Austin Barnes
Executive Editor, Startland News
Austin is a growth-focused business strategist with deep roots in media and storytelling. As executive editor, he leads Startland’s revenue generation, partnership strategy, and market expansion— aligning mission-driven journalism with scalable business models.
With over a decade of experience spanning media, brand development, and strategic communications, Austin has helped grow Startland’s reach beyond Kansas City, launching new monetization efforts and driving engagement with more than 700,000 readers each year. His work bridges entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable growth —positioning Startland as a national model for community-centered media.
Recent Stories by Austin Barnes
Timing ‘couldn’t be better’ for scaling Innara Health’s solution for preemies, CEO says
One of Kansas City’s most under the radar startups is scaling up amid COVID-19 — thanks in part to a share of $250 thousand in non-dilutive funding from a Los Angeles-based accelerator and FDA sponsored pediatric device consortia. “When COVID hit, one of the things I took from that was, ‘When you’re not selling, your process better…
New in KC: Why Jackie Nguyen hit the brakes on acting to open a mobile coffee cafe
Editor’s note: New in KC is an ongoing profile series that highlights newly relocated members of the Kansas City startup community, their reasons for a change of scenery, and what they’ve found so far in KC. Click here to read more New in KC profiles. Lifting the curtain on the region’s first Vietnamese coffee traveling cafe, Jackie Nguyen is…
Barrel-aged blends: One of KC’s hottest new roasts comes steeped in local libations
Something bolder is steeping on the Kansas City coffee scene — pairing one of the metro’s most experienced roasters with a leader in local liquor. “People have been really interested in [blended beverages] around here,” said Christopher Oppenhuis, founder of Marcell Coffee Projects — the year-old private label roasting operation that helps keep a slew of…
How Shelley Cooper hopes to turn her telehealth remedy into an appointment for ‘Unicornville’
No shows mean no dough — but SureShow means cash flow, Dr. Shelley Cooper rhymed, laughing. “I’m supposed to be really professional and that sounds kind of goofy, but you know, if it makes people remember … ” joked Cooper, founder of SureShow by Diversity Telehealth, in a rare moment of downtime as she prepared for…
‘Work-life’ comes to the office: KC design firm offers teacher, space for students as an employee benefit
Juggling Zoom meetings and remote work is difficult enough for single adults — let alone parents trying to manage the ins and outs of their kids’ virtual school routines during COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions, said Melissa Nickel. “I do not want my children just to survive, I want them to thrive,” Nickel, operations lead at Engenious…
Winning pitch: Leading KC fintech founder deposits trio of new bank partnerships
One of Kansas City’s prominent fintech and nonprofit leaders has secured partnerships with three of the regions leading banks. Donald Hawkins, founder and CEO of Griffin Technologies and a co-leader in KC Collective, was awarded pilot projects with Emprise Bank, Fidelity Bank, and Intrust Bank, Thursday — part of the Wichita-based NXSTAGE Pilot Competition, hosted…
Beating the boys club: Mother of three hits the mat with girls wrestling shoes
Anything guys can do, girls and women just might be doing better, Deb North said. “Our whole goal is to support girls in this process and build them up and be their cheerleaders,” North, founder of Yes! Athletics, explained of the social enterprise — which recently launched The Defiant 1 wrestling shoe, a breathable, lightweight, eco-friendly shoe…
Plug and Play accelerator gains another major animal health backer: Hill’s Pet Nutrition
TOPEKA — Hill’s Pet Nutrition is the latest company to throw its support behind a new, Topeka-based animal health accelerator. “For over a century, Hill’s Pet Nutrition has been a cornerstone in the Topeka business community. They continue to be at the forefront of innovation and are a key driver in Topeka’s role in the…
‘Labor of love’: Leslie Scott’s decade-long mission to pair donors, nonprofits launches
A years-long project to help non-profits connect with donors is now a reality — thanks in large part to a government-issued economic stimulus check. “Because of my stimulus payment, I was able to actually pay a friend who’s a WordPress developer to do the site,” said Leslie Scott, non-profit advocate and founder of Re.Use.Full — a…
To be blunt: Meowijuana sees record sales as COVID sparks deeper bonds for pets, owners
Consumer sensibilities are much higher in the 2020s than they were in 2005, Chris Glissman laughed, recalling his garage-baked idea for a stoner-inspired line of catnip. “You can guess what I was doing at the time,” he chuckled, looking back on his 15-year journey with Meowijuana — the Lenexa-based catnip giant that promises pets an…