Startland News Staff
Sometimes we share credit. The “Staff Writer” byline appears on stories reported, written, or edited collaboratively by members of the Startland News team — especially for quick hits and breaking news.
Recent Stories by Startland News Staff
Photos: Rebooted Startup Crawl reconnects entrepreneurs with a curious Kansas City
Kansas City’s Power & Light District was crawling with curiosity Friday as a sellout crowd made its rounds, participating in the recently revived Startup Crawl event and exploring a new side of the city they call home. “We saw a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces,” said Austin Barnes, executive editor of Startland News and…
Chef behind The Prospect KC selected for accelerator focused on employment, social impact
An emerging Kansas City culinary icon will help lead the way among socially-engaged entrepreneurs creating a more inclusive economy that helps overlooked individuals move workforce barriers to the back burner. Chef Shanita McAfee-Bryant is among 18 employment social enterprise leaders from across the country chosen by leading venture philanthropy REDF (the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund)…
New CEO for KC Fashion Week; transition keeps an industry champion on the runway
A shift in leadership at Kansas City Fashion Week is expected to emphasize the brand’s commitment to showcasing and promoting local and national talent within the industry, its outgoing executive said. “The future of the fashion industry in Kansas City is in the best possible hands,” said co-founder and CEO Philip Willoughby, announcing the sale…
LendingStandard closes $6.7M round with Flyover Capital among key longterm investors
A Kansas City startup’s efforts to streamline the commercial real estate industry are not only reducing wasted time and frustration for lenders and borrowers, said Keith Molzer, it’s making good on investors’ expectations of the tech-driven Saas marketplace. “LendingStandard has listened and responded to what the market needs,” said Molzer, founding managing partner at Flyover…
Royals partner with KC-linked CBD brand to tout health benefits of hemp for athletes
As an entrepreneur who grew up in Kansas City, teaming up with the Kansas City Royals to promote high-quality CBD products is a dream come true, said Dan Huerter, CEO of Pure Spectrum CBD. “To be able to work with such an iconic organization and to be a part of promoting health and wellness in…
Esports startup with KC co-founder announces $3M in seed funding, targets Web3 gaming
An early funding round is expected to help a new professional esports organization expand the creator economy alongside its own footprint, said Nate Schanker, announcing a $3 million seed round for Boston-based M80, a startup coded with Kansas City talent. “We are building something special that the esports industry has never seen before and we…
Startup Crawl is back June 9: Get your passport to KC bands, businesses, beverages
More than 50 startups and a quartet of local bands and performers will headline the June 9 return of Startup Crawl — and it’s a pretty sweet symphony, teased event organizers. “It’s been almost four years since we’ve been able to host our community in this way,” said Austin Barnes, executive editor of Startland News and…
KC Current drops apparel collaboration with streetwear brand to celebrate AAPI heritage
A new, limited-edition collection from MADE MOBB and the Kansas City Current features designs that blend the KC streetwear brand’s icon style with input from hometown women’s soccer players Chardonnay Curran and Hailie Mace. The merchandise collaboration — a first between the two organizations — launched this week in celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian…
New culinary center opens in the Northland, offering startup food businesses commercial kitchen space
Mid-Continent Public Library opened the doors to its much-anticipated Culinary Center — with public-facing food and nutrition-focused classes beginning in June, as well as commercial kitchen access for emerging food entrepreneurs. “We are thrilled to finally welcome the community into our space and can’t wait to get cooking!” said Xander Winkel, director for MCPL’s Culinary…
These two Small Biz of the Year finalists are among the half-dozen KC firms honored as Inc.’s ‘Best Workplaces’
A workplace in the era of talent shortages and a hyper-competitive jobs market is only as good as its ability to meet employees’ nuanced needs, said Melea McRae, a top founder whose marketing company was among six Kansas City firms selected for Inc. magazine’s Best Workplaces list. “Through our un-agency business model, we’ve built a…