Latest Stories
KC-area startup nets $20K Kansas pitch tournament win with game-changing edtech
WICHITA — The team at VU Scholarships left it all on the stage Friday, walking away as champions in the Gamechangers & Champions bracket bash — a high-intensity pitch competition running parallel to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in Wichita. By outlasting 31 other Sunflower State companies, the Roeland Park-based edtech startup earned $20,000 in…
Six months after acquiring KC startup, BarGlance expands its AI-powered nightlife app across US
Launching its latest innovation — BarGlance AI — in nightlife hotspots like Dallas, Las Vegas, Miami, and Kansas City is only part of the story for a South Carolina-based company that recently augmented its tech by integrating features from a Kansas City startup it acquired. By providing real-time data on venue popularity, crowd levels, and…
Cosmo Burger expanding to standalone Crossroads spot, smashing into brand’s longtime brick-and-mortar dream
Cosmo Burger’s days as a side dish only will soon be over, the rapidly iconic smashburger’s creator said this week, announcing plans for a new restaurant in the East Crossroads where its signature menu item finally becomes the main course. Owners of the burger stand-within-a bar concept confirmed the new location will open at 1813…
‘It’s time to be brave’: This entrepreneur has a plan if she’s deported (and a spiritual mission if she stays)
She’s a mother, an entrepreneur and a healer — but for some, Alex Villalobos-McAnderson is just what’s on paper, the Kansas business owner said Alex Villalobos-McAnderson — like many immigrants within the borders of the United States — is living life in limbo, she shared. But the Shawnee-based energy medicine practitioner and owner of Villalobos…
Kauffman adds comms leader to boost transparency, clarity as Foundation moves into new era of engagement
During a time of change and transition, a clear voice is more critical than ever, leaders of the Kauffman Foundation said Thursday, announcing Amy Unruh as the influential philanthropic organization’s new communications director. “We’re in a really exciting chapter for the Foundation,” said Dr. Susan Klusmeier, chief of staff for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation….
Shawnee’s new chef-driven sports bar serves retro with a side of Spam fries and banana ketchup
Serial Kansas City hotspot founder opens door to Hank’s Garage with chefs Howard Hanna, Zac Sachs Eric Flanagan’s latest venture turns a former Shawnee auto shop into the resurrected downtown entertainment district’s newest destination — a casual neighborhood sports bar, complete with an innovative and elevated menu, classic beers, craft cocktails, and an outdoor patio…
Meet KC’s cowpunk basement guitar hero: This DIY dreamer is demanding more from himself
Kansas City’s DIY music scene has long been a hub for raw, creative talent — with eclectic frontman Kole Waters quickly becoming one of its standout names. As the lead guitarist and co-vocalist for post-country phenomenon Big Fat Cow and the centerpiece of synth-infused Dreamist, Waters blends influences ranging from folk storytelling to cathartic soundscapes….
Build to barrel: Inside Holladay Distillery’s ironclad plan to boost bourbon production by one-third
WESTON, Missouri — Holladay Distillery is breaking ground with Rickhouse D — its first new barrel-aging warehouse in 75 years — marking a major step in expanding bourbon production from the historic plant. Renowned as the only Missouri operation to age bourbon in ironclad rickhouses, Weston-based Holladay Distillery is increasing capacity to meet surging demand,…
So you think you’re CEO material? UMKC’s ‘CEO Academy’ puts that ambition to the test
Aspiring executives with an eye on the C-suite need to be ready well before the opportunity arises, said Dan Hesse, leaning on his years of past experience as president and CEO of Sprint. It’s not about just being the boss, he emphasized. “Of all the roles, that of the CEO is so different than any…
Pitch locally or look to outsiders? How founder bias toward funding at all costs could leave your distracted startup without a why
Kansas City’s funding gaps often feel deeper for women entrepreneurs, two top founders said Tuesday, describing a startup ecosystem that pits emerging entrepreneurs against each other — but perhaps more critically, against time — in a highly competitive fight for a limited amount of local capital. “Kansas City is very startup friendly — at least…
