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Heart by hand: Paper illustrator crafts intricate designs with an evocative pop of culture
Andrea Cira can trace the inspiration for her hand-crafted, colorful, paper illustrations back to her upbringing in Mexico, she shared. “You see a lot of things that are done by hand or by scratch,” she explained. “I’ve lived in different places in Mexico, so I got to see a few things from artisans. I always The post Heart by hand: Paper illustrator crafts intricate designs with an evocative pop of culture appeared first on Startland News.
Sleep tech designed to combat night sweats moves toward consumer market with KS bedfellows
A Leawood company’s bed-based sleep technology — designed to reduce night sweats and help people better regulate their temperatures while they sleep — is headed to market in early 2024 with backing from the Kansas angel tax credits program and a swelling pre-seed round, said Win Hansen. Rairflow, Inc., which designed and developed prototypes for The post Sleep tech designed to combat night sweats moves toward consumer market with KS bedfellows appeared first on Startland News.
Shop Small: 5 gifts for the Christmas lovers on your list
Editor’s note: This feature is the fifth in Startland News’ five-part holiday gift guide — presented in 2023 by nbkc bank — showcasing Kansas City makers and their products. Check out the featured maker below, then keep reading for five gift ideas to get started. As a Kansas City native, Morgan Georgie finds creative and The post Shop Small: 5 gifts for the Christmas lovers on your list appeared first on Startland News.
Alchemy Sandbox winners are walking away with more than their $5K prizes, founders say
The latest round of Alchemy Sandbox competitors showcased the perseverance and resilience entrepreneurs need to be successful in the long run, said Charon Thompson, announcing five winners of the small business pitch competition. “Businesses that continue to do well stay ready so they don’t have to get ready,” said Thompson, co-founder of The Porter House, The post Alchemy Sandbox winners are walking away with more than their $5K prizes, founders say appeared first on Startland News.
Laya Center expands with ‘Herban’ product line; earns top 50 honors from Square
Toyia Mays’ customers feel “like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders,” the co-owner of Crossroads-based The Laya Center said, noting the brand’s physical space and its new Herban product line leave people feeling welcome and at home. “Most people when they walk in the door, they verbally express it but you can just The post Laya Center expands with ‘Herban’ product line; earns top 50 honors from Square appeared first on Startland News.
Shop Small: 5 gifts supporting creators of color in Kansas City
Editor’s note: This feature is the fourth in Startland News’ five-part holiday gift guide — presented in 2023 by nbkc bank — showcasing Kansas City makers and their products. Check out the featured maker below, then keep reading for five gift ideas to get started. Embracing one’s roots is at the core of ParaMi’s identity, The post Shop Small: 5 gifts supporting creators of color in Kansas City appeared first on Startland News.
This Wichita program is helping KC startups connect the dots to corporate partners
WICHITA — An eight-week program targeting knowledge and access gaps between emerging startups and enterprise companies helped boost a trio of Kansas City ventures whose founders are now eying new customers and partners as they scale. The 2023 NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series — an initiative of Wichita-based NXTUS — wrapped its latest cohort during Wichita Startup The post This Wichita program is helping KC startups connect the dots to corporate partners appeared first on Startland News.
Shop Small: 5 gifts for people who are always cold
Editor’s note: This feature is the third in Startland News’ five-part holiday gift guide — presented in 2023 by nbkc bank — showcasing Kansas City makers and their products. Check out the featured maker below, then keep reading for five gift ideas to get started. Donnell Jamison’s colorful streetwear brand shares a similar retro vibe The post Shop Small: 5 gifts for people who are always cold appeared first on Startland News.
Let’s be blunt: MO cannabis culture is a great niche, founder says a year after legalization vote
A year after Missouri voters approved recreational marijuana at the ballot box, demand for high-quality cannabis products has exceeded expectations, said Michael Wilson, whose Kansas City-based operation quickly became a best-selling Show-Me State brand. “The past year has been a wild ride as anyone can suspect from an early emerging market like cannabis,” said Wilson, The post Let’s be blunt: MO cannabis culture is a great niche, founder says a year after legalization vote appeared first on Startland News.
Urban farmer’s composting operation gets in ‘deep trouble’ with city; why she’s thankful for the opportunity to cultivate change
Being pioneers on the Kansas City urban farming scene can be a tough row to hoe, admitted Brooke Salvaggio noting the challenges she’s faced with Urbavore Farm and Compost Collective KC are just the latest season on an evolving agricultural landscape. “More or less, we’re rebels,” explained Salvaggio, who along with her husband, Dan Heryer, The post Urban farmer’s composting operation gets in ‘deep trouble’ with city; why she’s thankful for the opportunity to cultivate change appeared first on Startland News.
Shop Small: 5 gifts for sports fans (including Swifties in their KC era)
Editor’s note: This feature is the second in Startland News’ five-part holiday gift guide — presented in 2023 by nbkc bank — showcasing Kansas City makers and their products. Check out the featured maker below, then keep reading for five gift ideas to get started. Kansas City’s time in the spotlight this year — whether The post Shop Small: 5 gifts for sports fans (including Swifties in their KC era) appeared first on Startland News.
Shop Small: 5 gifts that rock without screaming KC (we swear)
Editor’s note: This feature is the first in Startland News’ five-part holiday gift guide — presented in 2023 by nbkc bank — showcasing Kansas City makers and their products. Check out the featured maker below, then keep reading for five gift ideas to get started. Effing Candle Co. is more than just wax and wicks, The post Shop Small: 5 gifts that rock without screaming KC (we swear) appeared first on Startland News.
Big winner at GEWKC: AltCap Your Biz turns The Next Paige with $42K+ in prizes
Editor’s note: Startland News’ coverage of Global Entrepreneurship Week-Kansas City is made possible by the support of Husch Blackwell. The value of local support should not be underestimated or taken for granted, said Elaina Thomas, winner of the $25,000 grand prize at Thursday’s AltCap Your Biz pitch competition. “I feel blessed, I feel like I The post Big winner at GEWKC: AltCap Your Biz turns The Next Paige with $42K+ in prizes appeared first on Startland News.
How KC helped baseball’s bright yellow ringmaster bring the Savannah Bananas to TikTok fame
Kansas City will always hold a special place in Jesse Cole’s heart, shared the owner of the Savannah Bananas, baseball’s answer to the Harlem Globetrotters. “You guys gave us our first shot,” explained Cole, the founder of Fans First Entertainment — fully outfitted in his signature yellow tux at Thursday’s Kansas City Area Development Council The post How KC helped baseball’s bright yellow ringmaster bring the Savannah Bananas to TikTok fame appeared first on Startland News.
Nonprofit founded to equip K-9 officers with bulletproof vests goes viral thanks to four-legged artists
LAWRENCE — What began as a problem keeping Emily Fawcett up at night has grown into a tail-wagging nonprofit effort recently featured on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” — all thanks to a viral social media post showcasing a Kansas police dog painting instead of panting. Fawcett, whose background is in animal welfare, was asked in 2020 The post Nonprofit founded to equip K-9 officers with bulletproof vests goes viral thanks to four-legged artists appeared first on Startland News.
PayIt appoints new president and COO as fast-scaling KC govtech company hits pivotal moment
A veteran govtech leader is joining one of Kansas City’s best-known scale-ups as the company eyes a new era of growth and the expansion of its national and international footprint. PayIt — a leader in digital customer experience solutions with integrated payments for state, local, and provincial governments — announced on Thursday the appointment of The post PayIt appoints new president and COO as fast-scaling KC govtech company hits pivotal moment appeared first on Startland News.
It started with street smarts and a spit handshake; the only thing MADE MOBB was missing: a business book
Editor’s note: Startland News’ coverage of Global Entrepreneurship Week-Kansas City is made possible by the support of Husch Blackwell. Celebrating the victories is easy, said Vu Radley, calling out a decade in business for his streetwear company, MADE MOBB, along with high profile partnerships ranging from UMKC and United Way to the Kansas Chiefs and The post It started with street smarts and a spit handshake; the only thing MADE MOBB was missing: a business book appeared first on Startland News.
LaunchKC awards $300K: Six new startups enter the winners’ circle with KC investments
Editor’s note: Startland News’ coverage of Global Entrepreneurship Week-Kansas City is made possible by the support of Husch Blackwell. Emerging entrepreneurs don’t need Silicon Valley to launch or scale their startups, said Holly Andra Small, leader of one of six companies announced Tuesday as $50,000 winners in LaunchKC’s grants competition. “We were so excited,” said The post LaunchKC awards $300K: Six new startups enter the winners’ circle with KC investments appeared first on Startland News.
Digital Health KC earns $2M federal grant, doubled by matching funds from Kauffman Foundation
Three weeks after Kansas City’s designation as a U.S. “Tech Hub,” the region has earned “tremendous funding to jumpstart KC’s digital health cluster,” said Maria Meyers, informally announcing a $2 million federal grant — matched by an award from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The Build to Scale grant was awarded to the University of The post Digital Health KC earns $2M federal grant, doubled by matching funds from Kauffman Foundation appeared first on Startland News.
Pitch competition at GEW Topeka puts $38K on the line for women, entrepreneurs of color
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. TOPEKA — Building an equitable business community in Shawnee County is critical to economic development in and around the state’s capital city, said Glenda Washington. A pitch competition slated for The post Pitch competition at GEW Topeka puts $38K on the line for women, entrepreneurs of color appeared first on Startland News.
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