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.
How industry investors are fueling Block and Mortar’s vision for a real estate tech hub in KC
Kansas City is uniquely positioned to become the real estate development and built capital of the United States, said Usman Wajid, announcing a strategic investment from two infrastructure and development-focused construction firms that already dug lasting legacies in the region.
Herbs N’ Harlem founder had to slow down to scale up; now she’s meditating on expansion
“I want people to know: the worst thing you can think of, you can make it through. You are capable of moving on from loss. To get up and keep going. I promise,” said Ma’Ryah Jennings.
KC grocers load up on World Cup clothing to capitalize on moment, offer convenience
Kansas City will host six games and serve as home base for four national teams during the World Cup, and supermarket chains like Hy-Vee and Price Chopper are trying to capture some of the hype in the form of apparel sales.
Topeka startup backers launch ‘Golden Ticket’ to lab space in just-opened incubator
One winning startup is expected to receive a full year of free lab space at Topeka’s LINK Innovation Lab — luring startup talent to the state-of-the-art startup incubator facility as the capital city ramps up its entrepreneurial support infrastructure.
KC-built Attane Health merges with digital grocery pioneer to forge food-is-medicine platform
The merger offers scale neither business could achieve alone, the companies said, noting a rapidly changing industry landscape that is creating both urgency and opportunity.
‘We’re not waiting for anybody else to build it for us’: KC previews amped-up small biz energy ahead of World Cup
As host cities across North America prepare to welcome the world in 2026, Kansas City entrepreneurs are already getting in formation — with a choreographed assist from backers at the City of Entrepreneurs initiative. That REP URS spirit was on full display Wednesday during an Open Doors! Spotlight event at DISTRKCT, offering a closer look…