All Stories

Max Kaniger, Kanbe's Markets

UMKC contest awards $35K+ to winners, feeds student-community innovation

By Tommy Felts / May 5, 2020

One startup’s winnings from Friday’s Regnier Venture Creation Challenge are expected to have a near-immediate, tangible impact on Kansas City — helping Kanbe’s Markets provide produce in one of its corner markets for an entire year. “This means that about 4,500 people will have consistent access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food on Kansas City’s…

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Maria Flynn, Orbis Biosciences

Orbis exits: East Coast pharmaceutical firm acquires Lenexa biotech company

By Tommy Felts / May 4, 2020

Injecting a Kansas startup into its global efforts will help New Jersey-based Adare Pharmaceuticals boost its core business and strengthen in-roads into animal health and over-the-counter (OTC) markets, the companies said Monday. Orbis Biosciences’ acquisition was finalized Thursday for an undisclosed amount. The startup — which focuses on licensing its technology to companies to optimize their…

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Airbnb official: We’ll help KC police crack down on illegal parties during COVID-19

By Tommy Felts / May 4, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Think twice before snagging a short-term rental for your graduation house party…

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Mayor’s ‘lifeline’ arrives: EDCKC opens applications for small biz relief fund pledged by Lucas

By Tommy Felts / May 2, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Funds from a small business relief loan program teased by KCMO Mayor…

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Butch Rigby, Thank you Walt Disney

First house of mouse: Reanimating Walt Disney’s KC film studio closer to reality than ever before

By Tommy Felts / May 2, 2020

A decades-long project to honor Walt Disney and empower imaginative thinking along Kansas City’s east side could finally be on track for completion, said Butch Rigby.  “The idea for that building is the kid from over on 31st and Troost looks up and understands the Walt Disneys of the world came from that very corner,”…

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OYO Fitness team: Nick Bolton, fitness director; Paul Francis, founder and CEO; Sonya Andrews, art director; Graham Ripple, chief operations officer; Marcus Sy, manufacturing director (not pictured)

OYO Fitness set a $30K goal for pre-sales — they’ve passed $1M in just a week

By Tommy Felts / May 1, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Fresh innovation is working out for OYO Fitness, as the Kansas City-based…

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Carlos Rivera Jr., Str8 Edge Barber Shop

Dollars out, impact rolls in: $1M deployed from KC’s COVID-19 relief fund, AltCap says

By Tommy Felts / April 30, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Just weeks after applications opened, a relief fund intended for Kansas City’s…

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Life Equals more than Zoom calls: How Balance builds trust, scaling health for leading KC startup

By Tommy Felts / April 30, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Startups might be innovative, but they aren’t immune to the challenges of…

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Pivot to programming: Prime Digital Academy sees opportunity in COVID-19 disruption  

By Tommy Felts / April 30, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. A little over a year after its Kansas City launch, Prime Digital…

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Andrew Potter and Luke Lim, TileFive, People Count

Reopening with limits: People Count app tracks number of customers in stores, gyms, restaurants

By Tommy Felts / April 29, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Kansas City is nearing its attempt at an economic rebound and TileFive…

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