Made in KC

Keith Bradley, Made in Kansas City, TeamKC MVP Award

Made in Kansas City named TeamKC MVP for celebrating KC pride, promoting talent

With its sprawling footprint and focus on local creatives, Made in Kansas City is among the most valuable brands in the metro, TeamKC announced Friday, touting the startup as an economic development driver worthy of its MVP award. Made in KC — founded in 2015 as a retailer of Kansas City-centric and locally designed and made…

Hayley Besheer, MADI Apparel

MADI Apparel founder: ‘It’s not just underwear, it’s dignity’

Hayley Besheer relocated her apparel company’s headquarters from Florida to Kansas City after discovering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and curious customer base, the founder of MADI Apparel said. “Here [in KC] it feels more like [customers can] come into our space and can learn about the mission and [in Florida] everything was sold on online,”…

2018 Startups to Watch

Year-end roundup: Checking in with Startland’s 2018 Startups to Watch

It was a year of refinement, said Chris Goode, as well as a time to rejoice amid highs and lows at Ruby Jean’s Juicery. Startland checked in with the founder, along with his fellow 2018 Startups to Watch companies, to see if the past 12 months unfolded as predicted. While working to expand Ruby Jean’s…

Wobblrs, Kansas City Made kids

Make KC Gift Again 2018: Five Kansas City-born shopping ideas for kids

Startland News presents its annual gift guide of Kansas City-made products to celebrate dozens of KC makers and give readers curated shopping hints. Check out selections from the kids category below. (Have more ideas? Leave them for readers in the comments below. We know this is just a glimpse of what Kansas City has to…

Rif Raf Giraffe plays matchmaker for buildings, money and artists in Crossroads

Jason Harrington sees opportunity in places often overlooked – alleys, elevator shafts and the sides of brick buildings. For the artist better known as Rif Raf Giraffe, they’re vast canvasses, waiting to be filled with gallons and gallons of paint and passion. Harrington recently traversed the East Crossroads Arts District in search of more real…