Tommy Felts
Editor-In-Chief, Startland News
Tommy is editor-in-chief for Startland News, a Kansas City-based nonprofit newsroom that uses storytelling to elevate the region’s startup community of entrepreneurs, innovators, hustlers, creatives and risk-takers.
Under Tommy’s leadership, Startland News has expanded its coverage from a primarily high-tech, high-growth focus to a more wide-ranging and inclusive look at the faces of entrepreneurism, innovation and business.
Before joining Startland News in 2017, Tommy worked for 12 years as an award-winning newspaper journalist, designer, editor and publisher. He was named one of Editor & Publisher magazine’s top “25 Under 35” in 2014.
Recent Stories by Tommy Felts
Goodwill merger pushes expansion plans, KC’s new adult high school to the front of the store, leader says
Consolidating operations between offices in Kansas City in St. Louis not only will produce one of the largest Goodwill footprints in the nation, said Mike Sinnett; the move is expected to bolster efforts to add more retail stores and deepen initiatives like the soon-to-open Excel Center at Bannister Road. Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern…
MTC leader resigning, calls for a new voice to lead fight for Missouri entrepreneurship funding
A leadership change at the Missouri Technology Corporation comes as the state faces a crossroads with its approach to entrepreneurship support, officials said Tuesday, reacting to news of a high-profile resignation just three months after the public-private partnership lost key financial support from lawmakers and a new governor. “It’s time for MTC to be led…
Here’s how Bungii delivered spot No. 981 in its Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies debut
Nailing Bungii’s geographic expansion model has unlocked significant growth, said Ben Jackson, detailing a years-long evolution that earned his Kansas City-built final-mile delivery carrier a coveted spot on the latest Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list. “Bungii’s network is becoming one of the largest sharing economy footprints across the U.S.,” explained Jackson, who co-founded the company…
Emerging KC space tech startup relocating to Colorado to build autonomous factory
A space tech startup that shot into orbit from its West Bottoms headquarters in Kansas City has announced plans to build its first smart factory in Colorado — relocating operations to Broomfield to join the Centennial State’s “robust aerospace and defense ecosystem.” “Colorado is home to some of the best aerospace, defense, and manufacturing talent…
Bar K dog bar closes all locations, calling out KC riverfront construction, rising inflation
Owners of the award-winning Bar K dog bar — a popular destination for four-legged Kansas Citians and their friends — announced its closure Tuesday, after nearly a decade in business that saw the concept expand to St. Louis and Oklahoma City before suddenly shuttering all operations. “We are heartbroken to announce that Bar K will be…
KC Tech Council celebrates tax fix in Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ that boosts growing businesses
A tax fix included in the recently signed “One Big Beautiful Bill” — sprawling legislation meant to overhaul taxes in the United States — marks a major win for Kansas City’s tech and innovation economy, said Kara Lowe. At issue: a long-awaited change to Section 174 research and development expensing that now allows businesses to…
Crossroads distillery asks KC to make a toast in honor of founder lost in weekend motorcycle wreck
Update: A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to support the family of the late Jeff Evans. Click here to learn more or to donate. With doors temporarily closed early this week (July 21-22) to mourn the loss of co-founder Jeff Evans, the team behind Mean Mule Distilling is asking its community to “grieve with us,…
Match this: ‘Ted Lasso’ filming in KC another win for city’s tax credit pitch, mayor says
Scoring state-side shooting locations for the newest season of “Ted Lasso” reflects a strategy by the KC Film Office that’s straight from the hit Apple TV+ series’ playbook: the harder you work, the luckier you get. “‘Ted Lasso’ filming in Kansas City represents everything we’ve been working toward,” said Rachel Kephart, director of the KC…
How this Top 10 small biz says ScaleUP! KC kept her company on the right path amid growth spurts
Entrepreneurs tout business program’s impact as it hits 10-year mark Over the course of a decade, ScaleUP! Kansas City not only has helped develop a foundation of success for dozens of companies; the acclaimed initiative built a legion of champions from within 14 cohorts of growth-minded small business owners. “There’s no other program like it,”…
Transportation company’s move to consolidated HQ expected to bring 250 workers to KC site
Consolidating five locations into a single, state-of-the-art Kansas City campus means Master’s Transportation — a leading provider of commercial buses and vans — will relocate 130 Missouri employees to its new headquarters, with plans to expand to 250 by the end of the year, the company said. “This expansion reflects the company’s rapid growth and…