Latest Stories
KC pop artist: Real-life stories he missed hearing as a youth deserve a ‘larger than life’ spotlight today
Kansas City pop artist Zava’s musical awakening — the first song that truly inspired his soulful and upbeat vibe — has animated origins of its own, he shared. The tune — “Powerline” by Tevin Campbell, which was featured in “A Goofy Movie” — exposed Zava to artists who can make “larger than life,” uplifting songs, he…
Just opportunity: How this KC sports company plans to ace PickleCon’s potential
When “the Comic-Con for pickleball” arrives next month in Kansas City, Pro Athlete will have its feet firmly planted and be ready to swing at a wide array of opportunities served by the surging sport’s first major convention in the region. PickleCon debuts Aug. 8-11 in Kansas City, promising top-level competition that brings together pickleball…
Do The Right Thing: Tate Williams plans to sell his startup (but he’s not looking for an exit)
The following profile features one of five finalists for the “Do The Right Thing” social impact pitch competition organized by the KC BizCare Office, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City and Startland News. Finalist features will be published throughout the week. Click here to read more features. Click here to vote for your favorite finalist…
Switching equity plan providers during macro uncertainty
Editor’s note: The perspectives expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. The following is a paid thought leadership piece from The Plaza Group at Morgan Stanley in Leawood, Kansas. Discover the benefits of evaluating a new equity plan provider; Managing equity plans can play a critical role in fostering company ownership culture Managing equity plans could…
New owners for Bo Lings’ Plaza location; here’s what the beloved restaurant is adding to its menu
Change is on the way for a longtime staple of the Kansas City food scene: Bo Lings — the Chinese restaurant chain founded by Bo “Richard” Ng and Far “Theresa” Ling in 1981 — has partnered with W.VinZant Restaurants to reimagine its Country Club Plaza location with more contemporary and expansive Asian cuisine. The new…
Prospect KC brews coffee bar collab with Messenger inside iconic downtown KC library
A reimagined coffee shop — closed during the pandemic — returns to full strength Aug. 7 thanks to a menu of pastries, sandwiches, and salads prepared by The Prospect KC culinary students in a live-training environment, as well as drinks and coolers crafted with Messenger Coffee Co. The 1,350-square-foot coffee bar and café — dubbed…
Cookies have taken over Sweet Kiss, but this mother-daughter brigadeiro shop has even more baked inside
For Jessica Harris, a brigadeiro offers a taste of home, she said, and for almost a decade, she’s been sharing those Brazilian truffles with Kansas City. When the Sweet Kiss Brigadeiro co-founder relocated to the City of Fountains in 1996 — following her sister who moved the year before to play basketball for Penn Valley…
Convenient target: Smarter regulation needed to combat peer-to-peer payment scams
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Tony Bergida is an Olathe-based entrepreneur and small business owner, as well as a candidate for Johnson County Commission District 6. Click here to read more about that race in the 2024 KC Voter Guide, a free-to-access resource produced through a partnership of…
Catalyst Fund tops $2M invested in nonprofits boosting people of color; meet the latest grantees
The latest batch of Catalyst Fund grants — a combined $500,000 across nearly two dozen organizations — seeks to elevate the work of small nonprofits that are led by or primarily serve Black, Latino, and other people of color across the region, said Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace. “Looking across the list of organizations in this third…
KC’s remaining shopping malls face an economic crossroads (and starkly different futures)
Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Kansas City PBS/Flatland, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, The Kansas City Beacon, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story. Country Club Plaza, Oak Park Mall, Independence Center hit with similar challenges The…
Inside KC’s SubTropolis: How Missouri businesses are looking below the surface for new opportunities
Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Missouri Business Alert, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, and The Kansas City Beacon. Click here to read the original story. Visitors driving into SubTropolis on a recent morning were immediately greeted by rows…
Missouri to create ‘Office of Entrepreneurship,’ prioritize access for emerging ventures
Newly signed legislation — part of a nationwide Right to Start initiative with roots in Kansas City — is expected to boost starters across Missouri, advocates said this week, and reflects broad public and bipartisan support for eliminating barriers for new entrepreneurs and overlooked business owners. “Advancing entrepreneurship will energize the Missouri economy,” said Missouri…
Just funded: Meet the newest Digital Sandbox KC startups (and see what they’re building now)
Digital Sandbox KC this week announced five new startups joining its program that will receive crucial support, mentorship and up to $20,000 in project funding to accelerate their innovative projects. “We are delighted to bring these cutting-edge startups into the Sandbox, connecting them with the necessary support and resources to advance their innovative projects,” said…
Matt Watson scales third startup to exit; shifting full capacity to his tech services company
At Capacity is returning to the company where it all began; the SaaS platform recently sold to CAMP Digital, co-founder and serial entrepreneur Matt Watson confirmed. Details of the sale were not disclosed, but the exit comes just 16 months after Watson and Meg Stapleton launched At Capacity. Click here to read more about the…
Pulling $250K in annual sales and ready to scale? This KC cohort could take your small biz to the next level
As many as 20 local entrepreneurs and business owners could be selected for the latest game-changing program from ScaleUP! Kansas City. The key to getting in: proven revenue and a market ready for their supercharged ventures. ScaleUP! Kansas City — built within the UMKC Innovation Center — is now accepting applications for its no-cost cohort,…
