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.
Homeowners need a handbook for maintenance, founders say; their app puts to-do’s in the past
Tanuj and Rupal Gupta are taking what they know about preventative care from their medical backgrounds and applying it to homeownership, the husband-and-wife duo shared.
Speed pitch event accelerates founder funding IQ; venture capital isn’t always the right move, investors say
During the event, more than a dozen entrepreneurs rotated through small pods of investors for eight-minute conversations: one minute for the founder to lay out the company and opportunity and seven minutes for investor questions, feedback, and discussion.
How are founders building faster with less? MidxMidwest match-making earns credit alongside AI
When Scott Coons scaled his company into a $650 million global business with more than 3,000 employees worldwide, the Perceptive Software founder felt like he had to do it alone, Coons told a crowd Thursday at MidxMidwest.
Rock Island Bridge adding OneKC Roof branding as eco devo leaders celebrate 50 years of wins
A high-profile addition to one of Kansas City’s most popular new destinations is more than a marker of KCADC’s half-century anniversary, David Campbell said; the OneKC branding atop Rock Island Bridge showcases shared identity, economic strength and regional partnerships.
Rebecca Gubbels promoted to top ECJC exec role after years shaping efforts to boost entrepreneurs
A longtime entrepreneurship and banking advisor is advancing to the top leadership position at the Enterprise Center in Johnson County, succeeding Jeff Shackelford, who will retire as president and CEO by the end of the year.
Full Scale built growth, loyalty around cheaper overseas tech talent; Go inside its offshoring experiment
Full Scale developers earn unusually high incomes relative to the Philippine economy, founder Matt Watson said, creating opportunities that would otherwise be difficult for many workers there to access. That’s a convenient trade for an American CEO whose business benefits from the gap between overseas and US employees.
French company bringing 100 jobs to KC for sustainable autotech facility in Riverside
A new Kansas City-area operation is expected to grow OPmobility’s North American manufacturing footprint while strengthening its ability to serve customers across the Midwest and broader U.S. market, regional and company leaders said Tuesday.
Privacy-first startup reimagines how cities, enterprises access real-world intelligence
As AI moves beyond screens and into streets, buildings, and logistics networks, Surge meets real-world demands by providing data delivered continuously and in real time to build an infrastructure layer that smart cities and autonomous systems actually need to function, its founders said.
Startup World Cup opens bracket (and $1M prize) to KC startups; regional tournament this fall at CPKC Stadium
Ten Kansas City finalists are expected to compete this September for a spot in the world’s largest startup conference and pitch competition — pitting Heartland innovation against founders from more than 100 regions around the globe.
Sports entertainment veteran homers with interactive gaming sports bar, baseball outing indoors
Serial entrepreneur Lance Windholz — who spiked a career in tech to build community around beach volleyball in Shawnee — is batting again; this time, taking a swing at sports entertainment and the resurgent popularity of baseball.
They closed their restaurant for weeks to prep for World Cup; six months later, that pause is paying off (at least on big game days)
One Crossroads favorite is capturing some of the bursts of travelers city officials and local FIFA World Cup organizers told businesses would come this summer. A freshly painted mural along the KC Streetcar line helped drive traffic, but success isn’t as simple as just hanging a soccer-themed welcome sign.
Founders urge confidence, not Midwest nice: Stop apologizing for thinking bigger, builders say
Kansas City should be a hotbed for talent and startups, said Usman Wajid, lamenting a trend where entrepreneurs allow themselves to be penned in by a mentality that they’re overlooked locally and need to relocate to raise capital. Sometimes the catalyst for funding is confidence, the Block & Mortar AI founder told a crowd gathered…
Missouri notched big wins for entrepreneurs in 2026, but work remains, advocates report
Missouri is finally seeing renewed and sustained political momentum around entrepreneurship, Jason Wiens told town hall attendees gathered for an update on the Show-Me State’s recent wins around entrepreneur support.