All Stories

Kansas City startup among leading fintech finalists in NXTSTAGE competition

By Tommy Felts / September 4, 2023

An AI-infused startup led by Kansas City serial founder Jannae Gammage is poised to compete against seven other finalists in this fall’s NXTSTAGE innovation showcase in Wichita. Foresight — a fintech platform that aims to open funding opportunities for underserved borrowers by assessing credit risk, fraud and biases — was selected as finalist for the…

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Report: NFL Draft festivities scored $164.3M in economic impact for Kansas City

By Tommy Felts / August 26, 2023

Despite the stress of feeding thousands of people, a propane tank running out, and a fryer overheating — plus paying the vendor fee — KC’s Wing Bar owner Keshia Clark said teaming up with the NFL Draft in April was definitely worth it for her business. “We saw in three days what one middle class…

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‘Follow the smoke and look for the Ferris wheel’: Chef J BBQ set to join Pennway Point (and Arrowhead)

By Tommy Felts / August 25, 2023

Walking through the West Bottoms, the smell of smoke and spice will lead a hungry wanderer to one of Kansas City’s emerging barbecue hot spots: Chef J BBQ.  Restauranter and pitmaster Justin Easterwood, better known as “Chef J,” has made a name for himself — now that hard work has earned Chef J BBQ a…

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Overland Park Farmers Market vendor suspended over anti-semitic social media posts

By Tommy Felts / August 25, 2023

Editor’s note: The following story was first published the Shawnee Mission Post. Click here to read the original story or here to subscribe to the independent Johnson County news source. Content warning: This story includes hate speech and disturbing language. The Overland Park Farmers’ Market has suspended a first-year vendor after his anti-semitic and hate-filled social media posts…

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Flint Group’s new strategic partner invests in taking the home services platform national

By Tommy Felts / August 25, 2023

SEATTLE — A newly announced strategic investment from the global firm General Atlantic is expected to help a home services platform with Kansas City leadership enhance its business offerings and accelerate its growth, ultimately toward scaling the company nationally. Founded in 2019 by industry veterans Collin Hathaway and Trevor Flannigan, Flint Group has quickly expanded…

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Biotech startup’s $6.5M Series A expected to cultivate expanded workforce, research capabilities

By Tommy Felts / August 24, 2023

Ronawk’s Bio-Block Universe has already revolutionized cell and tissue production, Tom Jantsch said, and the recent investment of $6.5 million is set to further research and development. “We have really changed the paradigm of how not only cell culture is done, but how researchers are able to scale. They can go from the bench, all…

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J Rieger continues its international push, adding whiskey distribution to northern neighbors

By Tommy Felts / August 24, 2023

Fresh off its win as the KC Chamber’s top international small business, J. Rieger & Co. announced its expansion into Nova Scotia — a milestone as the Kansas City-based distiller enters the Canadian market. “We are thrilled to bring our range of artisanal spirits to Canada for the first time,” said Ryan Maybee, co-founder of J.…

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Mid x Midwest returning in November with renewed vision to connect KC founders, VCs

By Tommy Felts / August 24, 2023

The pilot Mid x Midwest event in fall 2022 supported the idea that early-stage tech founders and investors are hungry for more conversations post pandemic, Dan Kerr and Maggie Kenefake shared, spurring the return of the invite-only meetup in November. “We both showed up that morning to Hotel Kansas City and we walked into the…

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PrairieFood grows power of its micro-carbon ag solution with a pipeline of human connection

By Tommy Felts / August 24, 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.  LAWRENCE — Entrepreneurship is all about networking, Robert Herrington said. “You never know where a pivot or direction is going to come from,” said Herrington, an early member of the Pipeline…

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C2FO marks $300B in funding for businesses as entrepreneurs navigate ongoing credit crunch

By Tommy Felts / August 24, 2023

Rapid marketplace expansion in the first half of 2023 helped push Leawood-based C2FO — the world’s on-demand working capital platform — past the $300-billion mark in total funding to its customers. This record funding amount reflects invoices paid an average of 31 days early via C2FO’s platform. C2FO gets vital, low-cost capital into customers’ hands…

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