All Stories

Callie England, WallyGro

Rooted in growth: WallyGro launches à la carte plants after its ‘year of new products’

By Tommy Felts / March 16, 2021

Fulfilling a long-awaited request from customers, WallyGro — a Kansas City company known for its innovative hanging planters — announced Friday it launched its first line of à la carte plants, said Callie England. “This past year the demand was: Could you supply us with more? Customers already trusted [WallyGro] because of our planters, so…

Read More >
Dimarco and Scott atop Stowe Mountain in Stowe, Vermont, Joy of the Journey

Can a KC tech duo travel the world without leaving a trace? Follow their journey on YouTube

By Tommy Felts / March 16, 2021

What started as a duo’s journey for purposeful adventure quickly turned into a mission to educate and advocate for sustainable travel, Dimarco Barea and Scott Hanson shared. “In 2020, Scott [Hanson] and I were both in this really interesting space where we were looking at how we wanted to contribute and dedicate our lives to…

Read More >
Lesa Mitchell, Techstars Kansas City

Expanded Techstars role means more eyes on KC, Lesa Mitchell says; accelerator returns in June

By Tommy Felts / March 16, 2021

Lesa Mitchell’s promotion within Techstars — a Boulder, Colorado-based accelerator network with global reach — is a value-add for Kansas City, she said Monday. The outgoing managing director of Techstars’ local program also teased the popular accelerator’s summer return. “My new role simply means we have more Techstars staff in KC,” said Mitchell, Techstars’ newly announced…

Read More >

Boulevardia cancels 2021 music, maker festival; awaiting full COVID comeback before summer party’s return

By Tommy Felts / March 16, 2021

One of Kansas City’s premier summertime events — and the first major local festival canceled because of the pandemic in 2020 — won’t be back this June after all, organizers announced Tuesday. “When the decision was made last year to cancel Boulevardia, we said, ‘The comeback is always stronger than the setback.’ This statement has been…

Read More >
Isaac Hodges, Messenger Coffee Company

Plaza plus Prairiefire: How a conversation over coffee tripled Messenger’s expansion plans

By Tommy Felts / March 13, 2021

A new, slow-roasted Johnson County location for Messenger Coffee Co. is expected to anchor the Kansas City brand south of I-435 with sprawling windows, copious light, leafy plants, open baking and the familiar wafting scents of coffee and pastries. But for those whose thirst for the roaster’s expansion can’t wait until the new store’s spring…

Read More >

Is that pothole getting fixed? City launches myKCMO app to connect residents to services, answers faster

By Tommy Felts / March 12, 2021

Kansas City, Missouri, residents have a new tool for reporting potholes, illegal dumping, missed trash pickups and other concerns impacting their neighborhoods — and it’s likely already in their pockets, city officials said this week, announcing the debut of the myKCMO app. “This cutting edge new app will enable residents and visitors to more conveniently…

Read More >

KC Cajun chef brings plans for east side restaurant to a boil with help of $22K grant

By Tommy Felts / March 11, 2021

Opening a restaurant doesn’t happen overnight; it takes planning, hours of hard work, a good team, and solid funding, said Esra England — the head chef and founder of KC Cajun.  “I knew opening a restaurant was a strategic move, and everything needed to be calculated,” explained England, who increased his business’ sales by 500…

Read More >
LaRonda LaNear, We Got It Covered

We Got It Covered: LaRonda LaNear feeds her soul (and yours) in a world catered to men

By Tommy Felts / March 11, 2021

LaRonda LaNear was tired of the working world’s status quo.  “I’ve always hated authority and it’s always been men in power, telling me what to do — and it never made sense,” she joked, shedding light on a real problem that robbed her of joy nearly every shift at every job she held.  “I took that…

Read More >
President Biden signs the American Rescue Plan March 11, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris

Kauffman Foundation: $1.9T relief plan signed by Biden a ‘significant step,’ but challenges linger beyond bill’s scope

By Tommy Felts / March 11, 2021

Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial sponsor of Startland News. One of the nation’s premier advocates for entrepreneurs and small businesses on Thursday lauded the passage and signing of a massive COVID relief bill — which it said signals a step toward closing gaps in access to a more prosperous life.…

Read More >
Alec Rodgers Betty Rae's Ice Cream

Why Betty Rae’s new owner traded a finance career for waffle cones; ice cream shop reopens Monday

By Tommy Felts / March 11, 2021

Reopening Betty Rae’s Ice Cream could prove as risky for Alec Rodgers’ waistline as his wallet, the 23-year-old employee-turned-owner jokingly suggested — smiling as he looked across the River Market shop with a mix of nostalgia and youthful exuberance. His eyes lit up as he recalled the rich memory of discovering his own favorite flavor:…

Read More >
1MC-Digital-Attend-2460x318px-v1
Founders-Club-Banner-Ad-2

Join Founder's Club – Support Our Mission

Enjoy access to our email newsletter, members only Slack community, exclusive events and other member perks.