All Stories

‘Feelings matter’: Why KC culture experts’ new anxiety rating could prevent stress from ruining careers

By Tommy Felts / July 1, 2021

Editor’s note: The following story — a spotlight on a member of the Plexpod community — is sponsored by Plexpod, a progressive coworking platform offering next generation workspace for entrepreneurs, startups, and growth-stage companies of all sizes. Measuring the unmeasurable is Culture Think Tank’s specialty when it comes to company culture, said William Lindstrom. “With the…

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Angela Presnell, lilhoopgirl

She earned 21K followers with a plastic circle; now Angela Presnell hoops to transfer social media popularity to a paid platform

By Tommy Felts / July 1, 2021

An Instagram page launched in 2016 to document then-college freshman Angela Presnell’s progression in hooping today reaches more than 21,000 followers — and sends the active entrepreneur across the globe to teach her artform in person. “I needed some sort of creative outlet that could be totally mine,” said Presnell, the 24-year-old Kansas Citian behind…

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Grant Burcham and Melea McRae, Crux KC

One of KC’s top small businesses markets explosive growth into new key investor: former Mobank CEO

By Tommy Felts / June 30, 2021

On the heels of Crux KC doubling its square footage in January and growing its headcount 118 percent since June 2020, the marketing firm — one of the KC Chamber’s Top 10 Small Businesses — announced a significant investment this week by Grant Burcham, former Mobank CEO. “I’ve long valued Grant’s business acumen and insight as…

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Bryan Sparks and his daughter, Esme

How restaurant fatigue, staffing shortages pushed one KC chef to reinvent ‘to-go’ as high-end eats at home

By Tommy Felts / June 29, 2021

An ongoing health crisis forced many people to rethink aspects of their lives in 2020, said Bryan Sparks, but for members of the hospitality industry specifically, the sustained pressure of a lingering pandemic and its leftovers prompt even greater self-reflection.  For the experienced Kansas City chef, that meant leaving his restaurant home this spring for…

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KC grassroots effort taps $225K funding pipeline to expand DEI education for KC students, corporate training

By Tommy Felts / June 29, 2021

A year after Black Lives Matter demonstrations opened minds across the nation, Jamie Grayson sees progress in Kansas City, the home of his own movement, designed to disrupt division by celebrating commonalities. Newly announced this week: three sizable grants for Grayson’s People of All Colors Succeed (POAC), a nonprofit organization committed to breaking systemic cycles of bullying and…

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Matt Moody, Bellwethr

Explain it like I’m 5: Bellwethr hits best month of growth to date after simplifying lingo

By Tommy Felts / June 29, 2021

Editor’s note: The following story is sponsored by Academy Bank, a Kansas City based community bank, and is part of a series of features spotlighting some of the bank’s startup and small business partners. The golden key to success is communication, said Matt Moody, but it can also be the biggest challenge. “Bellwethr’s software has been…

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Brandon Calloway, GIFT

‘Give Black’ campaign hits nearly $100K in donations for Black-run businesses, orgs

By Tommy Felts / June 29, 2021

Editor’s note: Give Black and Kansas City GIFT are non-financial partners of Startland, the parent organization of Startland News. This story was produced independently by Startland News’ non-profit newsroom. A campaign to boost eight Black-owned businesses and organizations in Kansas City during the week of Juneteenth surpassed its goal this month, but the work is…

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Stephanie Cummings, Please Assist Me, center, winner of the 2019 HERImpact DC pitch competition; Photo by My Bella Images LLC

Ford opens door to July 29 pitch competition, $50K in prizes for women entrepreneurs

By Tommy Felts / June 28, 2021

The Ford Motor Company Fund is bringing a new pitch competition — and $50,000 in prizes — to Kansas City this summer as part of its effort to boost women social entrepreneurs. Announced during the final moments of last week’s HI-HERImpact virtual entrepreneurship summit for Kansas City, the planned July 29 competition is part of a national…

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Sky Jackson, Scoops

First foot forward: LA dreamer returns to KC to launch shoe brand with one-of-a-kind pop-up

By Tommy Felts / June 26, 2021

Sky Jackson walked through Motion House Studios in the West Bottoms wearing a shirt and pants he had sewn together himself, as well as a pair of Scoops — Jackson’s premier footwear line inspired by the light-heartedness and joy of ice cream.   “I have been wanting to make a shoe brand since I was a…

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Carson Ross, Blue Springs mayor

Why Blue Springs, KC are so hungry for Whataburger: You have the brand; We have the people

By Tommy Felts / June 26, 2021

When Whataburger arrives later this year in Kansas City, the popular Texas-based restaurant chain is expected to bring more than its spicy ketchup and an iconic burger that takes two hands to hold. Company and city officials on Thursday emphasized a local hunger for both the 70-year-old brand and the 700 jobs it plans to…

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