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OHUB founder: Your silence is an investment; I’m calling out so-called allies
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Rodney Sampson is founder of Atlanta-based Opportunity Hub, as well as OHUB’s Kansas City minority accelerator, OHUB.KC, which operates through a partnership with the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri. Opportunity Hub is a non-financial partner of Startland News. Hello tech, startup…
Techstars KC returns: Meet 10 startups bringing diverse solutions to the rebooted accelerator
The hotly anticipated Techstars Kansas City 2020 accelerator class features startups enabling greater transparency and access in healthcare, the food supply, and justice for all, said Lesa Mitchell. Two of the ventures are based in St. Louis. “We’re also welcoming companies with new platforms and new business models that will attract and facilitate broader talent…
COVID-19 opened door for to-go cocktails; KC Daiquiri duo wants to keep sales flowing permanently
If Missouri and Kansas City leaders want to help small businesses recoup lost cash after weeks of shutdown, they’d be wise to take a cue from the Big Easy, said owners of KC Daiquiri Shop. “The restaurant industry I’m seeing right now is kind of suffering,” explained Calvin Vick, who co-owns the New Orleans-inspired KC…
Engineered to paint: When life provides a big canvas, use it all, tech-turned-artist says
Talent doesn’t always equal success in the art world — but that doesn’t mean creatives should lose hope, said Aaron Norris. “You have to be willing to grind. Day in and day out. Keep creating, keep sculpting, keep painting, keep sketching — and don’t stop until you accomplish the things you want to accomplish,” Norris, hobby artist…
Dart pedals more than a prototype: E-bikes as a route to equitable employment access
Free bus rides aren’t the only solution to a lack of equity in Kansas City’s transportation options, explained Thomas Murphy. “Only 18 percent of jobs here in the metro are available via 90-minute commute via public transit,” Murphy, co-founder and CEO of Dart, explained of the startup’s commitment to outfitting under-resourced pockets of the metro…
$26K in prizes: Sidelined students pitch entrepreneurial empathy in COVID-19 virtual competition
Editor’s note: STARTLAND is the parent organization of Startland News, though this report was produced independently by Startland News’ non-profit newsroom. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland News A month ago, few students could’ve imagined pitching real-world solutions to COVID-19 challenges in front of a panel of Kansas City celebrity judges,…
Tesseract’s robot reveal: Wearable proximity trackers to keep workers at a safe distance
Kansas City-wired clip-on robots could make social distancing a second thought, as Tesseract Ventures shares its first mainstream product with the world. “This product exemplifies our mantra that there is nothing more human than technology and is a great example of what you can expect to see from Tesseract Ventures in the future,” said John…
‘Way more on our plate’: How COVID-19 transformed chefs into fortune tellers and perfectionists
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. It’s a tough time to be in the business of food — but…
Interest grows for at-home ultraviolet sterilization, urban farming amid prolonged pandemic
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. If the team at Year-Round Garden had been told two months ago…
Women on the Rise: Female musicians tune out scarcity mindset within KC, music industry
Kansas City has room for more than one female singer or artist, said Leah Watts. Focused on collaboration rather than competition, Women on the Rise aims the spotlight at an erroneous industry assumption shared by too many music executives, audiences and even musicians, she said, explaining the need for the non-profit she co-founded to empower,…
