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Curated to the core: How a chaplain-turned-entrepreneur is elevating streetwear to boost KC nonprofits
In a world of loud statement tees, sometimes the most impactful messages are quietly sewn into the tag, said Makenzy Jean, whose Kansas City-based apparel company partners with local nonprofits on brand-merging designs that give back to their community causes. “Streetwear is from the streets,” said Jean, founder of Associated Humanity and a former chaplain. The post Curated to the core: How a chaplain-turned-entrepreneur is elevating streetwear to boost KC nonprofits appeared first on Startland News.
After east side restaurant closes, KC Cajun drives back to its food truck roots, cooking up a new market
Esra England is hitting the streets again, he shared. The head chef and founder of KC Cajun recently closed his fixed location on the east side, and is returning to the food truck and catering strategy that gave him his start. “It was a good learning experience,” England explained. “But with the overhead of trying The post After east side restaurant closes, KC Cajun drives back to its food truck roots, cooking up a new market appeared first on Startland News.
Bloch faculty duo earn $200K grant toward effort to disrupt social media echo chambers
Editor’s note: The following story was originally published by the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Click here to read the original story. In the digital realm where algorithms reign supreme, Alex Krause Matlack and Bryan C. Boots from the UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management aim to create a tool that disrupts the social media landscape, The post Bloch faculty duo earn $200K grant toward effort to disrupt social media echo chambers appeared first on Startland News.
Some 18th & Vine leaders say losing downtown stadium could have ‘a tremendously negative impact’
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. Businesses were split on their reaction to the vote on April 2 that rejected the extension of a 3/8th-cent sales tax The post Some 18th & Vine leaders say losing downtown stadium could have ‘a tremendously negative impact’ appeared first on Startland News.
Build a bigger bandwagon for women entrepreneurs, founders say; an isolated journey is too lonely
Representation of women in entrepreneurship is critically important, Vanessa Jupe told a crowd gathered this week at Union Station, emphasizing the power of exposure and leading by example to create a stronger, more diverse ecosystem. “If we don’t start businesses, then other women aren’t going to see that as a possibility,” said the founder and The post Build a bigger bandwagon for women entrepreneurs, founders say; an isolated journey is too lonely appeared first on Startland News.
Designed with minimal parking, KC Current wants you to carpool to team’s next home match
A just-announced tech tool aims to help KC Current fans make sustainable and affordable transportation an easier choice on matchday as the hometown team continues a string of development wins at its new riverfront stadium. Current Carpool — a new feature from the free WAY TO GO trip planning and carpool matching app — connects The post Designed with minimal parking, KC Current wants you to carpool to team’s next home match appeared first on Startland News.
Crossroads small biz owners to Royals: Come back with a better plan (and put it in writing)
It didn’t have to be this way, said Crossroads business owners, blaming Tuesday’s failed stadium sales tax initiative on what they viewed as a lack of transparency and legally binding agreements, too many last-minute deals and changes, and a disregard for community input. Most, however, hope the conversation isn’t entirely finished. Jackson County voters this The post Crossroads small biz owners to Royals: Come back with a better plan (and put it in writing) appeared first on Startland News.
These founders just earned Digital Sandbox KC funds; next comes proving their concepts
A trio of newly funded Digital Sandbox KC companies includes a closely-guarded startup launched by an exited Pipeline founder who also helped bring headline-grabbing sports tech to the forefront of the Kansas City innovation scene. Mission Hills, Kansas-based Chemniscient (pronounced kemʹniSH(Ə)nt) is currently operating confidentially and is not disclosing any product information to the public The post These founders just earned Digital Sandbox KC funds; next comes proving their concepts appeared first on Startland News.
Voters hand Royals, Chiefs a resounding defeat on sales tax that would’ve funded stadium projects
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 3/8th-cent sales tax extension would have helped build a new Kansas City Royals stadium downtown as well as fund renovations The post Voters hand Royals, Chiefs a resounding defeat on sales tax that would’ve funded stadium projects appeared first on Startland News.
Kelce Jam returning to KC in May with Lil Wayne, Diplo, 2Chainz (plus Takis and Uncrustables)
Travis Kelce’s celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl championships not only flexes the star tight end’s pull with top-tier artists, but showcases his ability to attract major brand deals. Kelce Jam returns Saturday, May 18 to Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Kansas, with musical performances personally curated by the three-time Super Bowl The post Kelce Jam returning to KC in May with Lil Wayne, Diplo, 2Chainz (plus Takis and Uncrustables) appeared first on Startland News.
Voice of the Chiefs offers advice for startups: Stay hungry, humble and pointed toward your goal post
WICHITA, Kansas — Don’t settle for one winning season, Mitch Holthus — the longtime voice of the Kansas City Chiefs — told a group of startup founders, encouraging entrepreneurs to keep pushing forward before they find themselves hitting a professional plateau. “You celebrate milestones, but you don’t stay there,” said Holthus, comparing the average lifespan The post Voice of the Chiefs offers advice for startups: Stay hungry, humble and pointed toward your goal post appeared first on Startland News.
KC duo’s play to bring more college softball recruiters to Midwest goes into extra innings with new tech tool
A Kansas City softball dad’s desire for a legacy has grown from a single tournament into four dozen events in eight states and a million-dollar boost for the Kansas City region’s economy, shared Jeremy McDowell. Newly developed tech could bring even more eyes to the Midwest’s best emerging players. Top Gun Events — founded by The post KC duo’s play to bring more college softball recruiters to Midwest goes into extra innings with new tech tool appeared first on Startland News.
BlackBizFest aims to make Black-owned businesses top of mind for all KC consumers
Anticipation is growing for this spring’s debut BlackBizFest, said Marsha Willis, teasing a week-long celebration that puts Black excellence and entrepreneurship on full display. Among the standout elements of the May 13-19 festival: the Kansas City Black Expo and Black Business Ball & Honors. “We want people to put on their tourist hats, go participate, The post BlackBizFest aims to make Black-owned businesses top of mind for all KC consumers appeared first on Startland News.
Why these Gen Z marketers want KC startups to channel the power of TikTok Shop
A Kansas City-built Gen Z ad agency is opening a TikTok Shop challenge this spring — scrolling through plans to elevate startups’ and small business’s social media brands and offer a chance to win $100,000 in services. TRNDSTTRS Media — ranked No. 3 in client revenue on TikTok — expects the challenge to run May The post Why these Gen Z marketers want KC startups to channel the power of TikTok Shop appeared first on Startland News.
Bardavon founder moves to board as company promotes new CEO from its C-suite
Matt Condon spent the past decade driving Bardavon Health Innovations from an idea to where it is today, the healthtech founder said, but the path forward requires another leader — one with a unique set of skills and abilities. Bardavon on Monday announced Condon’s move from the CEO role at the company to its board The post Bardavon founder moves to board as company promotes new CEO from its C-suite appeared first on Startland News.
Royals draft KC fashion designer: ‘You’ve got one chance; let’s knock it out of the park’
Whitney Manney has been called up to the big leagues, the Kansas City fashion designer shared, and she’s swinging for the fences with a hometown team collaboration. On Thursday’s opening day at Kauffman Stadium, the owner of the KC-based WHITNEYMANNEY label debuted a three-look streetwear collection in partnership with the Kansas City Royals. The cut The post Royals draft KC fashion designer: ‘You’ve got one chance; let’s knock it out of the park’ appeared first on Startland News.
‘Startup Weekend changed my life’: 3-day competition returns with potential $150K investment prize
COLUMBIA, Missouri — Organizers of Missouri Startup Weekend — a team-based competition that takes a glimmer of a startup idea to a fleshed-out business in three days — are upping the ante in an attempt to give Show-Me State entrepreneurs a platform to spark success. “Aspiring founders can find people who can help them build The post ‘Startup Weekend changed my life’: 3-day competition returns with potential $150K investment prize appeared first on Startland News.
It’s easy for small biz to get lost in the shuffle; How ECJC offers a lifeline to Main Street, startup entrepreneurs
The Enterprise Center in Johnson County is on a mission to prove the Kansas City metro remains a place where small businesses can grow and thrive, shared CEO Jeff Shackelford. ECJC — which is home to the Women’s Business Center, the Mid-America Angels and the Women’s Capital Connection angel investment networks, as well as the The post It’s easy for small biz to get lost in the shuffle; How ECJC offers a lifeline to Main Street, startup entrepreneurs appeared first on Startland News.
Advocate knocks mayor for Troost renaming delay; calls slave owner tie KC’s ‘dirty laundry, reeking from the basement’
Kansas City can no longer whitewash its history to pretend Benoist Troost — an early KC doctor, slave owner and the namesake for Troost Avenue — was anything other than a monster, said Chris Goode, pointing blame at Mayor Quinton Lucas for a stalled effort to change the east side corridor’s controversial name. “There’s no The post Advocate knocks mayor for Troost renaming delay; calls slave owner tie KC’s ‘dirty laundry, reeking from the basement’ appeared first on Startland News.
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