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Report: NFL Draft festivities scored $164.3M in economic impact for Kansas City
Despite the stress of feeding thousands of people, a propane tank running out, and a fryer overheating — plus paying the vendor fee — KC’s Wing Bar owner Keshia Clark said teaming up with the NFL Draft in April was definitely worth it for her business. “We saw in three days what one middle class The post Report: NFL Draft festivities scored $164.3M in economic impact for Kansas City appeared first on Startland News.
‘Follow the smoke and look for the Ferris wheel’: Chef J BBQ set to join Pennway Point (and Arrowhead)
Walking through the West Bottoms, the smell of smoke and spice will lead a hungry wanderer to one of Kansas City’s emerging barbecue hot spots: Chef J BBQ. Restauranter and pitmaster Justin Easterwood, better known as “Chef J,” has made a name for himself — now that hard work has earned Chef J BBQ a The post ‘Follow the smoke and look for the Ferris wheel’: Chef J BBQ set to join Pennway Point (and Arrowhead) appeared first on Startland News.
Overland Park Farmers Market vendor suspended over anti-semitic social media posts
Editor’s note: The following story was first published the Shawnee Mission Post. Click here to read the original story or here to subscribe to the independent Johnson County news source. Content warning: This story includes hate speech and disturbing language. The Overland Park Farmers’ Market has suspended a first-year vendor after his anti-semitic and hate-filled social media posts The post Overland Park Farmers Market vendor suspended over anti-semitic social media posts appeared first on Startland News.
Flint Group’s new strategic partner invests in taking the home services platform national
SEATTLE — A newly announced strategic investment from the global firm General Atlantic is expected to help a home services platform with Kansas City leadership enhance its business offerings and accelerate its growth, ultimately toward scaling the company nationally. Founded in 2019 by industry veterans Collin Hathaway and Trevor Flannigan, Flint Group has quickly expanded The post Flint Group’s new strategic partner invests in taking the home services platform national appeared first on Startland News.
Biotech startup’s $6.5M Series A expected to cultivate expanded workforce, research capabilities
Ronawk’s Bio-Block Universe has already revolutionized cell and tissue production, Tom Jantsch said, and the recent investment of $6.5 million is set to further research and development. “We have really changed the paradigm of how not only cell culture is done, but how researchers are able to scale. They can go from the bench, all The post Biotech startup’s $6.5M Series A expected to cultivate expanded workforce, research capabilities appeared first on Startland News.
J Rieger continues its international push, adding whiskey distribution to northern neighbors
Fresh off its win as the KC Chamber’s top international small business, J. Rieger & Co. announced its expansion into Nova Scotia — a milestone as the Kansas City-based distiller enters the Canadian market. “We are thrilled to bring our range of artisanal spirits to Canada for the first time,” said Ryan Maybee, co-founder of J. The post J Rieger continues its international push, adding whiskey distribution to northern neighbors appeared first on Startland News.
Mid x Midwest returning in November with renewed vision to connect KC founders, VCs
The pilot Mid x Midwest event in fall 2022 supported the idea that early-stage tech founders and investors are hungry for more conversations post pandemic, Dan Kerr and Maggie Kenefake shared, spurring the return of the invite-only meetup in November. “We both showed up that morning to Hotel Kansas City and we walked into the The post Mid x Midwest returning in November with renewed vision to connect KC founders, VCs appeared first on Startland News.
PrairieFood grows power of its micro-carbon ag solution with a pipeline of human connection
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. LAWRENCE — Entrepreneurship is all about networking, Robert Herrington said. “You never know where a pivot or direction is going to come from,” said Herrington, an early member of the Pipeline The post PrairieFood grows power of its micro-carbon ag solution with a pipeline of human connection appeared first on Startland News.
C2FO marks $300B in funding for businesses as entrepreneurs navigate ongoing credit crunch
Rapid marketplace expansion in the first half of 2023 helped push Leawood-based C2FO — the world’s on-demand working capital platform — past the $300-billion mark in total funding to its customers. This record funding amount reflects invoices paid an average of 31 days early via C2FO’s platform. C2FO gets vital, low-cost capital into customers’ hands The post C2FO marks $300B in funding for businesses as entrepreneurs navigate ongoing credit crunch appeared first on Startland News.
Froyo with a ’tini twist: Entrepreneur collaboration serves alcoholic frozen yogurt in KC
Kansas City is excited by the new flavor combinations popping up as two entrepreneurs give customers a taste of collaboration, said Isaac Collins, teasing a line of alcoholic frozen yogurt that’s already hitting cups in the metro. Through a partnership with KC-based Brain Freeze Mobile Daiquiri, Collins’ Yogurtini locations have begun a series of happy The post Froyo with a ’tini twist: Entrepreneur collaboration serves alcoholic frozen yogurt in KC appeared first on Startland News.
How Meshuggah Bagels ‘built a bakery without a recipe’ — now expanding to Liberty, Lawrence
Pete Linde tested 72 bagel recipes before hitting perfection with number 73, said Janna Linde. She knows because she tried every single test bagel. “Pete worked on that recipe for about a year. He had a notebook and took notes on every little tweak and modification he made. I’d see the big hand mixer come The post How Meshuggah Bagels ‘built a bakery without a recipe’ — now expanding to Liberty, Lawrence appeared first on Startland News.
Royals preview ballpark of the future: Now they need to decide where to put it
Editor’s note: The following story was published by KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR member station, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for KCUR’s email newsletter. The Royals are choosing between a stadium and entertainment district in Kansas City’s East Village or in North Kansas City. The The post Royals preview ballpark of the future: Now they need to decide where to put it appeared first on Startland News.
Chingu Coffee blends ‘familiar with not-so-familiar’ in a shop that embraces its neighbors alongside Korean heritage
Keeyoung Kim’s latest concepts — Chingu and Chingu Coffee — revolve around community, the Sura Eats chef and owner shared. Chingu means “friend” in Korean, he explained, and friendship is the recurring theme between the restaurant — which debuted July 2022 in Westport — and the coffee shop — which soft opened in mid-May in The post Chingu Coffee blends ‘familiar with not-so-familiar’ in a shop that embraces its neighbors alongside Korean heritage appeared first on Startland News.
Serial entrepreneur jumps back into the founder seat with smart online advertising platform
Two years after becoming a twice-exited startup founder, Matt Watson is back at the helm of a new venture: At Capacity — a smart advertising platform geared toward small business owners who offer home services like plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work. Serving as co-founder of At Capacity alongside Meg Stapleton, Watson said the company officially The post Serial entrepreneur jumps back into the founder seat with smart online advertising platform appeared first on Startland News.
Teens team with MADE MOBB to raise funds in KC’s Northeast; their tee to support the unhoused was just a start
Vu Nguyen considers MADE MOBB to be a creative hub, he shared. Two of the latest collaborators with Crossroads-based streetwear brand are students at Ryogoku Soccer Academy. “Everybody’s invited,” said Nguyen, who co-founded MADE MOBB — one of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2023 — in 2013 and owns the business alongside The post Teens team with MADE MOBB to raise funds in KC’s Northeast; their tee to support the unhoused was just a start appeared first on Startland News.
Marcell Coffee owners launching ‘Take Care’ retail concept, OLEO brand in Crossroads
The roasting minds behind a successful Kansas City wholesale coffee operation are switching business blends — planning a Crossroads storefront anchored by a new, retail-only coffee brand. Christopher Oppenhuis and Mark Sappington, the founders and owners of the wholesale roasting company Marcell Coffee, are preparing for the fall opening of their first retail concept, “Take The post Marcell Coffee owners launching ‘Take Care’ retail concept, OLEO brand in Crossroads appeared first on Startland News.
High-fee crypto ATMs center around low-income parts of KC: Why it’s so hard to cash out
Editor’s note: This story was originally published by The Kansas City Beacon, a member of the KC Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story from The Kansas City Beacon, an online news outlet focused on local, in-depth journalism The post High-fee crypto ATMs center around low-income parts of KC: Why it’s so hard to cash out appeared first on Startland News.
Toll project won’t just make Kansas’ most dangerous roadway safer, Davids says; it’ll be smarter
OVERLAND PARK — Two new express lanes along U.S. 69 in south Johnson County are expected to boost businesses, consumers, economic development and tourism as Kansas continues to grow and global events like the 2026 World Cup are added to the region’s roster, said Sharice Davids. “It’s all connected — our entire state,” said U.S. The post Toll project won’t just make Kansas’ most dangerous roadway safer, Davids says; it’ll be smarter appeared first on Startland News.
MLB commissioner: Royals need a new stadium to keep playing ball with young sports fans, evolving revenue demands
A modern ballpark district with the Kansas City Royals as its centerpiece — whether downtown or in North Kansas City — will mean a more competitive ball club, as well as economic development gains for the local community, said Rob Manfred. Washington D.C. and Atlanta are home run examples, the visiting Major League Baseball commissioner The post MLB commissioner: Royals need a new stadium to keep playing ball with young sports fans, evolving revenue demands appeared first on Startland News.
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