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.”
Hood Dude Food Reviews takes the stage: Where to find one of KC’s social media stars during GEWKC
Glenn Robinson spent the past three years putting Kansas City businesses in front of his audience across social media as The Epitome KC. This fall, he’ll be putting that same brand of entrepreneur in the spotlight from the Extreme Screen at Union Station. The viral creator behind Hood Dude Food Reviews is set to emcee…
Ethical athletic apparel company moving global HQ to RS’ social impact hub on Troost
A major expansion for Kansas City-based Resto Athletic also marks a significant milestone for Reconciliation Services after the social impact-focused nonprofit’s $16 million campus redevelopment and the launch of its RS Impact Exchange in 2025, said Father Justin Mathews.
Being your authentic self is serious work, founders say; why women need to be in the business of saying ‘no’ more
In a world that’s so focused on AI, now’s the time for entrepreneurs to lean into the authentic quirks that make their businesses different, said Colleen Robertson, encouraging women to “be OK doing something crazy and turning people’s heads.”
Forget beating Vegas: KC startup wants sports fans to compete — not throw money at a gambling app
A Kansas City-built sports ledger turns daily fandom into arcade games, puzzles and trivia — all while keeping score of what users actually know. But it’s not another mobile betting platform, founder Chris Newton said, noting the wager is in game day cred — not a payout.
Billions in development: Royals are just one player behind Downtown KC’s rally, advocates say
The next chapter of Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, isn’t being shaped like just one project, Pat Contreras told a crowd this week, noting a handful of massive projects tell a much bigger story of what momentum looks like when investments connect. “Transportation, entertainment, healthcare, the Riverfront, major civic institutions, neighborhoods — the opportunity now is…
Rare KC hires first exec in bid to close gaps for families impacted by rare health threats
Adding a full-time executive director to lead the Rare KC initiative is expected to help the organization accelerate support and innovation around rare diseases, genetic conditions, and cancers, said Dennis Ridenour, announcing the hire as an extension of BioNexus KC’s partnership and shared regional strategies.