Haines Eason

Freelance Kansas

Haines Eason is the founder of startup content marketing agency Freelance Kansas. Previously he worked as the managing editor overseeing a large long-form content marketing team for an international corporation and as a communications professional in higher education. His work and photography have appeared in publications like The Guardian, Eater and KANSAS! Magazine among others. Freelance Kansas seeks to support the innovators and do-gooders who are working to make this world safer and more equitable for all.

Recent Stories by Haines Eason

Landlord’s solution to Kansas housing crisis: 3D print his own home inventory 

TOPEKA — Regularly confronted with a lack of supply in the housing market — and the subsequent higher prices — landlord and general capital investor Chris Stemler faced a multi-dimensional challenge. “I thought to myself, ‘How do I help solve an inventory problem?’ the Topeka-based Trident Homes founder said.  “I know I’ve got renters who…

This AI scans for auto damage in 30 seconds; Here’s how it’s gaining instant trust, KC tech industry veteran says

A growing number of automotive-sales and related businesses are turning to Click-Ins, an AI-assisted startup on a rapidly upward trajectory, to solve a long-standing problem: how to inspect vehicles quickly, accurately and consistently without relying solely on human judgment.  But the value isn’t in replacing humans in the workforce, said Josh Parsons, a 20-year auto…

Advocates want a startup-boosting Missouri angel investor tax credit (but they’ll have to beat legislature’s ticking clock)

With about a week left in Missouri’s legislative session, business advocates at NEXT Missouri are making a final push for lawmakers to pass a bill creating a state angel investor tax credit — legislation its backers say could catalyze early-stage business growth and keep entrepreneurial talent and essential startup capital rooted in the state. Jason…

Innovation index: Cross-newsroom startup data partnership puts Kansas City on the map

Finding relevant, actionable information on innovation happening in one’s own backyard can be tough, said Christopher Wink, announcing Kansas City’s inclusion within a new resource for navigating innovation communities. “Every metro region, every state has some website or page — ‘This is where you start if you’re going to join the KC tech community or…

It’s going DAO: Why an NFT-fueled blockchain org is launching in KC alongside Global Pizza Day

A pizza party in a Midtown eatery covered in art is expected to mark the launch of a Nouns DAO chapter in Kansas City — a group endeavoring to fund local creativity, support the public good and expand access to decentralized cultural funding.  But there’s more at stake than just getting a piece of the…

Real-life KC startup bros create virtual basement gaming vibes, turning once-isolated streaming into a familiar party

In today’s connected world, gaming with or against relative strangers — or “friends” a player only knows from a specific game or platform — is the norm. A Kansas City startup’s new streaming venture aims to recreate old school gaming-with-friends-in-the-basement vibe in the digital world. Available on Steam for free when its beta goes live…

Neighborhood smart cans help Kansas Citians save the planet from their kitchens

Newly introduced composting technology is already turning new ground in Kansas City, Kristan Chamberlain said, with more solar-powered compost cans arriving later this spring across the metro’s urban landscape. Her social venture, KC Can Compost, installed three of the devices in October — free to use for KCMO residents wanting to deposit their soil-making food…

So you think you’re CEO material? UMKC’s ‘CEO Academy’ puts that ambition to the test

Aspiring executives with an eye on the C-suite need to be ready well before the opportunity arises, said Dan Hesse, leaning on his years of past experience as president and CEO of Sprint. It’s not about just being the boss, he emphasized. “Of all the roles, that of the CEO is so different than any…

What comes after the World Cup? Leaders ponder KC’s next phase (and how to get there)

Editor’s note: The following is the first in a four-part series exploring the verticals and impact of initiatives within the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City through a paid partnership with EDCKC. EDCKC leader: Tapping Kansas City’s full potential requires coordinated eco devo strategy across region Tracey Lewis has lived and worked in some of…

Why KCMO pushed to lock down ‘Kansas City’ brand ahead of its biggest sports event yet

With World Cup visitors already eyeing plane tickets to Kansas City for matches opening in June 2026, clarity around what constitutes “Kansas City” will be key, said Quinton Lucas, who in late 2024 made moves to restrict labeling the city’s name on certain projects. The effort aims to authentically represent KCMO on the world’s stage,…