Discover the stories shaping the future of Kansas City.
From emerging startups to the people making headlines, catch up on the latest in entrepreneurship and innovation across Greater Kansas City.
Black business advocate GIFT wraps holiday markets to close visibility gap for entrepreneurs
The holiday shopping season offers many retail-focused entrepreneurs a gift of their own, said Kharissa Parker, describing opportunities for emerging Black business owners to meet customers in-person at events like Kansas City G.I.F.T.’s Small Business Saturday Black Business Market.
How Polsinelli stepped onto the national stage without walking away from its KC roots
“We’re not just a national law firm that happens to have an office in Kansas City,” said Greg Kratofil. “We’ve been helping build this city’s technology ecosystem for decades while also building a national practice capable of representing some of the most innovative companies in the world.”
GEWKC returns to Union Station with maker fair, packed lineup of startup, small biz speakers
“Every year, we think we can’t possibly top the previous year; and yet every year, our attendees, speakers, makers and supporters blow us away,” said Callie England, director of GEWKC. “This event is one of the highlights of our year because it shows everything the Innovation Center and our partners do for entrepreneurs, all in one place.”
Sports-wellness tech cohort adds two more Kansas City companies in time for tip off
An intensive week of programming opened Monday at ShotTracker’s headquarters in Overland Park as a small cohort of founders — including two just-added Kansas City area innovators — began an immersive new experience led by Endeavor Heartland an Keystone Innovation District.
Hydrangea House grows into long-vacant, Tudor-style Brookside police and fire station
Mother-daughter duo Jessica Carpenter and Abigail Gaughan have been deep cleaning the 6,265-square-foot space — putting in new ceiling and floor tiles, upgrading plumbing, and hanging one-of-a-kind chandeliers. Three trucks of merchandise await, filled with homegoods and vintage and antique furniture.
‘Shark Tank’ is TV (not reality), founders say; Students urged to prepare for the grind, think like entrepreneurs
“You can work for the biggest company in the United States and can still be an entrepreneur within those walls of that company,” said Mathes, a namesake for the Mathes Innovation Center at William Jewell College. “So, if you want to be successful in whatever career you’re in, you need to at least think like an entrepreneur.”
How this KC-area college turned entrepreneurs’ ventures into a fast-growing MBA program
“People don’t want to study theory,” said Taras Polik, founder of London-based startup OneDay. “They can watch videos online on YouTube. They really want to do practical things with their own hands and learn this way.”
MRIGlobal plans North KC lab expansion through KC BioHub’s $38M+ biologics boost
As an influx of $38.1 million in federal Tech Hub and local funds hits the region, a core collaborator within the initiative is expected to cultivate a first-of-its-kind facility in North Kansas City — an expanded physical site for developing critical biomanufacturing and commercialization capacity with the potential to reshape geopolitical threats to U.S. health.
Two solopreneurs smelled opportunity; now they’re helping KC craft custom scents together
Class is already in session for couples and crowds of curious Kansas Citians eager to sniff out new ways to connect memories with first-of-their-kind experiences. It’s all part of a custom fragrance-making workshop crafted by two serial entrepreneurs who already know about creating signature styles. Through expert guidance, premium ingredients and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere,…
Pro Athlete douses firehouse boredom, donating pickleball sets to KC’s 52 fire stations
When Kansas City firefighters finally get a few moments to put down the hoses and shed their gear, said Andrew Dowis, they deserve the sports equipment needed to decompress and blow off some steam.
Costs keep rising, business owners tell Davids, pointing to ‘reckless’ US tariff policies, Iran war
“When tariffs hit local favorites like toy stores and craft shops, it’s Kansas families who end up paying the price at the register,” Sharice Davids said after meeting with small business owners in Prairie Village. “Some of what we’ve been working on in my office is trying to address the reckless tariff policies.”
How a car crash after football practice flipped this top recruit from student athlete to founder
“If I’m going to go through something that traumatic, something good should come out of it,” said Zaydan Ahmed, a Pembroke Hill graduate who built a wearable stress management device after an epileptic seizure caused his car crash.
Work is a Joke: Toss the business cards and grab a mic; new comedy event says your job ain’t that serious
Comedy can be a more powerful connection tool than networking, said Jessie Jacob, emphasizing the contrast between a well-placed joke when meeting another professional and a standard question like “So what do you do?”