Tag: kansas city

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

Crypto investment startup checks in with $300K deposit from Hilton Family Office

admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:10:10 +0000

A strategic partnership with the Hilton Family Office is expected to help Kansas City-based Technology Labs on its mission to protect and educate new investors in the crypto jungle, shared co-founder Travis Wright.

Hometown scramble: Noonan collaboration with neighboring Garmin brings startup closer to tournament win

admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:08:19 +0000

Kansas City sports tech innovator Noonan’s latest big swing sees the startup paired with a major industry player whose homegrown headquarters exercises its domination in the wearables market from just a few miles down I-35 in Johnson County.

GRWM: Founder has more than swag; his platform matches companies with merch Gen Z will actually wear

admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 20:19:14 +0000

A lot of branded swag gets buried at the bottom of a drawer after being collected from a special event or trade show — never again to see the light of day, Ivan Hadzhiev said, noting his new startup is helping companies think outside the bag when they design and distribute promotional products.

Annie Austen’s newest store opens, building around ‘an actual human being’ and her gut instincts

admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:42:12 +0000

That glow within downtown Overland Park isn’t just coming from the freshly stocked shelves at the new Annie Austen storefront; it’s yet another product of the pandemic-pivot entrepreneur’s contagious positivity — lightening the mood just steps away from a massive farmers market overhaul.