All Stories

New CEO for one of KC’s most-talked-about startups could be the first step toward an IPO

By Tommy Felts / September 26, 2023

A new CEO for Kansas City-based TripleBlind allows the privacy tech startup to advance into a growth stage company — one potentially headed toward a public offering — taking advantage of recent momentum around enterprise artificial intelligence solutions, said Riddhiman Das. TripleBlind on Monday announced the appointment of Prat Moghe, former executive vice president of…

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Godfrey Riddle wants to build you a home; How Civic Saint’s eco-friendly bricks could reshape the foundation of affordable housing

By Tommy Felts / September 23, 2023

Winning $55,000 in a recent national LGBT pitch competition provides Godfrey Riddle the building blocks for a hard pivot — shifting the focus of his lifestyle company Civic Saint from handmade retail goods to earthen bricks used to sustainably create artful, affordable homes. “Affordable housing is a problem I’ve been pondering since my family lost…

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KC Cattle Company steaks its reputation on wagyu hot dogs; Why this rural MO business enlists veterans on its new mission

By Tommy Felts / September 22, 2023

WESTON, Missouri — Patrick Montgomery struggled to find his way after his service in the U.S. Army, he said. Now on a new mission — his venture KC Cattle Company — Montgomery is helping other veterans at a similar crossroads. “The military does some things really well and they do some things really poorly,” he…

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KC-area startup earns spot in first-ever AWS accelerator for emerging GovTech companies

By Tommy Felts / September 21, 2023

A Lee’s Summit-based startup focused on developing tech for the criminal justice industry has been selected for Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) inaugural GovTech Accelerator cohort. eHawk — led by co-founders Bart Cooper and Ted Green, a former bail bondsman and trial attorney — is one of 13 companies tapped for the program. The Kansas City-built…

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This virtual jukebox app is bringing live music to Lemonade Park; Here’s how the interactive show works

By Tommy Felts / September 21, 2023

A one-of-a-kind interactive music festival that allows anyone to be the DJ arrives later this month in Kansas City, shared YouSpin founder and CEO Adell Hendon. The YouSpin Anywhere Music Festival — set for 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at Lemonade Park — is planned as a crowd-driven concert using Hendon’s socially-interactive virtual jukebox app. “People…

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Cannabis to canvas: When life goes inside out, Heather Hobbs sees new opportunities 

By Tommy Felts / September 20, 2023

Life can be messy, Heather Hobbs acknowledged, but cannabis-based wellness products can help bring needed focus, clarity and relief, the now-solo owner of KC Hemp Co. said. “That’s been a big focus of mine, crafting products that can actually help with things like ADHD, and also what I call ‘mom stress’ where you’re constantly up…

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Fashion show designs space for KC streetwear to walk alongside Western fringe, crochet couture

By Tommy Felts / September 20, 2023

The Kritiq fashion show is a runway of representation, said Mark Launiu, describing the origins and evolution of one of Kansas City’s premiere creative showcases. “I just wanted to see people that looked like me, designers who don’t have the opportunity to showcase their skills and their talents,” The Kritiq founder and co-founder of MADE…

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C2FO awards grants to three KC nonprofits boosting Black entrepreneurs with intention

By Tommy Felts / September 19, 2023

A new grants program developed by one of Kansas City’s biggest scaleups was founded with a clear purpose, said Jay Lott, announcing the effort’s first three nonprofit recipients and touting C2FO’s ongoing commitment to community engagement within the Kansas City region. “We want to support the nonprofit organizations that are focused on intentionally elevating Black…

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Grit Road plants $11M venture fund to cultivate homegrown ag tech solutions across Midwest

By Tommy Felts / September 19, 2023

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.  OMAHA — The precision guide for Grit Road Partners — a Nebraska-based venture fund — is investing in ag tech companies that are solving Midwest producer problems, said Mike Jung,…

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KC nonprofit wants to change the face of tech (without leaving its students in debt)

By Tommy Felts / September 19, 2023

Editor’s note: The following story was sponsored by Resiliency at Work 2.0 Career and Technical Education, a Kansas City-based organization focused on creating and increasing equitable opportunities through education and training for careers in the technically skilled workforce. Dr. Joy Vann-Hamilton set out to close the diversity gap in the tech workforce; her work through…

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