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
Techstars Startup Weekend returns to fight COVID-19 … the caveat? It starts now
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Techstars Startup Weekend is adding new programming in the era of Coronavirus…
Charlie Hustle restarts ‘Heart of KC’ give-back effort with plan to produce 100K face masks
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Production of the famed KC Heart tee has stopped in the wake…
Nowhere to trim: Emptied salons, independent contractors feel cut out of relief funds with few options
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Critical mistakes in the first round of government aid for small businesses…
Locked down and out of love? KC duo revives blind date concept live and in quarantine
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Pause those Tinder accounts and uninstall Bumble, a Kansas City duo developed…
West Coast startup studio thinks now is the perfect time to add KC tech companies to its portfolio
A Venice Beach, California-based startup studio wants to fund, found, and grow more startups — including those in the Kansas City area. “When we got started, our main goal was to reduce the 90 percent failure rate of startups,” explained Austin Stofer, founder and CEO of Sieo — the California startup studio that currently boasts a 12-company…
C2FO’s Sandy Kemper: Remote work has potential to strain communication, but fosters empathy
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. C2FO and the Kemper Family Foundation are financial supporters of Startland News,…
Rieger revolution: Why Chef Howard Hanna won’t return to ‘business as usual’ after COVID-19
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. This story contains some explicit language. As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis crept into…
Esports trendsetters launching Social Distancing Open as gaming champs fire back at COVID-19
Opportunities to connect are in high demand and video games could score relief in a level of life that’s been suddenly planked by intense isolation, said Mason Mullenioux. “Esports kind of lends itself to a situation like this,” Mullenioux, co-founder of the Kansas City-based High School Esports League, said of the coming Social Distancing Open…
‘Empathy over economics’: Why Betty Rae’s is storing its scoops amid COVID-19 brainfreeze
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. A typical spring would see the winter blues lifting over Kansas City…
Sickweather’s new COVID-19 Score a leading predictor of next cities hit by Coronavirus
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Extending Sickweather’s illness forecasting tech to track and predict Coronavirus…