All Stories

Grant Burcham Ryan Tillman, CyTek Corporation

Former Mobank CEO, Cerner leader acquire, join longstanding KC tech company

By Tommy Felts / May 18, 2021

A dramatic change at a Kansas City a computer IT support and managed services firm is expected to bring expanded vision and executive direction with the addition of two top tech leaders who also now own the business, the company announced Tuesday. CyTek Corporation, founded in 1998, has been acquired by former Mobank CEO Grant…

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Rod Malchow, R&P Camel Co.

Far from fenced-in city life: Rural Missouri camel rancher takes a trail less ridden

By Tommy Felts / May 18, 2021

After 35-plus years ranching camels at the foot of the Ozarks, Rod Malchow expressed no regrets about spending more than half his life with exotic animals on a remote Missouri farm — often seeing only his wife, sister and neighbors unless traveling to events offering camel rides. “If I fell over dead tomorrow, I’d have…

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Ian Ross and Basel Bataineh, Somera Road

Reimagined Lightwell ready to take innovation hub mantle as KC’s tech talent return to the office

By Tommy Felts / May 18, 2021

A steady stream of foot traffic flows beneath the Lightwell building’s signature feature — a winding overhead natural light design that spans nearly a city block — as employees returning to the workplace help the iconic downtown Kansas City landmark assume its new identity: 21st century innovation hub.  “A lot of people will talk about…

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Bring your data strategy forward with control, transparency

By Tommy Felts / May 17, 2021

Editor’s note: The following commentary is sponsored by AdPredictive, which has headquarters in Kansas City, Kansas, and New York. The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Chelsea O’Donnell is senior vice president for business and client development for AdPredictive. Between increasingly strict privacy regulations and maneuvering by big tech, brands of all…

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North KC’s Brewkery pours new line of alcoholic kombucha, tapping brand’s inner spirits

By Tommy Felts / May 15, 2021

“Hard” doesn’t mean adding a boozy bite at the expense of flavor or natural ingredients, said Amy Goldman, announcing a new line of hard kombucha now available exclusively at The Brewkery’s North Kansas City taproom. “We’ve all seen the trend toward low-calorie, low-sugar, and more sessionable drinks. The Brewkery opted to do it our way…

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Eric Flanagan, King G

How King G plans to rule a rebuilt Crossroads corner with a muffaletta and glass raised to perseverance

By Tommy Felts / May 15, 2021

Rum, rye, and a retail renaissance are headed for the business district that sits just east of the Crossroads Arts District, teased Eric Flanagan. “I’m passionate about sandwiches; I’m passionate about beer; I’m passionate about good service, good music. All the stuff I love, I’m trying to bring that into this place,” said the Kansas…

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KCMO mask order ends noon Friday; Mayor says CDC update makes rules impossible for businesses to follow

By Tommy Felts / May 14, 2021

Just hours after the CDC issued new guidelines Thursday saying fully vaccinated Americans can stop wearing masks indoors and outdoors, Kansas City’s mayor announced an end to remaining KCMO mask rules — effective noon Friday — saying he won’t force businesses to face continued harassment for enforcing restrictions amid conflicting, unclear guidance. “The challenge for…

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Topeka approves $5.9M for innovation campus, locking in key funding for animal health, ag hub

By Tommy Felts / May 14, 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. Plans…

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A high-tech funder planted seeds in 135+ Missouri startups; three bloomed into $1B+ unicorns in the past six months

By Tommy Felts / May 13, 2021

When news broke this week that St. Louis-based plant tech firm Benson Hill reached a $2 billion valuation, it marked the third “unicorn” minted among MTC-funded companies in the past six months, said Jack Scatizzi. “Early-stage investing takes patience and the results can’t be rushed,” said Scatizzi, executive director of the Missouri Technology Corporation, noting…

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World War II veteran experiencing a virtual Honor Flight using Healium and T-Mobile technologies

Healium partners with T-Mobile, transporting veterans to DC memorials via virtual Honor Flight

By Tommy Felts / May 12, 2021

Veterans living in rural America can experience the sights and sounds of the nation’s war memorials in Washington D.C. thanks to a Kansas City-area startup’s virtual reality technology, powered by T‑Mobile 5G. “We are losing our World War II veterans at a rate of hundreds a day, and sadly many may not live long enough…

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