Listen: Madison Flitch founder carves a furniture firm with KC stories ingrained

February 10, 2017  |  Bobby Burch

Madison Flitch founder John Pryor works at his Crossroads Shop. Photo by 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. 



startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

Tagged , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder

      2017 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        Café Corazón sold KC on her alfajores and empanadas; now meet the Argentine chef behind these legendary, handcrafted treats 

        By Tommy Felts | August 6, 2025

        In a space that serves as a crossroads of identities, trays of Silvia Miguel’s now-iconic savory and sweet dishes find a welcome home alongside bold pieces of art, sips of coffee and wares from a vibrant community of Latin and Indigenous entrepreneurs. Miel Castagna-Herrera, co-founder of Café Corazón, started carrying Miguel’s Pan Caliente products soon…

        LISTEN: How this musician-turned-startup veteran is scaling with a Kansas assist

        By Tommy Felts | August 5, 2025

        Startland News opens its new Plug and Play Topeka founder podcast series with a startup that’s making recovery easier — one pup at a time. Meet Medipups, a company combining canine compassion with real innovation in animal health, and its co-founder Sebastian Doyle. Recorded live at the Plug and Play Animal Health & AgTech Expo…

        Kansas company beefs up natural qualities of meat, tallow with tech, not enhancements

        By Tommy Felts | August 5, 2025

        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.  WAKEENEY, Kan. — Plainview Beef is more than just a name for the western Kansas direct-to-consumer company, CEO Gabe Orr shared. It’s a nod to a mission rooted as much in…

        Radar’s new pitch: How this Kansas sports tech startup spins data into speedier fastballs 

        By Tommy Felts | August 1, 2025

        When speed is the name of the game, data can be nearly as important as talent, said Jarrod Nichols, emphasizing the role his startup’s radar technology can play in helping baseball and softball athletes measure fastball performance, improve their stats, and swing for the fences. “Pitch speed has been captured since the early ’70s,” said…