Latest Stories
Fund Me, KC: Good Bitter Best hopes to mix cocktails with community, pivots to add virtual bartender
Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs — like Jennifer Agnew’s Good Bitter Best campaign — to share their crowdfunding stories to gain a little help from their supporters. Who are you? I am Jennifer Agnew, public school…
How Shelley Cooper hopes to turn her telehealth remedy into an appointment for ‘Unicornville’
No shows mean no dough — but SureShow means cash flow, Dr. Shelley Cooper rhymed, laughing. “I’m supposed to be really professional and that sounds kind of goofy, but you know, if it makes people remember … ” joked Cooper, founder of SureShow by Diversity Telehealth, in a rare moment of downtime as she prepared for…
Cash in the tank: Meet 8 tech startups vying for on-the-spot funding at Pure Pitch Rally
From gig economy and healthcare companies to startups attacking supply chain concerns, the solutions to today’s challenges come from Kansas City’s up-and-coming innovators, said Karen Fenaroli, announcing the eight competitors for this fall’s Pure Pitch Rally. “We could not be more excited for the diversity of ideas, industries and experience represented in this year’s cohort…
Hope gives you power: How a LinkedIn Live duo is dismantling negativity on social media
Success was no surprise for motivational speaker Les Brown, whose daily Facebook and LinkedIn Live show reaches more than a million weekly views — with help from a colorful Kansas City personality known for her social media prowess. “How people live their lives is a result of the story they believe about themselves; what we…
‘Work-life’ comes to the office: KC design firm offers teacher, space for students as an employee benefit
Juggling Zoom meetings and remote work is difficult enough for single adults — let alone parents trying to manage the ins and outs of their kids’ virtual school routines during COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions, said Melissa Nickel. “I do not want my children just to survive, I want them to thrive,” Nickel, operations lead at Engenious…
ESHIP Summit: Data shows urgent question — Who isn’t starting a business?
Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial sponsor of Startland News. This report was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. Inclusion is about fulfilling untapped potential, said Sameeksha Desai, detailing nationwide equity gaps in entrepreneurial ecosystem building. “A lot of the reason that we ended up in this situation is because…
KC performer appointed UN Young Leader, extending Battery Tour’s energy worldwide, says AY Young
Singer-songwriter-street performer AY Young has a new stage for his unique message, announcing Friday the Kansas City artist’s appointment as one of the United Nations’ 17 Young Leaders for Sustainable Development Goals. “I’ll be honest, I was like, ‘It’s about time,’” Young said, laughing. “I’ve powered over 800 concerts using renewable energy; I’ve been getting…
Winning pitch: Leading KC fintech founder deposits trio of new bank partnerships
One of Kansas City’s prominent fintech and nonprofit leaders has secured partnerships with three of the regions leading banks. Donald Hawkins, founder and CEO of Griffin Technologies and a co-leader in KC Collective, was awarded pilot projects with Emprise Bank, Fidelity Bank, and Intrust Bank, Thursday — part of the Wichita-based NXSTAGE Pilot Competition, hosted…
Beating the boys club: Mother of three hits the mat with girls wrestling shoes
Anything guys can do, girls and women just might be doing better, Deb North said. “Our whole goal is to support girls in this process and build them up and be their cheerleaders,” North, founder of Yes! Athletics, explained of the social enterprise — which recently launched The Defiant 1 wrestling shoe, a breathable, lightweight, eco-friendly shoe…
Olathe-built COVID-fighting biotech could be ‘Coolest Thing made in Kansas’ — Voting now open
An Olathe startup that began offering its biotech to researchers in April — just as the pandemic hit — already is receiving statewide recognition for a product that ultimately could help take down COVID-19. T-Blocks were announced Wednesday as one of the Top 16 nominees for the Kansas Chamber’s “Coolest Thing Made in Kansas” prize,…
