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First he got the park clean, then his brother; New theater explores how Chris Harris played through the hazards

By Tommy Felts / May 5, 2023

Five years after opening a golf course in the Ivanhoe neighborhood to help revitalize his community from within, Chris Harris is taking a swing at the east side’s theater desert. Harris — the owner and operator of Harris Park Midtown Sports and Activity Center and lifelong neighborhood resident — has now built an indoor theater…

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Donald Hawkins, KC Collective; STARTLAND's Innovation Exchange

Former KC startup acquired by Atlanta-based banking platform, uniting two of the largest Black-owned fintechs

By Tommy Felts / May 5, 2023

ATLANTA — Greenwood, a digital banking platform for Black and Latino individuals and businesses, announced this week its acquisition of Kansas City-founded Kinly — a neobank building generational wealth for Black America. The deal will help grow Atlanta-based Greenwood’s ecosystem of more than 1 million members and provide Kinly’s community of more than 300,000 with…

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Industrial coworking space eyes downtown KC; plans mixed office, warehouse amenities

By Tommy Felts / May 5, 2023

A Northwest Arkansas-based startup plans to bring a new coworking concept to Kansas City this year — one that combines flexible office and shared warehouse solutions, said CEO Brendan Howell. “We call it industrial coworking,” explained Howell, co-founder and CEO of Loloft . “That’s a term that we’ve coined.” The company is aiming for a…

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‘Proud capitalist’ to young social entrepreneurs: It’s OK to make a buck while saving the world

By Tommy Felts / May 3, 2023

Darcy Howe encouraged budding, would-be founders to think about ways they can effectively scale their mission-driven ideas, drawing on KCRise Fund’s model for social entrepreneurship. “Being socially mission-driven is not mutually exclusive to making money,” Howe, founder and managing director of KCRise Fund, told Enactus students gathered Tuesday during an end-of-year celebration for the University…

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Million-dollar corporate gift puts $25M Negro Leagues capital campaign on the board; now you’re on deck

By Tommy Felts / May 3, 2023

Editor’s note: Bank of America is a financial partner of Startland News, although this report was created independently by the nonprofit newsroom. A historic age of impact is under way, said Bob Kendrick, as Kansas City’s Negro Leagues Baseball Museum unveiled plans for a new, state-of-the art campus backed by a $1 million grant from…

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They walked right past us: Small biz owners shocked by low NFL Draft sales, now wary of World Cup

By Tommy Felts / May 2, 2023

A massive surge in visitors and foot traffic as Kansas City hosted its first NFL Draft failed to score many points outside the event grounds this weekend, as countless small businesses along the city’s urban corridor reported a sharp dip in revenue. “I think we’re all looking at our numbers and everything right now, and…

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Scale VC launches Fund II with $5M investment led by UM System, Shelter Insurance

By Tommy Felts / May 2, 2023

COLUMBIA, Missouri — Venture capital fund and studio Scale VC raised a $5 million round of funding in less than six months, said Brett Calhoun, highlighting the potential for growing a nationally recognized startup city in the middle of the country. “Successful founders are everywhere — and that includes right here in the heart of…

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KC-based coffee collective adds two more Midwest brands to its speciality roast portfolio

By Tommy Felts / May 2, 2023

A pair of Minneapolis-based coffee businesses are expected to add to the aroma of FairWave Collective, said Dan Trott, emphasizing the company’s mission to elevate quality coffee experiences through specialty brands. Folly Coffee Roasters and Philtera Cold Brewed Coffees are the latest Minnesota additions to the Kansas City-based collective’s roast, joining Up Coffee Roasters, which…

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Her airport debut is an early success; now Chef LaRonda LaNear is extending Safi Fresh’s runway with new Crossroads location

By Tommy Felts / May 1, 2023

Changing your lifestyle can start with what you put on your plate, said LaRonda LaNear. “Safi Fresh is all about educating people on the benefits and importance of eating clean. I’ve helped a lot of people lose weight and wean themselves off medication through changing their diet. I’m excited to do that on a larger…

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It’s OK to be skeptical, but getting your ‘Om’ on at the office really can make a happier workplace

By Tommy Felts / May 1, 2023

Kharissa Parker is a news producer, writer, certified health coach, and “Holistic Hustle” columnist for Startland News. The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. For more of her self-care tips on how to keep your cup full, visit kparker.co. Meditation is typically thought of as a spiritual practice, but it’s really a…

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