All Stories

Shop small (and Black): Five high-quality goods at The Black Pantry to shop with intention

By Tommy Felts / November 24, 2021

Editor’s note: Startland News explored The Black Pantry at Martini Corner in Midtown as part of the newsroom’s five-part holiday gift guide that highlights locally owned shops and the makers within them. The items identified here were curated by Brian Roberts, founder of The Black Pantry. Featured stores, makers and products were not asked to…

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Shop Small: Five ways to give makers a smile as wide as the person opening your gifts from Shop Local KC

By Tommy Felts / November 24, 2021

Editor’s note: Startland News explored Shop Local KC in Midtown as part of the newsroom’s five-part holiday gift guide that highlights locally owned shops and the makers within them. The items identified here were curated by Katie Mabry van Dieren, the founder of Shop Local KC the Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair. Featured stores, makers and…

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Kira Cheree, Entrepreneur Business Basics (EBB), leading a recent program in Topeka

Minority-owned businesses across Kansas can now access KC-built support as EBB expands to 66 counties

By Tommy Felts / November 24, 2021

One of the Kansas City-area’s highest impact entrepreneurship support organizations is expanding across the Sunflower State as it becomes a board-certified program of NetWork Kansas. Entrepreneur Business Basics (EBB) will soon reach into 66 counties in Kansas, Kira Cheree, founder, told Startland News, highlighting ways the expansion will directly impact minority-owned businesses.  “For every innovator,…

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John Sherman, Kansas City Royals; image courtesy of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce

Kansas Citian of the Year: Royals owner’s work echoes legacy of Ewing Kauffman

By Tommy Felts / November 24, 2021

A startup veteran and newfound Kansas City icon has been named Kansas Citian of the Year. John Sherman, controlling owner of the Kansas City Royals and founder of LPG Services Group and Inergy L.P., was surprised with the honor Tuesday night during the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s 134th annual dinner.  “I was having…

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Shop small: Five gifts you didn’t know you needed at the just-opened Made in KC Lenexa

By Tommy Felts / November 23, 2021

Editor’s note: Startland News explored Made in KC’s new marketplace at Lenexa City Center in Johnson County as part of the newsroom’s five-part holiday gift guide that highlights locally owned shops and the makers within them. The items identified here were curated by Kendall Kloster, manager at Made in KC Lenexa, and Startland News. Featured…

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Chris Callen, Plot

Gritty startup’s unique construction, Koch partnership essential to the Plot of a surging industry

By Tommy Felts / November 23, 2021

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. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. WICHITA…

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Avrell Stokes, BeGreat Together

Last chance to nominate: KC-based nonprofit granting $40K to Black, Latinx changemakers  

By Tommy Felts / November 23, 2021

A new nonprofit organization is seeking nominations for changemakers in Kansas City’s Black and Latinx communities ahead of a Nov. 30 deadline. One individual will be awarded $20,000 in support of their efforts.  “We’re specifically targeting grassroot changemakers who don’t have any more than $250,000 in their annual operating budget. We really want to invest…

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Shop small: Five treasure-hunt gems on the whimsical shelves of Seven Swans

By Tommy Felts / November 22, 2021

Editor’s note: Startland News explored Seven Swans Gifts and Goods on the western edge of Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District as part of the newsroom’s five-part holiday gift guide that highlights locally owned shops and the makers within them. The items identified here were curated by Seven Swans owner Kate Bryan. Featured stores, makers and…

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Jesse Hutmacher, Savage Athleisure

KC-pumped athleisure brand slashes industry prices, aiming to unlock the ‘savage’ in everyone 

By Tommy Felts / November 22, 2021

Building from the ground up is no easy feat, Jesse Hutmacher said, but attacking a venture head-on is the adrenaline rush he seeks. “Anyone can be a savage — everyone has it in them. It’s about whether or not you unlock it and let go. When you think about ‘savagery,’ it’s related to a primitive,…

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La’Nesha Frazier and La’Nae Robinson, Bliss Books and Wine; featured on BuyKC

KCSourceLink, partners launch inclusive ‘BuyKC’ site to add firepower to ‘Buy Local’ movement

By Tommy Felts / November 22, 2021

“Buy Local” is no longer just a catchphrase or a hashtag in Kansas City, said organizers of a new metro-wide initiative led by KCSourceLink, local business leaders and community influencers. BuyKC aims to help increase sales for all local, independently owned businesses and build awareness of these economic powerhouses for consumers and corporate buyers, said…

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