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Professor Ranan Aktas, Maltepe University

Ronawk using stem cell tech developed at Olathe lab to advance liver cancer research in Turkey

By Tommy Felts / October 5, 2021

A Kansas City-based biomanufacturing startup announced its first international customer Tuesday: a university team in Istanbul that was among the first to beta test Ronawk’s lauded T-Blocks. The maker of 3D cell culture products said the collaboration with Professor Ranan Aktas and the Cancer and Stem Cell Research Center at Maltepe University in Turkey will…

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TechAccel St. Louis offices and lab space at the Bio Research Development & Growth (BRDG) Park on the campus of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

TechAccel expands in St. Louis with new facilities in ‘premier ag innovation ecosystem’

By Tommy Felts / October 4, 2021

A Kansas City-based tech and equity company investing in scientific breakthroughs to produce healthier plants, animals and foods is tapping into abundant lab space at the other end of I-70, announcing Monday new offices in St. Louis. “It’s only fitting that we locate our team in the heart of the nation’s largest concentration of plant…

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New Frontier Mobile Diagnostics

Startup led by serial entrepreneur expands into women’s health ahead of $1.5M seed round

By Tommy Felts / October 1, 2021

Portable diagnostic imaging for women’s health will help bridge a care gap in Kansas and Missouri, said Jeff Blackwood, as his startup expands the scope of on-site ultrasound capabilities available to patients in Kansas City and beyond. “New Frontier Mobile Diagnostics is directly addressing health equity and access to care with our services, and we’re…

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Heidi Lehmann, Kenzen

Plug and Play selects KC startup for Topeka accelerator; Top City beginning to believe in itself

By Tommy Felts / October 1, 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. Plug…

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Jim West, Clara Biotech

How watching a 1-minute video could help a Kansas City startup win $200K

By Tommy Felts / October 1, 2021

TL;DR — Clara Biotech needs views and likes on a company explainer video in order to advance in a highly competitive pitch event. Click here to watch the video or keep reading. Online audience support could help propel a local biotech startup into the finals of an Oct. 15 pitch competition where the winner will…

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Wendy Doyle, United WE

United WE powers forward with initiative to appoint women into government positions

By Tommy Felts / September 30, 2021

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly saluted United WE Wednesday as the women-focused nonprofit celebrated 30 years of change-making across the two-state region — from strengthening workplace benefits to empowering more women into civic leadership. “United WE is making a huge difference. Just this year, United WE partnered with my office to significantly expand parental leave benefits…

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KC company packages guilt-free plastic alternative with new fashion line by Grammy-winning Ciara

By Tommy Felts / September 30, 2021

A Kansas City company’s groundbreaking biodegradable packaging will help send shipping waste from a fashion icon’s new clothing line back to the earth, officials from Biolo announced Thursday. LITA by Ciara — The House of LR&C’s new consciously created, ready to wear collection, inspired by Grammy award-winning singer Ciara — will include sustainable packaging for…

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Ruben Alonso, president, AltCap; Kelvin Perry, president, Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City; Karis Harrington, chief of business development, G.I.F.T.; Brandon Calloway, CEO and co-founder, G.I.F.T.; Emily Lecuyer, managing director, equity2 (not pictured, Josh Rowland, CEO and vice chairman, Lead Bank)

AltCap, GIFT, small business allies partner to expand opportunities for Black-owned ventures

By Tommy Felts / September 30, 2021

A coalition of Kansas City organizations have joined forces to launch a new partnership that will invest in the region’s Black-owned small businesses through flexible debt and equity financing, grant funding and business advisory services, the group announced Thursday. “Unfortunately, many Black entrepreneurs are left out of the financial mainstream when it comes to business…

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Nayelly Serrano-Dantzler, Erika Reza, Silvia Marin, and Veronica Alvidrez, paraMi

No soy tu chacha: How four Latinx moms (and 600+ of their closest friends) are cleaning up gender roles

By Tommy Felts / September 30, 2021

Editor’s note: Veronica Alvidrez is a member of the education team at Startland, the parent organization of Startland News. This story, detailing Alvidrez’s business, paraMi, was produced independently by Startland News’ independent nonprofit newsroom. One year ago in the thick of the pandemic, Veronica Alvidrez felt like she was losing her voice. Not the literal one —…

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Champion1 by Yes! Athletics

Fund Me, KC: Maker of first girls wrestling shoe launches new feat — a pair for the champions

By Tommy Felts / September 29, 2021

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 Kansas City’s Deb North and the newly launched Champion1 girls wrestling shoe — to share their crowdfunding stories and…

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