Listen: Madison Flitch founder carves a furniture firm with KC stories ingrained
February 10, 2017 | Bobby Burch
Editor’s note: In partnership with the KC Greats podcast, hosted by Scott Parman, Startland News hopes to offer its audience more avenues to learn about entrepreneurs in Kansas City. Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone.
In this episode, Parman chats with Madison Flitch founder John Pryor, who shares the story of bootstrapping his custom furniture firm.
After escaping his corporate tech job in the Boston, John returned to his Kansas City roots to start a new entrepreneurial journey harvesting local trees for beautiful furniture with a local story.
Located in the Crossroads Arts District of Kansas City, Madison Flitch gives a second life to local trees by harvesting them from the area and transforming them into pieces for a home or office. Founded in 2016, the firm’s collections focus on high design and the natural beauty of the wood to offer pieces that are meaningful and rare.
Learn more about Pryor’s journey with this podcast and check out our photo gallery below that.

2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Investor market turns Midwest conservative: ‘Everyone here is feeling a changing landscape’
After years of soaring valuations across the startup scene, venture firms like M25 are observing a shift to more risk-averse investors and stricter examinations of even the most-exciting company’s worth, said Abhinaya Konduru. “We’re seeing a new normal,” said Konduru, a principal on the influential Chicago-based M25 team and a panelist at Thursday’s MidxMidwest event…
Power & Light: $10M in Live! Block upgrades planned before downtown’s Big 12 ‘opening day’
The Kansas City Live! Block in the Power & Light District — a place KCMO Councilman Crispen Rea calls the living room of Kansas City — is set for a $10 million upgrade, local business and civic leaders announced Thursday. Key updates also target the popular District nightclub Mosaic. “It’s become an engine that generates…
Google makes new $120K pledge to KC schools; region embraces a future built on flexibility
In an era of artificial intelligence and high-tech solutions, the children of Kansas City remain a vital piece of the region’s future economic sustainability, said Utaukwa Allen, announcing a new financial pledge from Google that targets local students. Kansas City Public Schools have been selected for a $120,000 partnership with Google to strengthen KCPS’ STEM…
LaunchKC invested in this founder’s vision; now she’s helping the grants competition boost KC’s startup scene
Editor’s note: LaunchKC — a longstanding initiative from the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City and the Downtown Council — annual funds six to seven companies through its popular fall grants competition. Winning members of the 2025 LaunchKC cohort are set to be announced at a LaunchKC Liftoff event Nov. 19 at J. Rieger &…









