Latest Stories
How the first-ever movie sold on NFT is rigging KC-made ‘Lotawana’ for blockchain history
An independent film shot on Missouri’s Lake Lotawana is earning premier attention — becoming the world’s first piece of cinema to sell on the blockchain, potentially overhauling the way Hollywood connects with moviegoers, its creators said. “One thing that I’m very passionate about in life is cinema,” said Trevor Hawkins, the Emmy-winning local filmmaker who wrote…
The Toolbox aims to bridge cultural entrepreneur gap in WyCo; opening new resource center Thursday
Editor’s note: This story is sponsored and was produced by Forward Cities, a non-financial partner of Startland News and a national nonprofit that is managing the implementation of the ESHIP Communities program as a grantee of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Any opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author. Pedro Morales, owner…
Report: UMKC Innovation Center helped create 500 new ventures, boost revenue by $245M in 2020
Amid a year of pandemic-prompted chaos in the business community, entrepreneurs forged ahead like rarely before seen, according to the UMKC Innovation Center’s new impact report, which details outcomes of the Kansas City-based resource network’s programming opportunities. “These entrepreneurs and leaders are our clients, our inspiration and our hope,” said Maria Meyers, executive director at…
Get sauced: Meet the hungry duo at the forefront of KC’s premier urban lunch counter
Jayaun Smith spent his free time as a kid watching “Iron Chef America” and creating his own unique recipes with what was available, he shared — noting it didn’t take him long to fall in love with cooking. “I spent a lot of time alone growing up,” recalled the 25-year-old chef, who now leads the…
Black, curvy and a certified yogi: How Mikita Burton is breaking down barriers with Yoga on the Vine
Yoga is meant to be inclusive, said Mikita Burton, even if that sentiment stretches the modern American picture of who practices yoga. “I’m a curvier girl. I’m African American — that’s just not the typical demographic for yoga,” explained Burton, who has been a certified yoga instructor for the past five years. “My hope is…
New in KC: Why UMKC’s island-hopping tech leader is trading Hawaiian surf for Kansas City turf
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. Click here to read more New in KC profiles. The Midwest is home, said Chris Rehkamp. “That’s where I feel like I’m really…
Overland Park startup secures $41M as infrastructure gets new focus amid COVID, Biden presidency
A massive round of Series B funding will boost Replica’s data platform as it changes how cities are planned and operated — especially in the wake of a global pandemic and a renewed emphasis on infrastructure spending from the federal level down, said Nick Bowden. The $41 million round was led by Founders Fund and…
Franklin’s Stash House rolls MO cannabis opportunity into KC-made hemp blunts
The timing is perfect for a cross-cultural cannabis company, Michael Wilson said Tuesday, announcing the 4/20 launch of Franklin’s Stash House, a hemp blunt maker headquartered near the Crossroads. “It’s a lifestyle brand that represents a segment of the culture that doesn’t get enough attention, trying to capture our creative energy in a cool form…
Pop-up spotlights Latinx + Chicanx makers and culture with plans to expand ahead
Aromas of authentic Mexican tacos and quesadillas greeted visitors at the Latinx + Chicanx Vendors, Makers and Artists Pop-Up Event hosted by the Latino Arts Foundation this past Saturday. “It’s been a tremendous day — we’ve been nonstop. But I love getting to meet a lot of different people and share our authentic Mexican food…
How one KC founder earned two exits before hitting 40 (Hint: Make time or don’t start)
Ten years after his first startup exit, Matt Watson finds himself at the finish line once again. “This time was a lot different than the last,” Watson, founder and CEO of Stackify, told Startland News, comparing his run with the APM solutions startup to his tenure as co-founder and CTO at VinSolutions — the startup that…
