Messenger Coffee

Isaac Hodges, president at Messenger Coffee Company

‘Role models’ for KC: Chamber reveals 10 finalists for Small Business of the Year award

Ten Kansas City companies — including a handful of up-and-coming startups and popular food and beverage hotspots — are vying for the Chamber’s top honor: the coveted Mr. K award. “Today’s the day!” said Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, announcing the top 10 small business of the…

Ryan Maybee, Nathan Perry, and Andy Rieger, J. Rieger & Co.; Thalia Cherry, Cherry; Shea Geist and Geoffrey Geist, Shark Off; and Matt Baysinger and Ryan Henrich, Swell Spark

Startups pitching this week to earn finalists spots for ‘Mr K’ Small Biz of the Year award

Innovation-led companies are going mainstream in Kansas City with an increasing number of product, experience and tech-based startups named as candidates for the top small business prize in the city: the Mr. K Award. Such well-known names to Startland News readers as Cherry, Chicken N Pickle, Crema, Plexpod, J. Rieger & Co., McLain’s Markets, Messenger…