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Sips on the shelf: Whiskey inventory app pours order into collectors’ private honey holes
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. WICHITA — Whiskey connoisseurs can now take their collections digital, shared Dave Cunningham, an enthusiast whose new app tracks the high-value, sought-after liquor. In February, Cunningham — with the help The post Sips on the shelf: Whiskey inventory app pours order into collectors’ private honey holes appeared first on Startland News.
KC-baked snack cracker startup tastes new markets, opportunities fueled by regenerative agriculture
SAN ANTONIO — Five years after the company experienced crunch time in the Kansas City-based Sprint Accelerator, Cheddies Crackers has expanded its line of high-protein, low-carb cheddar crackers into more than 2,500 retailers nationwide, said Francisco Pergola. RELATED: Say ‘cheese,’ KC! Cheddies arrive in Hy-Vee stores after Sprint Accelerator Pergola — who co-founded the San The post KC-baked snack cracker startup tastes new markets, opportunities fueled by regenerative agriculture appeared first on Startland News.
Shop Local KC moving its flagship maker store to Brookside, expects flower business to bloom
Shop Local KC is closing its flagship Midtown location as it prepares to open a new storefront in Brookside Sept. 1, according to owner Katie Mabry Van Dieren. The retail gift and flower shop plans to depart its original location at 3630 Main St. as the building developer, Exact Partners, seeks to use the space The post Shop Local KC moving its flagship maker store to Brookside, expects flower business to bloom appeared first on Startland News.
Investor returns to Kansas City with a message for his fellow VCs: It’s time to get your hands dirty
Traveling across the United States to listen and learn from various entrepreneurial ecosystems gave Nassir Criss the knowledge to be a better venture capitalist, he said. After nearly a year — and visiting more than a dozen cities — Criss has returned to Kansas City to share and apply what he experienced. “I realized that The post Investor returns to Kansas City with a message for his fellow VCs: It’s time to get your hands dirty appeared first on Startland News.
Manufacturing talent: Kansas production mainstay designs its niche, from warfighters to healthcare
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 — The leader of a Kansas company specializing in custom equipment design and manufacturing hailed the work of its nearly 500 employees for allowing the organization to thrive during The post Manufacturing talent: Kansas production mainstay designs its niche, from warfighters to healthcare appeared first on Startland News.
Autotech startup VINCUE secures Series B with fleet of industry investors, innovators
A downtown Kansas City-headquartered startup’s first major institutional investment is expected to enable the company to scale operations, advance its product roadmap, and meet increasing market demand, its co-founders said Tuesday. VINCUE — an end-to-end inventory lifecycle solution for retail automotive dealerships and one of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2022 — The post Autotech startup VINCUE secures Series B with fleet of industry investors, innovators appeared first on Startland News.
Bottom line, their ‘Grief Forecast’ calculates how much ignoring employees’ loss will cost a company
An Overland Park-based HRtech startup has added new tools to its B2B software platform that equips corporate leaders with the necessary knowledge to support grieving employees. This summer, Workplace Healing launched its Grief Forecast, a free resource that calculates how much a company will lose from its annual bottom line by not properly supporting employees The post Bottom line, their ‘Grief Forecast’ calculates how much ignoring employees’ loss will cost a company appeared first on Startland News.
Sunflower fest opens at KC Wine Co as popular pumpkin patch grows into year-round destination
Transforming from a Jurassic farm to a winter wonderland, the green thumbs at KC Pumpkin Patch have grown their niche as a year-round destination in rural southwest Johnson County. Next set to bloom: a sunflower-rich selfie oasis on the prairie (with wine). “We loved having folks come for the fall [pumpkin patch] season, but people The post Sunflower fest opens at KC Wine Co as popular pumpkin patch grows into year-round destination appeared first on Startland News.
Hemp could be the next superfood: How one state-backed company is connecting farmers to retailers now
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. AUGUSTA, Kansas — A Kansas company specializing in agricultural and industrial hemp hopes that a collaborative, educational approach in a burgeoning industry will benefit farmers, the environment, and end users The post Hemp could be the next superfood: How one state-backed company is connecting farmers to retailers now appeared first on Startland News.
17-year-old social entrepreneur among finalists tapped for healthtech pilot competition
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. WICHITA — A Kansas teenager’s telemedicine nonprofit was selected as one of nine finalists for a local health tech startup competition — the only Sunflower State venture chosen for the The post 17-year-old social entrepreneur among finalists tapped for healthtech pilot competition appeared first on Startland News.
Home-delivered juice maker nibbles its way into sparkling water market with expansion
Zen Donkey Farms — known for its raw, organic, cold-pressed juices available through home delivery — is expanding while continuing its mission of rescuing donkeys and bringing donkey-facilitated wellness programs to Kansas City, said co-founder Kate Barker. The purpose-driven wellness business — which also offers plant-based mylks, hemp protein superfoods, CBD skin care products, and The post Home-delivered juice maker nibbles its way into sparkling water market with expansion appeared first on Startland News.
This KC investor’s narrow (but global) focus: Technical founders who want to change the world
When launching an investment firm, venture capitalists must consider what distinguishes them from other firms and gives them a competitive edge, said Taylor Clauson. “In my case, I would say that having such a narrow thesis is a tremendous luxury,” said Clauson, who founded Abstraction Capital in 2020. “I’m a specialist fund, and founders like The post This KC investor’s narrow (but global) focus: Technical founders who want to change the world appeared first on Startland News.
KC ranks No. 11 among Midwest startup cities, holding its spot thanks to funding wins amid VC slowdown
A healthy dose of recent funding events kept Kansas City in the No. 11 spot in the 2023 edition of M25’s annual ranking of Midwest startup cities, said Victor Gutwein, founder and managing partner at M25. The comprehensive report explores how metropolitan areas across the Midwest are performing relative to each other based on startup The post KC ranks No. 11 among Midwest startup cities, holding its spot thanks to funding wins amid VC slowdown appeared first on Startland News.
Porter House KC earns MO infrastructure grant, pushing its retail incubator closer to opening
Funding from a pilot physical infrastructure grants program is expected to help The Porter House KC complete phase 2 of the build out for its new 811 Retail Incubator, focused on boosting retail entrepreneurs from the urban core. “This grant will allow us to serve over 90 small businesses focused on retail operations within the The post Porter House KC earns MO infrastructure grant, pushing its retail incubator closer to opening appeared first on Startland News.
LaunchKC grants competition eyes startups hoping to scale in KC; Applications now open
When LaunchKC’s next round of grant recipients are announced this fall during Global Entrepreneurship Week, winning startups will receive game-changing exposure in addition to the $50,000 in prize money, said Jon Ruiz. His venture, EB Systems, was among six winners in 2022 when the popular grants competition was rebooted by LaunchKC after a four-year hiatus The post LaunchKC grants competition eyes startups hoping to scale in KC; Applications now open appeared first on Startland News.
Trio of Kansas City startups among Missouri’s latest equity investments; $2.4M awarded in July
Three high-profile tech startups in Kansas City each earned a portion of the $2.4 million awarded in July by the Missouri Technology Corporation, the agency announced this week “We are thrilled to announce another set of awards to support the high-tech, high-growth startups committed to growing in Missouri,” said Jack Scatizzi, executive director of MTC. The post Trio of Kansas City startups among Missouri’s latest equity investments; $2.4M awarded in July appeared first on Startland News.
‘Picklecon’ coming to KC in 2024 with 100 pickleball courts, $3.9M-projected economic impact
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America, noted Kathy Nelson; and a one-of-a-kind pickleball experience is coming to Kansas City in 2024. In collaboration with Visit KC, Triple Crown Sports is bringing its inaugural celebration of pickleball to Kansas City. Picklecon is an all-encompassing pickleball experience designed to welcome players of all skill levels: The post ‘Picklecon’ coming to KC in 2024 with 100 pickleball courts, $3.9M-projected economic impact appeared first on Startland News.
It’s science: Music moves young minds, says singer-turned-nonprofit leader; festival to showcase how diversity of song shapes community
A Kansas City non-profit’s punk rock move to improve teens’ mental wellness through song is getting an extra jolt from a $100,000 gift — funds that support the organization as it plans an upcoming music and arts festival in the city’s Northeast, as well as promotes scientific efforts to show how rock and roll impacts The post It’s science: Music moves young minds, says singer-turned-nonprofit leader; festival to showcase how diversity of song shapes community appeared first on Startland News.
Startup’s next chapter writes itself: AI-generated bedtime story platform launches with language-building upgrades
With an emphasis on diversity and creativity, JQ Sirls’ AI-powered story generator is set to redefine children’s literature while uniting generations, he said. “I’m really trying to create these magical bonding moments between adults and children. When adults use this technology to create their own story, it makes them feel like a kid again. Then The post Startup’s next chapter writes itself: AI-generated bedtime story platform launches with language-building upgrades appeared first on Startland News.
Their designs are so unique they’re one-of-one; ‘slow fashion’ duo turns thrift store finds into runway-worthy fits
A Kansas City couple’s upcycled fashion brand is making waves, as thousands of social media followers — and some high-profile names — have taken note of the company’s repurposed “one-of-one” clothing pieces. The passion project of co-founders Jared Armstrong and Caylin Willis, Yvonne and Mitchel takes clothing materials from thrift stores and reimagines them into The post Their designs are so unique they’re one-of-one; ‘slow fashion’ duo turns thrift store finds into runway-worthy fits appeared first on Startland News.
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