Tag: kansas city

Trailblazer on Troost among honored innovators for UMKC’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 20:12:53 +0000

This year’s signature Bloch School celebration — set for Dec. 3 — heralds the efforts and successes of experts in grassroots community-building, financial planning, DNA science

Earning the top social entrepreneurship award from UMKC is more than just the greatest recognition Father Justin Mathews has ever received, the faith leader-turned-community innovator said; it’s validation that work to heal Kansas City’s racial and economic divide is as critical as wealth creation elsewhere in the metro.

Fan favorite vote: AltCap Your Biz launches crowd-sourced contest as pitch event nears

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:09:27 +0000

One of 10 finalists in a popular fall pitch event for small businesses is expected to win $5,000 based solely on community votes, leaders at AltCap announced Friday, launching this year’s voting portal ahead of mid-November competition at Union Station.

This Dirt Beast works the soil for $2 an hour; why harvesting joy from his urban farm fills the bag

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:20:01 +0000

Rows of peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, and other vegetables now grow where more than a dozen Kansas City lots once sat vacant. The essence of Dirt Beast Farm is seeded in this soil, creating the ecosystem through which Jameson Hubbard has spent nearly a decade turning open land into food, flowers, and a space for neighbors to gather.

CoBuild founder razes his social venture; now he’s banking its mission’s success on a new blueprint

admin — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:52:00 +0000

Closing his startup CoBuild was bittersweet for Tate Williams, but the mission that drove the company isn’t going away. Instead, he’s carrying it forward in a new role at the Central Bank of Kansas City.

Williams officially shut down CoBuild this January. The construction startup, launched in 2020, had built a reputation for opening doors for women and minorities in the trades.

ATHENA honorees: Lifting up the next generation elevates us all; give them a reason to dream

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 21:00:07 +0000

When women lead, communities rise, Dana Foote said, lifting up two ATHENA award winners whose work in Kansas City has created outcomes more meaningful than mere professional success: “the ripple effect of leadership.”

Photos: Folklore transformed this rooftop for one-night; its $100K impact on small biz lasts even longer

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:51:11 +0000

A packed rooftop event that started five years ago as a small gathering among friends has grown into a sold-out celebration that not only highlights music, food, and tradition, but also invests back into local nonprofits and entrepreneurs, said Luis Padilla, founder of Folklore and its popular small business grant program.

Fresh in the tin: Crossroads cafe targets TikTok generation for laid-back canned seafood cuisine

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 17:44:31 +0000

A new venue specializing in “sangria, tins and snacks” pairs viral tastes with inspiration from a classic culinary voice, said longtime Kansas City restaurateur Shawn McClenny, whose Crossroads “taverna” is expected to open by mid-November.

Lula bets on responsible growth to hit profitability; why the startup’s most valuable property is room to scale

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 15:59:18 +0000

Lula opened 2025 by announcing a hefty funding round; the momentum has only continued to build, founder Bo Lais shared.

On top of its $28 million Series A round in early February, the Kansas City-based proptech startup expanded to more than 50 markets nationwide and had eight straight months of record gross merchandise value and net revenue this year, he continued.

World Cup hosts launch KC Game Plan for entrepreneurs; heat map, cultural insights on global visitors warming up next

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:00:59 +0000

Kansas City boasts no better roster of ambassadors than the region’s small business owners, said Tracy Whelpley, announcing a new KC2026 “Game Plan” for entrepreneurs who are eager to put cleats to streets ahead of the incoming FIFA World Cup.

“There’s so many entrepreneurial people out there and they really represent what our community is all about,” said Whelpley, director of regional impact for KC2026, the local host city organizer for World Cup activities.

Just funded: Trio of startups join Digital Sandbox KC, emerging onto competitive innovation scene

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:17:32 +0000

Not only will proof-of-concept funding from one of Kansas City’s most pivotal startup supporters help CEO Gharib Gharibi rapidly iterate development of his company, the Archia founder said; Digital Sandbox KC connects him to a thriving local tech ecosystem at a crucial inflection point for his artificial intelligence-based solutions.

Check out the entrepreneur winners of this library pitch competition (and beyond-the-shelf resources)

admin — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 12:55:30 +0000

Overwhelmed and excited to make a bigger impact, Rasheedah Villarreal expressed joy and gratitude Thursday after her name was announced as the top winner among a wide-ranging catalog of entrepreneurs pitching for cash prizes, community support, and serious momentum.

Controlled Burn: BoysGrow sets the table for fire-infused meal sparked by farm’s teen entrepreneurs, KC chefs

admin — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 21:01:31 +0000

A live fire culinary event at the BoysGrow farm in south Kansas City is a dream come true for John Gordon, he shared, detailing plans for a fundraiser that harvests an immersive and unforgettable dining experience from the teen-focused ag entrepreneurship program.

BeVel’s edge on Troost: Scaling culture alongside barbershop’s executive clean up

admin — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 20:04:57 +0000

A young Casie Murff jumped from cutting lawns to shaping lines, but it wasn’t until decades later — after embracing support from groups like The Porter House KC, Kansas City G.I.F.T. and a resurgent Troost business community — that the entrepreneur’s vision truly started buzzing.

Photos: Founders plug into vibrant Startup Crawl energy as Startland celebrates decade of storytelling

admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 21:03:46 +0000

Startland News’ one-night, rolling innovation showcase Friday served as a launch for select founders — capitalizing on a crowd of 500-plus Startup Crawl participants to bring their emerging companies into the Kansas City spotlight, one conversation at a time.

The Best Fries I’ve Had at a Barbecue Joint Take Three Days to Make

admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0000