Social Apex Media

Quincy Lee’s imagination never stops working; thanks to a life-saving camera, neither does he

An introverted “creativepreneur,” Quincy Lee juggles video content creation, co-owning a digital marketing agency, designing his own apparel, and fatherhood — all while bringing bold ideas into focus. “I’ve always been an entrepreneur all my life,” Lee said, reflecting on the early days of his journey. “It started small, but it planted the seed for…

Meet customers where they are (and they’re on TikTok): Marketing experts urge startups to invest in brand building

Like it or not, “TikTok remains king,” said Mikita Burton, encouraging startup founders to balance negative headlines about the video-sharing social media platform with its incredible potential for reaching their most-sought-after audiences. “We don’t just get to pick our customers’ favorite platforms, so you need to be where they are,” Burton, a social media strategist…

Juaquan Herron, Scarlet Knight

Not all entrepreneurs wear capes: Chamber’s ‘Superstars’ campaign unmasks heroes of KC business scene

A critical need is driving changes to one of Kansas City’s longest-running annual business events: support for every small business — no matter their scale or the neighborhoods in which they belong.   “This is a time like no other,” explained Vicky Kulikov, small business director for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, detailing changes to…

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…

TRNDSTTRS reboots to link companies to new wave of Gen Z consumers

After a period of significant traction that included a merger, TRNDSTTRS Media has returned to Kansas City with a redefined vision and laser focus to better elevate Gen Z in the entrepreneurial and advertising landscape, explained Jake Bjorseth.  “We really wanted to take that next step in growth and rather than compete at these lower…