All Stories

Startup Weekend rebrands to draw MO innovators to central startup hub; capitalizing on billion-dollar success stories

By Tommy Felts / February 23, 2023

COLUMBIA, Missouri — In its second year, Startup Weekend is returning to Columbia but with a slightly upgraded look, said Brett Calhoun. Columbia Startup Weekend is now Missouri Startup Weekend with the intention to attract more individuals across the state, as well as reinforce Columbia, as an established startup hub. “We rebranded Startup Weekend so…

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Destination espresso: Parisi Coffee spot pours from family, Union Station inspiration at new KCI 

By Tommy Felts / February 22, 2023

Travelers flying in and out of the Kansas City International Airport’s new terminal can experience the aroma and tastes of an Italian cafe — without leaving the States — when they stop by Parisi Coffee, said Joe Paris. “A core part of our branding has been taking the traditional Italian espresso and bringing it into…

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This $250M bid to revive a Midtown historic landmark adds living spaces to Westport school campus

By Tommy Felts / February 22, 2023

A newly announced development — the largest mixed-use project in Midtown — is expected to bring fresh activity to the vacant hallways of a historic Kansas City school, further anchoring community within a multi-building, street-spanning campus that already includes a Plexpod coworking and events venue. “Once home to students, athletes, and artists, the latest project…

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New technology preserves speed, convenience KC air travelers have come to expect (in unexpected ways)

By Tommy Felts / February 21, 2023

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Kansas City PBS/Flatland, a member of the KC Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, The Kansas City Beacon, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story. You land at Kansas City International Airport a half hour early. Until now that…

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Mizzou students started making real angel investments from campus a decade ago; now they need more capital

By Tommy Felts / February 21, 2023

COLUMBIA, Missouri — The college-aged leaders of Mizzou’s AACE Venture Fund are learning as they go: not just how to invest in real startups across the region, but how to make the university’s long-running student investment program sustainable. “We’re having real-world experiences — such as getting on the phone with founders, doing due diligence and…

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A new credit union on Prospect aims to be the pebble that causes a ripple effect east of Troost

By Tommy Felts / February 21, 2023

‘Moving individuals out of that payday loan cycle into a banking cycle’ The recent opening of a new credit union with a mission to serve residents of Kansas City’s east side marks a key milestone along “a long road” to build generational wealth for those historically disadvantaged. Since 2007, Dee Evans has been part of…

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Luke Wade, KC Crew; photo courtesy of Nicole Bissey Photography

Facility Ally raises $700K to take its sports venue, ‘eatertainment’ SAAS platform national

By Tommy Felts / February 21, 2023

Facility Ally, a sports facility and “eatertainment” management software company, has closed a $700,000 pre-seed funding round led by Slabotsky Family Office. The funds are expected to be used to build out Facility Ally’s development, sales and marketing teams. For sports facilities and leagues, Facility Ally provides a central hub for reservations, memberships, payment, waivers…

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Healium augments funding with $3.6M seed round, adds Mayo Clinic deal

By Tommy Felts / February 20, 2023

Healium, a virtual and augmented reality biofeedback company, announced Monday one of the largest private equity raises for a women-owned business in mid-Missouri history. The startup — which transforms bio-data from any fitness tracker into immersive, reactive media — has also entered into a know-how license agreement with Mayo Clinic. A “virtual firefly release” using mobile…

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Influencer vows to ‘keep it smooth’ amid TikTok career highs, family health lows

By Tommy Felts / February 17, 2023

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Spark MHK,  a non-profit, community-based hub of programming and networks designed to connect entrepreneurs, startups and small business owners to each other and the larger ecosystem in the Greater Manhattan area. Click here to read the original story. The day JahVelle Rhone learned he’d been accepted to TikTok’s 100…

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Hot biskuits on the rise: Classically-trained chef brings long lines, culture, collaboration to North KC 

By Tommy Felts / February 17, 2023

Guroux Khalifa had $150 to his name when he set out to serve the best biscuits Kansas City ever tasted, he shared.  “A lot of painstaking work, time, love and passion has been put into creating this amazing product. The people who really understand the value and quality of that product have stuck around and…

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