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
KC angels pile in with $2.74M funding raise for Matt Watson’s Stackify
A team of six local angel investors has pushed Kansas City-sourced Stackify past the $2 million mark in the company’s latest funding raise, Matt Watson announced Wednesday. “We are using the funds to continue our aggressive growth plans,” Watson, founder and CEO, said of the raise. Uploaded onto the startup scene in 2012, Stackify has…
Smart strategy generates wins for Evergy Ventures — KC’s quiet investment powerhouse
Editor’s note: The following content is sponsored by Evergy Ventures but independently produced by Startland News. As two long-standing utility companies merge, they’re creating a new kind of energy for GXP Investments — now known as Evergy Ventures — said Dennis Odell, announcing a rebrand of the investment firm. “GXP Investments — GXP — it…
The Nerdery powers down, exiting Kansas City in move to consolidate investments
Once topping Inc. Magazine’s fastest-growing companies list, The Nerdery is now pulling back — closing its Kansas City office and redirecting the paths of 28 metro employees, the company revealed this week. “This decision is by no means a reflection of the performance of the team in Kansas City, who have all done a fantastic…
Prime Digital Academy set to launch KC training for tech hopefuls in transition
Prepping workers for roles in an ever-updating tech space just got easier for Kansas Citians, declared Mark Hurlburt. “We do that through immersion learning,” said Hurlburt, president and co-founder of Prime Digital Academy. “We have a program that we’re excited to bring to Kansas City.” Minnesota-made in 2014, Prime Digital Academy — a 20-week program that…
2019 Startups to Watch: Homebase building smart tech for a connected world
Editor’s note: Startland selected 12 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2019’s companies. Click here to view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch. Homebase’s elevator pitch: Homebase.ai is a smart living, residence experience platform powered by the Internet of Things for apartments…
2019 Startups to Watch: Signal Kit sounds alarm on KC-ignited tech’s potential
Editor’s note: Startland selected 12 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2019’s companies. Click here to view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch. Signal Kit’s elevator pitch: Signal Kit is a community messaging platform for school districts to send in-app voice, SMS,…
2019 Startups to Watch: Pepper secures defense against invasive Chinese-made devices
Editor’s note: Startland selected 12 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2019’s companies. Click here to view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch. Pepper’s elevator pitch: Pepper is an independent, multi-tenant Internet of Things communications platform. What Nest or Ring, or these…
2019 Startups to Watch: Zohr steers deeper into new markets with new spin on tire sales
Editor’s note: Startland selected 12 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2019’s companies. Click here to view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch. Zohr’s elevator pitch: Zohr – Tires Delivered & Installed is basically a tire shop that comes to you. We…
2019 Startups to Watch: ShotTracker sensors detect high-scoring year for sports tech firm
Editor’s note: Startland selected 12 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2019’s companies. Click here to view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch. ShotTracker’s elevator pitch: ShotTracker is a sensor-based technology that tracks statistics and analytics for basketball practice and games in real-time….
Beach-loving couple hopes to dissolve fear of sharks with Shark OFF repellent bracelets
Saving limbs, lives, and long-villainized, cartilaginous creatures of the sea — it’s the mission behind a first-of-its-kind Overland Park startup, Shark OFF, said Shea and Geoff Geist. “You’re more likely to get killed by a cow. You’re more likely to die falling out of bed,” said Geoff Geist, half of the husband-wife duo who founded…