And the readers going to the Royals playoffs are …
October 7, 2015 | Bobby Burch
Four lucky Startland News readers are heading to see the Kansas City Royals take on the Houston Astros this Thursday and Friday.
From more than 300 contestants, a random number generator selected Tom Bliss and Marybeth Oliver as the winners, each of whom will bring one friend.
Bliss, who serves as executive director of the Missouri Association of Councils of Government, successfully rallied several friends to sign up to Startland, earning him Royals tickets in the referral contest.
“Are you serious? Wow!” Bliss said upon receiving the news that he won. “This is great news for me. … I’ve been a Royals fan since I was a kid — since back in the 1970s with Whitey (Herzog) and even before Whitey. This is so cool!”
A relatively new Royals fan, Oliver was selected randomly among hundreds of Startlanders to win the new subscriber contest.
“I won the tickets?” said Oliver, an executive assistant and intranet content editor at UnitedLex. “Oh my gosh — I never win anything! I’m so happy.”
Thank you to all those who participated in this contest. We look forward to continuing our service to the area community with coverage on its entrepreneurs and innovators.
Go Royals!

2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
KC Daiquiri Shop closing Dec. 1; iconic duo behind the party vibes plans to ‘regroup, reflect, and rebuild’
The good times roll through the weekend at KC Daiquiri Shop as the well-known Mardi Gras-themed getaway on Grand Boulevard shuts down its years-long revelry. “This decision has not come lightly,” Kinley Strickland and Calvin Vick, owners of KC Daiquiri Shop, said Monday in a social media post announcing the business’ plans to close Dec.…
Side hustle to help autistic adults belong in the workplace earns young founder Student Entrepreneur of the Year honor
Grace Kertz is redefining what workplace inclusivity can look like with Sensory Sync, an AI-powered platform designed to support neurodivergent employees. Her work on the innovative venture on Thursday earned her the title of UMKC Student Entrepreneur of the Year. “Sensory sync is an enterprise grade DEI and wellness platform sold to companies. It utilizes…
UMKC Entrepreneur of the Year: How Populous designed a legacy, built to go global
Kansas City-built design firm Populous brought to reality more than just great venues, Tom Bloch shared; it developed great experiences for a worldwide audience. “From its start here in Kansas City as HOK Sport in 1983 until now, Populous has set an unmatched standard for stadiums, convention centers, and event spaces,” Bloch told the crowd…
Black Ambition fund’s $50K gives KC healthech startup the ‘jet fuel we need to propel into 2025’
An initiative led by musician-turned-philanthropist Pharrell Williams to help close the opportunity and wealth gap for Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs has selected Kansas City-based AskSAMIE for its latest cohort of funding, training and mentorship. Through the just-announced Black Ambition cohort, 30 founders are receiving awards between $25,000 and $1 million, totalling $2.7 million. AskSAMIE earned…
