Recent Stories by Becky Brown
KC tech leaders: AI developed without women, diverse voices could bring real-world harm
“I always tell women: ‘Staying away from AI or completely ignoring it is not doing anybody good,’” said Maliha Khan, CEO and founder of consultancy Khanect the Dots. “You control how much or how little of AI you use.”
Treating yourself: Sometimes a bedazzler offers the right dosage, says crafty side hustler
When women need help forming deep connections and honest conversations, Suzi Nelson said, it takes more than a simple prescription for sparkle — but it’s a start. “I trick people into talking about their feelings,” said Nelson, founder of Rxtra Co., a small business that hosts intimate bedazzling parties across Kansas City.
Rock Doc Jayhawk: ‘Crash course in Business 101’ leads Kansas entrepreneur to Today Show spotlight
It was a dream-come-true moment for CEO Jim Gray — nearly 25 years in the making — when “Today” cohost Craig Melvin picked up a bottle of Rock Doctor on a summer episode of the NBC morning show and told the audience, “We use this in our house!”
KC Symphony exec tries his hand at booktech founder after shelving dot-com era entrepreneurship
An injury that immobilized Danny Beckley’s wrist put a sudden halt to his hobbies — from woodworking and gardening to piloting planes — but opened a new chapter on entrepreneurial side hustles and returned him to the tech world he’d previously left behind to lead orchestras.
Outdoor match: Missouri founder starts new journey, pairing users with the right gear to take a hike
A Missouri entrepreneur known for breaking down barriers is taking her next project on a hike out of stealth mode. Krista Peryer’s new online platform hacks her tech background and love of nature to pair users with their ideal outdoor equipment and apparel. It all comes back to the classic founder path, she said: Experience…
Vine Street Brewing co-owner taps fresh opportunities with new craft beer industry role
Vine Street Brewing is firmly rooted in Kansas City’s historic jazz district, but the woman behind this vibrant cultural hub also feels at home taking the popular brewery along with her to the national stage. Growing the brand, she said, requires her to hop beyond the counter.
Local grocers integrating AI into shopping experience as small businesses fill carts with tech
A group of Kansas City-area grocers are teaming with an artificial intelligence startup in hopes of making customers’ dollars go farther, Tal Zlotnitsky said, along with harnessing cutting-edge technology to help the businesses themselves stay competitive.
They closed their restaurant for weeks to prep for World Cup; six months later, that pause is paying off (at least on big game days)
One Crossroads favorite is capturing some of the bursts of travelers city officials and local FIFA World Cup organizers told businesses would come this summer. A freshly painted mural along the KC Streetcar line helped drive traffic, but success isn’t as simple as just hanging a soccer-themed welcome sign.