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.
‘Dead ain’t dead’: KC’s resurrected Black Wall Street, cultural corridor raises the curtain on $8.7M renovation
Relaunching the Boone Theater runs parallel to the rebirth of 18th and Vine itself, said Emanuel Cleaver II, joining a chorus of community leaders to celebrate the renovation of both the venue and the surrounding jazz district. “This is a resurrection,” Cleaver said. “We have a story to tell.”
Can’t say World Cup: Kansas City restaurants struggle to navigate FIFA copyright rules
When Joyce Watts of Boujee Bakery began to update her website with promotions to lure soccer fans to her location east of downtown, she ran into an unexpected roadblock: “FIFA World Cup 2026” is protected intellectual property.
Language skills might be World Cup advantage for Independence Avenue eateries
Inside the colorful Mexican mercados, carnicerias, taquerias, cafes, panaderias and paleterias accenting Independence Avenue, Spanish is the first language for most shop owners and their customers. “We will do everything we can to understand them,” said Antonio Garcia, the 21-year-old manager of Frutopia, who speaks not only fluent Spanish, but also English and conversational Arabic.
Why KC’s international restaurants fear being overlooked by World Cup fans
“We have such a diverse concentration of immigrants and refugees who don’t know how to promote themselves, so we’re starting to highlight some of the hole-in-the-wall gems that you might just walk by,” said Northeast Chamber president Bobbi Baker.
World Cup lures Kansas Citians off sidelines, into short-term rental market
With the FIFA World Cup expected to draw crowds of visitors to Kansas City this summer, some locals are becoming short-term-rental hosts for the first time, turning spare rooms, guest houses or entire homes into temporary lodging for soccer fans.
Host cities steer into World Cup headwinds: ‘We didn’t work 10 years for this to be a flop,’ KC tourism leader says
Whether visitors come from across the country or around the globe, Kansas City is prepared to land the plane when the World Cup arrives this summer, said Kathy Nelson, acknowledging geopolitical strife and President Trump’s visa policy are making the U.S. a less attractive destination for international travelers.