Small Biz to Watch: Deposit The Work builds mass with tech-enabled consistency — no excuses, all grit

Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, curated by editors from Kansas City’s wide array of hard-working entrepreneurs and business owners.

Selection criteria is based on factors like business leadership, product or service fit, market strategy, expansion and scaling efforts, and likelihood of making news.

Click here to check out more companies featured in the Small Biz to Watch series.

Jasper Sanders, Deposit The Work; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Business Name: Deposit The Work

Owners: Jasper Sanders (founder), Kyle Bluestein, Matt Warner

Founding year: 2023

Current employee count: 7

Location: Legends Outlets, 10920 Stadium Pkwy, Kansas City, KS 66111

Business type: Fitness 

Company description: Group fitness and private training.

There’s no snoozing when it comes to leveling up at Deposit The Work, a high-intensity gym-meets-tech concept in Kansas City, Kansas, that’s transforming bodies and communities with every heartbeat.

Deposit The Work began in 2020 as a digital wellness tool created by Jasper Sanders, a former Division I football player, with a degree in exercise science, who started training clients to reach their fitness goals. But as demand grew, so did his ambition to build something deeper, and more local.

In 2021, Sanders opened his gym less than a mile from where he grew up in Wyandotte County, equipping it with smart technology, real-time workout tracking, and a mission to serve his own neighborhood with intentional care.

“I wanted to bring something to this community, because I realized this community doesn’t have anything like this type of gym,” said Sanders.

The gym blends technology with group training, using a proprietary app that integrates with wearables like Apple Watches to track heart rate zones and display workout data in real-time on in-gym screens. 

The app also lets members access workouts on the go, so that they can follow their personalized fitness plans, track performance, and even view progress dashboards from anywhere. 

“It’s a different experience,” Sanders explained. “We track your heart rates through your watch, and then from there, all the workouts are integrated into the app. So even if they’re not here and are on the road or on vacation, they can still see their workouts.”

From the archives: KCK trainer launches lifestyle, fitness app that rewards users for burning calories

Now, he’s focused on building a strong team and scaling his vision through more locations, aiming to deposit the same energy and transformation to more communities across the metro.

“I like that I can actually help people on the health side of things, improve peoples’ lives and make them become a better version of themselves,” Sanders said.

Startland News went deeper into Deposit The Work’s efforts to scale operations. Check out the Q&A with Jasper Sanders below.

QUESTION: How does your business stand out amid a crowded marketplace?

ANSWER: We focus on building an unmatched fitness experience with our training sessions. Combining premium fitness training with an energetic, fun club like atmosphere. 

Q: To what do you credit your business’ success so far?

A: Consistency. That’s it. Not some viral moment or perfect timing — just showing up, day after day. We built this by doing the work. It’s been numerous hurdles that we’ve had to overcome in our first 1.5 years of being open, but we’ve held the standard, and kept the bigger vision alive.

Q:  What role has Kansas City played in shaping your business?

A: Kansas City shaped the entire DNA of my business. The hustle here is blue-collar, no excuses, all grit. People show up. They don’t just talk about change — they do the work. That energy built my studio. It’s not some polished influencer gym. It’s raw. It’s real. And it’s built by a city that knows how to grind.

Q:Describe a significant recent turning point for your business or for you as an entrepreneur.

A: The real shift came when I stopped trying to do everything alone. Building and trusting a team and building out systems — that’s when things started to scale.

Jasper Sanders, Deposit The Work; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Q:What should Kansas City be watching for next?

A:  Expansion across the city is the goal. We’ve built something powerful here in KCK — and it’s time to bring that same energy to other parts of the city.

Q: Anything else should we know?

A: Our mission is to upgrade how high-performing professionals live — physically, mentally, and daily. This isn’t just fitness. It’s a system that helps driven people move with purpose, lead with energy, and stay sharp in every area of life.

The Small Biz to Watch series is presented by Bank of America. Additional support has been provided by the Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund (NTDF) program and Spark Coworking Kansas City.