Letter from the editor: Every story starts somewhere
October 6, 2021 | Tommy Felts
Editor’s note: The following letter from Startland News’ editor in chief kicks off Startland News’ eight-week donor campaign seeking reader support for the nonprofit newsroom. Click here to donate.
Every story starts somewhere — and today we’re asking for your help to start more.
Tommy Felts, Editor in Chief, Startland News
Startland News is continuing its mission in 2022 to elevate bold, untold stories of Kansas City startups, entrepreneurs, makers, creatives, and risk-takers.
Our goal: raise $100,000 from readers and supporters to further power the community-focused, solutions-based journalism you’ve come to love and expect from us over the past 6.5 years.
The eight-week campaign went live Tuesday — National News Engagement Day — and runs through Giving Tuesday on Nov. 30. In the coming days and weeks, we’ll reveal exclusive giveaways and offers for donors — but don’t worry, you can still give today and be eligible for these exciting rewards.
We’re happy to announce that we’ve already secured $20,000 in committed matching dollars from early donors. The first comes from KCRise Fund, a Kansas City venture capital firm, which pledged $10,000 toward our goal.
“We hope you will consider giving a gift of any dollar amount to help us support this great organization and their mission of supporting entrepreneurial efforts and the design thinking mindset that they’ve done an amazing job of growing in our region,” said Darcy Howe, founder and managing director of KCRise Fund, who pledged the match funds alongside Ed Frindt, general partner, and Caroline VanDeusen, principal.
We’ll unmask additional match donors as the campaign rolls on.
Watch a testimonial video from KCRise Fund below, then keep reading.
Startland News stories often are the start of an entrepreneur’s media story — frequently serving as the first piece of local news that covers their startup, small business, non-profit, project, or idea. With about 400 stories already published this year, that makes us one of the metro’s leading discovery platforms for new and innovative ideas and a key resource for the talented people making them a reality.
As a program of Startland — a 501(c)3 non-profit community-building organization that seeks to unlock the starter in everyone — our newsroom’s mission goes far beyond cheerleading.
By shining a spotlight on these individuals and businesses (along with their challenges, setbacks and even failures), we aim to make entrepreneurship more approachable and accessible, exposing untapped potential in Kansas City and beyond.
It all starts somewhere. And today it can start with you.
Tommy Felts,
Editor in Chief,
Startland News
2021 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
On the menu: The Sundry tastes expansion with move to Plexpod
Moving The Sundry this month to Plexpod reflects the evolution and future of where people live and work, Ryan Wing said. And, of course, how they eat. A leader in Kansas City’s sustainable food movement, The Sundry plans to relocate its store from the Crossroads to a 3,300-square-foot space at Plexpod Westport Commons. It’s the…
Leaders say Kansas City is prime for Amazon HQ2
In the wake of news Amazon is planning a second, U.S. headquarters, a group of Kansas City organizations is tossing Kansas City’s proverbial hat in the e-commerce giant’s shopping cart. Amazon announced Thursday it plans to invest more than $5 billion in a new headquarters that could create as many as 50,000 jobs in which…
Techstars Spotlight: Planetarians’ hunger for tasty snacks blooms with Sunflower State secret ingredient
It’s a simple solution: Eat your fruits and vegetables. Treating diseases caused by poor diet costs the United States about $1.4 trillion each year, Aleh Manchuliantsau said. “Fiber and plant protein have been shown to prevent diabetes, heart disease and obesity,” said Manchuliantsau, co-founder and CEO of Planetarians. “But despite the effort to get kids…
Spanish-language business law class targets KC resource gap
¡Llamando a todos los emprendedores! Language isn’t a barrier to entrepreneurial spirit, Adrienne Haynes said, and it shouldn’t prevent Kansas Citians from finding business success just because they don’t understand the nuances of startup lingo or legal processes. “Whether you’re a black- or brown-owned company, whether you’re woman-owned, whether Spanish is your primary language, or…