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Doodle Dood paints between lines of business and art with Iron District mural, apparel
Evan Brown refuses to draw out his accomplishments — or even the failures behind them — as he paints the career of a budding illustrator and muralist, he said. “I don’t really dwell. … That might be the reason I’ve been getting more and more projects within the past year,” said Brown, KC-based maker and…
The secret’s almost out: Why you should start a business in KC before it becomes cool
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Ed Wilson and Kenyon Briggs are attorneys at Husch Blackwell in Kansas City. This op-ed is sponsored by Husch Blackwell. Silicon Valley has been known as America’s premier innovation capital for decades. Between easy access to funding, a strong entrepreneurial network, and a…
UMKC student-led FeedKC will pitch for donations, connections at Pure Pitch Rally
Continuing a tradition of showcasing student entrepreneurs, Tuesday’s Pure Pitch Rally is expected to feature a pitch from FeedKC, a group run by students at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. And thanks to a private donor to the UMKC Bloch School of Management, all funds designated for FeedKC will be matched up to $10,000. Click…
Report: KC tech industry brings in $12B, attracts Hyperloop, but city still struggling to fill talent pool
Despite facing a shortage of skilled talent, the tech industry in Kansas City contributed roughly $12 billion — or about 10 percent — to the local economy in 2018, according to an annual report released by the KC Tech Council, a nonprofit that aims to spur tech growth in the city. Nearly one in 10…
Fresh off $200M funding haul, C2FO acquires India’s largest payment platform in bid to expand market position
Kansas City-built C2FO will continue to expand its global prowess with the acquisition of India-based Priority Vendor, the startup announced Thursday. “This is an important milestone in C2FO India’s journey,” said Pradeep Gode, C2FO’s country head for India, in a release about the acquisition of Priority Vendor — India’s largest early payment platform. The move…
Playing for tips and contacts: Artist-entrepreneurs travel across Midwest to fill PorchFestKC with music
Kansas City is a world-class destination for entrepreneurial musicians and artists hoping to hit high notes in business, said Dominic Roy. “I’m a singer-songwriter who’s trying to make it. I don’t want fame or glory or anything like that. I just want people to relate and I want people to feel what I’m trying to…
One-woman act with 68 stages: Kathryn Golden rallies 152 bands for PorchFestKC
A front porch concert isn’t the typical way to meet your neighbors, Kathryn Golden admitted, but it’s unconventional experiences like those that truly unite communities, the PorchFestKC founder said from atop a stoop in the Midtown Roanoke neighborhood. PorchFestKC — the city’s original porch-packed community music celebration, which returns Saturday for its fifth year —…
Is KC getting lapped? Kansas City scores No. 13 among Top 25 Midwestern cities in M25 ranking
Kansas City is maintaining a spot firmly in the middle of the pack among the top 25 Midwestern startup cities — in large part thanks to a $100-plus million growth equity investment in PayIt earlier this year, according to a new ranking by M25. The mega-round for Kansas City’s leading GovTech startup kept the City…
Plexpod rebrands womxn-led Herspace coworking concept with InnovateHER KC partnership
A year after Plexpod unveiled its Herspace concept at Westport Commons, a womxn-centric community and networking organization is partnering with the coworking leader to provide reinvigorated programming and support for startup leaders, Lauren Conaway said. “We’re really excited to show off this beautiful gathering place that the Plexpod team has created,” said Conaway, founder and…
H&R Block’s $2M investment in KCRise Fund: Corporate engagement can’t stop with one check, CEO says
Entrepreneurial energy surrounding such startups as Bungii and PayIt made a $2 million investment in the KCRise Fund an easy choice for Jeff Jones and his team at H&R Block, the high-profile CEO said. “When we think about the different pillars of how we want to give back to the community, taking a stake in…
