Haines Eason
Writer/Founder @ Freelance Kansas
Haines Eason is the owner of startup content marketing agency Freelance Kansas. Previously he worked as a managing editor for a corporate content marketing team and as a communications professional at KU. His work has appeared in publications like The Guardian, Eater and KANSAS! Magazine among others.
Recent Stories by Haines Eason
Disney’s deal with OpenAI is dead, but the villain of the story is still lurking, KC theater owner says
Don’t roll credits just yet, said Adam Roberts. The collapse of a deal that would’ve licensed some of Disney’s most popular characters to an AI generator doesn’t mean the end for the fan-inspired, on-demand custom video content that studio executives envisioned (and many cinephiles like Roberts revile). News broke Tuesday that OpenAI was shuttering its…
The end of gear hunting: Wacka wants to automate-away manual price chasing
Late nights. Too many browser tabs. Price comparisons across half a dozen retailers. Waiting weeks for the right moment to buy. Justen Wack knows exactly how outdoor gear purchases usually happen, he said — because the tech founder used to grind through the process himself. It’s a ritual familiar to skiers, cyclists, backpackers and climbers…
From Homebase to homes of the future: Here’s how KC-connected Quext landed its GFiber partnership
When Blake Miller talks about smart buildings, he isn’t theorizing from afar. He’s tracing a line that runs straight through Kansas City — from early smart-city experiments and public Wi-Fi infrastructure to a new partnership with GFiber that aims to reshape how residents experience internet access and daily digital life inside apartment buildings. Miller, founder…
New owner: Charlie Hustle’s iconic heart will remain as brand exports KC vibe to new cities
As Charlie Hustle’s new owners work to scale the Kansas City-built apparel company, the brand won’t lose its heart, they said, pledging instead to pattern expansion efforts after the vintage-feel and hometown-first ethos that made Charlie Hustle a go-to source for KC pride. A critical piece of the plan: Hit new markets, city by city…
Caffeinated by design: Why coffee is critical infrastructure at Topeka’s new innovation hub
Sparrow Coffee Co. roasts second home inside Link Innovation Labs as space prioritizes local small businesses alongside startups TOPEKA — When a hotly-anticipated innovation hub opens its doors Feb. 9 in downtown Topeka, visitors might notice the scent of freshly brewed coffee before they even catch sight of the startup space’s state-of-the art high-tech labs….
2026 Startups to Watch: LAN Party gains steam with nostalgia as a hook, gaming enterprise potential as the real play
Editor’s note: Startland News editors selected 10 high-growth, scaling Kansas City companies to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch project. Now in its 11th year, this feature recognizes founders and startups that editors believe will make some of the biggest, most compelling news in the coming 12 months. The following is one of 2026’s…
2026 Startups to Watch: Cyphra Autonomy pairs robotics with heavy labor (and a light lift for job site users)
Editor’s note: Startland News editors selected 10 high-growth, scaling Kansas City companies to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch project. Now in its 11th year, this feature recognizes founders and startups that editors believe will make some of the biggest, most compelling news in the coming 12 months. The following is one of 2026’s…
Retirement savings as startup capital? Little-known legal move is helping some Kansas Citians don the founder hat
Editor’s note: The following piece was sponsored by Accelefund, a Missouri-based firm that helps connect entrepreneurs with small business and startup funding. Russell Luttrall had spent years planning his next chapter. After a career that stretched from military service to decades maintaining and managing federal vehicle fleets, he knew exactly what kind of auto shop…
Lesser-known sales tax faces pivotal 2026 vote, opportunity to define its next chapter
Editor’s note: The following details the Kansas City’s Central City Economic Development (CCED) sales tax initiative within the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City. EDCKC is a paid partner of Startland News. A decade-long experiment in east side investment is entering a new crucible as Kansas City’s CCED sales tax district heads toward a quiet…
Kiva KC brings zero-interest microloans to founders shut out of traditional capital
Editor’s note: The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC) and KC BizCare are partners of Startland News. Kansas City is betting that a global microlending model — one built on $25 contributions and community belief in everyday entrepreneurs — can help close one of the city’s most stubborn gaps: early-stage capital for founders who…