only guides
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. Lisa Nguyen was five…
Streets to tableside eats: Taco Tank gets off the ground, rolling into Crossroads food hall
Streetside tacos are a thing of the past for Kansas City-stuffed Taco Tank, but a brick-and-mortar expansion into Parlor’s Crossroads food hall means the potential of its authentic, Mexican street food is just hitting the grill, Roman Raya said. “We were sharing a kitchen before with four other food trucks as our commissary. It was…
Ho-ho-holiday bars: These Christmas-themed pop-ups will be your next seasonal spot for selfies, spirits
It’s Christmas in Kansas City — almost, teased the restaurant group behind the metro’s popular Miracle holiday pop-up bars, announcing their return and two brand new locations. “It’s official, we’re back,” Rockhill Restaurant Group, which operates the bars as Miracle Kansas City in partnership with Cocktail Kingdom, said Friday on its social media accounts. Returning bars…
Scale accelerator brings international talent to Columbia, reveals eight startups in first cohort
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. COLUMBIA,…
Community Builders to Watch: Nia Richardson redefines city’s role in building wealth (and the freedom that comes with it)
Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing six Kansas City changemakers from five local organizations in its inaugural Community Builders to Watch list. The following highlights one of the 2021 honorees, selected from more than 100 initial nominees by a panel of judges. Click here to view the full list of Community Builders to Watch —…
