All Stories

Dr. Shelley Cooper, SureShow; Parker Graham, Finotta; Chris Jones, MatchRite Care; Lauren Lawrence, Stenovate; Nomi Smith, PMI Rate Pro; and Clarence Tan, Boddle

Meet the new class: KC’s top emerging founders power Pipeline’s latest high-profile fellowship

By Tommy Felts / February 12, 2021

Pipeline’s new class of fellows more accurately reflects the real diversity of the Midwest, said startup veteran Dusty Reynolds, introducing a virtual Pipeline audience to 13 entrepreneurs joining the group’s elite ranks. “This is an absolutely stacked class,” said Reynolds, co-founder of Omaha-based RaceNote, founder of HeavyNote, and Pipeline’s 2015 Innovator of the Year. “I…

Read More >
Vaccine Pods exterior

Innovation unplugged: KC company’s ultra-cold tech could preserve vaccines, save lives

By Tommy Felts / February 10, 2021

Despite playing a critical, specific role in the fight against COVID-19, one North Kansas City tech startup could be a shot in the arm of healthcare beyond the ongoing pandemic, said Edward Collins. “When COVID came about and affected so many people around me — I wanted to make a difference or at least do something…

Read More >

Demand for Wag-N-Bag rolls back, co-founders say; portable game wagon just needs a second push

By Tommy Felts / February 10, 2021

It’s back to the crowdfunding starting line for Kansas City-tossed Wag-N-Bag, as the yard game startup rolls out an expanded product and launches its second attempt at a critical campaign.  “It’s going to get us to the next level,” Brad Hull, co-founder, said of the company’s recently launched Kickstarter campaign, which aims to secure $10,000…

Read More >
Kearra Johnson, Revolution Card Deck, Studio Lo

KC designer’s new deck of cards celebrates Black icons who refused to play the hands they were dealt

By Tommy Felts / February 10, 2021

Learning and celebrating Black history should be in the cards for more than just the month of February, Kearra Johnson said, unveiling a new design project that’s set to hit metro store shelves soon. “I really just want to create fun ways to get serious conversations started for the younger generation,” explained Johnson, founder of…

Read More >
Ben Rao, Bridge Space, Lee's Summit

Coworking space adds an unexpected pandemic pivot: video production for-hire

By Tommy Felts / February 9, 2021

COVID-19 initially brought community to an immediate halt at Bridge Space, Ben Rao said, as a significant portion of the Lee’s Summit workforce traded their office desks for empty nooks at home during the pandemic. “That community was the invisible energy that runs through Bridge Space,” Rao said of the coworking space he opened in…

Read More >
Jordan Williams and Julian Taylor, Veeper

No promo codes needed: How two Brits and their KC startup are adding instant discounts to your shopping cart

By Tommy Felts / February 9, 2021

When restaurants and retailers shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many of their customer loyalty programs did too, leaving frequent shoppers empty handed, explained Jordan Williams.  “I had a $200 Southwest Airlines voucher and 6000-plus Chipotle restaurant points expire,” Williams said, detailing a pandemic-presented problem that finds its solution in his newly-launched startup: Veeper.  The platform…

Read More >
Joni Wickham and Sly James, No Filter Media

Don’t call it a political podcast: Why positivity is the only filter on KCMO power duo’s new project

By Tommy Felts / February 8, 2021

A former mayor and his chief of staff have more to talk about than just politics — even after eight years in Kansas City’s highest office, said Joni Wickham, describing the wider-ranging theme of her new podcast with Sly James. “People’s initial knee-jerk reaction may be to assume that this is a podcast all about politics…

Read More >
John Kennebeck and Rodney Beagle, 3 Halves Brewing Co

Why one KC-area brewer is closed Super Bowl Sunday (but won’t be sitting on the sidelines)

By Tommy Felts / February 5, 2021

Watching the Kansas City Chiefs defend their championship title Sunday will certainly look different than it did when the hometown team earned it in 2020, John Kennebeck said. And for local business owners, such a change presents yet another opportunity to call plays on pandemic pivots. COVID-19 has “exponentially” altered plans at 3 Halves Brewing…

Read More >
"Pistol Pete" Peter Davis

Pistol Pete worked nearly every job at Arrowhead Stadium — now he’s putting ‘6 on the Board’

By Tommy Felts / February 4, 2021

Kansas City Chiefs fans can add a brand new song to their hype-up playlist in preparation for Sunday’s Super Bowl. Hometown rapper Pistol Pete dropped his ode to the Chiefs — “6 on the Board” — with the intention of exhilarating fans for the big game, he shared. “I’m really hoping people get behind this,”…

Read More >
KreativeMindsKC

No ‘playing it safe’: Husband-wife team tackles Super Bowl demand with hometown-inspired tees

By Tommy Felts / February 4, 2021

A family-owned side hustle is getting a major boost thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs second rush to a Super Bowl victory — and it couldn’t have come at a better time, explained Kendra’h Simmons.  “Now everyone is in a tizzy,” said Simmons, who co-founded KreativeMindsKC in 2019 alongside her husband, Reggie, describing ways excitement for…

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.