All Stories

Not all shops will be riding high if Missouri legalizes recreational cannabis, but even imperfect expansion ‘far worth the effort,’ advocates say

By Tommy Felts / November 3, 2022

Legalizing recreational marijuana would have potent outcomes across the state if Missouri voters approve a constitutional amendment Nov. 8, but some cannabis advocates and small business owners say not all strains of success will be equal. On one hand, Missouri’s Amendment 3 would expunge the criminal records of people with past non-violent marijuana charges and…

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EVG Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures

By Tommy Felts / November 2, 2022
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Tesseract deepens military ties with deal to develop smart space hub for US Air Force

By Tommy Felts / November 1, 2022

Tesseract Ventures’ research and development partnership with the U.S. Air Force is reaching new altitudes with a just-announced contract to develop 21st century smart space technologies for MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. “The Air Force has always been a center of innovation and a launch pad for world-changing new technologies,” said John Boucard,…

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Fund Me, KC: She’s served a community need; now LaRonda LaNear needs help filling her kitchen

By Tommy Felts / November 1, 2022

Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses or lend a helping hand to others. This is an opportunity for business owners and innovators — like LaRonda LaNear’s effort to launch a brick and mortar space for We Got It Covered Food Services — to…

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Oracle closing former Cerner HQ in post-acquisition scaleback across metro

By Tommy Felts / October 31, 2022

Editor’s note: The following story was originally published by CityScene KC, an online news source focused on Greater Downtown Kansas City. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for the weekly CityScene KC email review. Oracle is pulling the plug on the former world headquarters of Cerner in North Kansas City, relocating its employees…

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New edition of a classic story: Made in KC founders lead ownership group buying Rainy Day Books; How they plan to expand its legacy with next chapter

By Tommy Felts / October 31, 2022

When the owners of Kansas City-bound Rainy Day Books announced they were selling their popular bookstore in May, they looked for two qualities in its new owners: a commitment to uphold the customer experience and determination to grow the business, said Geoffrey Jennings. “It has been a six-month process to find people who could understand…

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UMKC top student entrepreneur’s refrain: It isn’t how many ideas you have, it’s what you do with them

By Tommy Felts / October 29, 2022

Improvising is vital in jazz and entrepreneurship, noted Tate Berry, UMKC Student Entrepreneur of the Year. A double major in jazz studies and business administration, Berry is well-versed in both. “Composing music is a very long collaborative creative process, which has given me the skills to look at intricate problems from a distance and develop…

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Marsha Willis joins Facebook accelerator to boost 30K-strong community of Black-owned businesses, supporters

By Tommy Felts / October 29, 2022

Marsha Willis’ decade-long journey of supporting Kansas City-based, Black-owned businesses is headed to the next level — thanks to a funding infusion from Facebook and Willis’ own focused commitment to providing elevated experiences to the online community she’s built. “Our focus is to create a centralized place where we can share resources and education for…

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The Popper drips with KC: Why this award-winning brand won’t quit ‘until the aliens on other planets know’ his city 

By Tommy Felts / October 27, 2022

Walter Edwin is better known as the Popper, but it might as well be “KC,” he said. His love for Kansas City has inspired both his music career and award-winning apparel business. As a performer, he’s rapped about his hometown on his singles “I’m KC” and “For the City,” and as a collaborator on Tech…

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10 finalists vying for ‘Fan Favorite’ in AltCap Your Biz competition; Here’s how to vote

By Tommy Felts / October 27, 2022

AltCap’s marquee GEWKC competition for emerging entrepreneurs is returning in November, but fans of the businesses can cast votes now to determine a $2,500 “fan favorite” winner at the coming pitch event. Ten finalists for the AltCap Your Biz competition were announced this week. The live pitch day is set for Nov. 17 at iWerx…

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