Listen: KC immigrant entrepreneurs share their stories
February 23, 2017 | Meghan LeVota
In light of recent news, Startland News focused this month’s Innovation Exchange on the intersection of immigration and entrepreneurship.
U.S. immigration policy has a profound impact not only on society but also the nation’s entrepreneurial vibrancy, which prompted a discussion including a researcher and policy expert, a local immigration attorney and pair of immigrant entrepreneurs.
If you weren’t able to make it to the event, we’ve clipped together the important parts you missed. In the conversation we hear personal stories from Kansas City immigrant entrepreneurs about how they arrived in the United States, explore how the H-1B Visa works and jump into the impact that immigrant entrepreneurs have on the nation’s economy.
Hope you enjoy!
Featured Business

2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Block by block: Prototype builds startup’s housing vision where everyone can afford their own castle
A mock home facade project on the grounds of Kansas City’s historic Workhouse Castle serves as a proof point for Godfrey Riddle’s rebooted Civic Saint — a social venture built on compressed earth blocks as its key to affordable, sustainable housing. “CEBs (compressed earth blocks) are great for Kansas City, because non-expansive sandy clay soil…
Resource revival: Digital Inclusion Fund relaunches with initial grants focused on devices
Kansas Citians can’t upgrade skills or devices they don’t already have, said organizers of a newly relaunched Digital Inclusion Fund — emphasizing a need to attack the metro’s digital divide at the infrastructure level. The fund is set to award up to $250,000 to 501(c)(3) public charities (including schools and churches) or governmental entities across…
New deal with lightwell keeps WeWork in Kansas City after closing Corrigan Station space
A freshly negotiated lease agreement with the developer behind the lightwell building in downtown Kansas City means WeWork will continue its two-floor coworking and flexible office space operation in the heart of the city’s central business district. WeWork has officially completed its lease rationalization with the assumption of its lightwell location contract, the company said…
Meet the founder distilling greatness (and fusion flavors) into Kansas’ first Black-owned vodka brand
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 — Greatness isn’t given; it’s earned, said Troy Brooks. But it comes one step at a time, and not without its challenges, he said. The entrepreneur behind Kansas’ first Black-owned…
