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Student who helped pioneer Minddrive paves way for Honeywell’s first Latinx engineering scholarship
Perseverance and transparency fueled Minddrive alum Carlos Alonzo’s award as the first recipient of Honeywell’s new four-year $20,000 Latinx engineering scholarship with guaranteed job placement upon graduation, said Oz Qureshi. Alonzo first applied for Honeywell’s engineering scholarship that has historically been allocated to African-American students and in partnership with the Black Achievers Society, said Qureshi,…
KCMO digital equity effort aimst to boost remote learning, work access for families, entrepreneurs
Economically distressed neighborhoods in Kansas City are at a bigger disadvantage than ever before, Rick Usher said, urging residents to combat digital inclusion as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to upend the way Kansas Citians learn and work. “Today, with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing us to social distance in ways that include remote work and distance…
Ag giant Cargill teams with Plug and Play for new Topeka accelerator, set to debut in fall
TOPEKA — Corporate food and agriculture giant Cargill has inked a deal with Plug and Play to serve as founding partner for its animal health and agtech accelerator program in Topeka. The companies announced the news Wednesday, firming up details surrounding the launch of the long-awaited accelerator — first announced in September 2019 and originally slated to…
Yoli Tortilleria grinds success into perfect warm tortilla, opening retail experience in Westside
A new retail operation in Kansas City’s Westside neighborhood is a sign of massive growth, hot on the griddle for Yoli Tortilleria. “There’s nothing, for me, better than once you put that warm tortilla in your hands and just experience it,” said Marissa Gencarelli, who co-owns and operates Yoli with her husband, Mark. “There’s a…
Made in KC moving Crossroads HQ, flagship retail store to revitalized Martini Corner
A new spin on Made in KC’s local-first, retail-cafe concept — complete with a drive-thru window and shuffleboard bar — will provide a vibrant and dynamic new experience for the Tower East neighborhood in Midtown, said Keith Bradley. “It will be a very unique space, with nothing in the city that can be easily…
Right to Start: Economic justice, entrepreneurship aren’t privileges for a select few, Victor Hwang says
Everyone deserves an equal start, said Victor Hwang, launching an initiative to level the playing field for early stage entrepreneurs. “We’re a campaign to rebuild the American economy by fighting for entrepreneurial opportunity for all of us — regardless of background, race, place, genders, disabilities, or circumstances. We call them ‘starters,’” said Hwang, founder and…
Pivoting to freelance: Being a solopreneur doesn’t mean you have to work alone
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Chris Brown is the founder of Venture Legal where he represents startups, freelancers, and small businesses. This column — originally published by Venture Legal and part of a limited series on freelance entrepreneurism — is intended to be general in detail and does…
Weed-destroying bots: Kansas startup scales chemical-free farming with fleet of four-wheeled doers
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. CHENEY,…
Smart doorway could detect high temp, neutralize COVID on clothing, KC tech pioneer says
Blockchain might be the future, but eliminating exposure to COVID-19 is the now, said serial entrepreneur Shekhar Gupta as he takes an intelligent disinfecting doorway to market. “When you go to the airport you have to go through the X-Ray machines, right? So we developed a similar structure, but to detect COVID-19 and neutralize it…
Mother Clucker set to reopen Friday; bringing heat with spicy chicken perched for nationwide expansion
National expansion is on the menu for Kansas City-fried fast-casual hotspot Mother Clucker. But the chicken with a cult following has one hurdle in front of it — getting to the other side of COVID-19, said Derrick Foster. “Right before the pandemic hit we got approved to become a national franchise,” Foster, the founder and owner,…
