All Stories

Philip Gaskin, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Kauffman’s national VP search ends at home: Philip Gaskin shifts into top entrepreneurship role

By Tommy Felts / April 7, 2020

Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland News.  Entrepreneurs need a steady hand now as the world is gripped by uncertainty, said Wendy Guillies, but challenges facing small businesses and emerging companies will remain long after COVID-19 runs its course. Philip Gaskin — the newly promoted vice president of…

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Baker University Esports

College athletics might be paused, but Esports is playing its long game (from home)

By Tommy Felts / April 6, 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. Traditional sports are sidelined these days; a result of the…

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Gabe Muñoz, ESHIP Communities, Forward Cities

ESHIP Communities: Gabe Muñoz helping entrepreneurs navigate cultural barriers amid COVID-19

By Tommy Felts / April 6, 2020

Editor’s note: This story is sponsored and was produced by Forward Cities, a non-financial partner of Startland News and a national nonprofit that is managing the implementation of the ESHIP Communities program as a grantee of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Any opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author. Gabe Muñoz is…

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Tyler Enders, Made in KC

What’s a local dollar really worth? Made in KC launches study to find hard value behind ‘shop local’ mantra

By Tommy Felts / April 3, 2020

“Shop local” used to be a throwaway term for the owners of Made in KC. “We didn’t really know the true value of shopping locally. Spoiler alert: We still don’t know,” said Tyler Enders, co-founder of the local retailer and meca for makers looking to establish a distribution footprint.  Now, Made in KC is cracking…

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Soren and Kilee Nickels, Nickel & Suede

Nickel & Suede: With two stores closed, even Inc.’s ‘most successful’ companies must flex courage amid pandemic

By Tommy Felts / April 3, 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. Being named one of Inc. Magazine’s 250 most successful companies in…

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AltCap

AltCap: COVID-19 relief effort sees $30M+ in funding asks in first 72 hours of launch

By Tommy Felts / April 3, 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. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland…

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Teens already sick of Tik Tok videos? CommunityAmerica launching 100 virtual innovation internships

By Tommy Felts / April 2, 2020

Editor’s note: The following story is sponsored by CommunityAmerica Credit Union, a partner of STARTLAND, the parent organization of Startland News. Click here to apply for CommunityAmerica’s virtual innovation internships. Applications close Sunday, April 5. The arrival of COVID-19 isn’t simply keeping young adults home from school, said Anita Newton. It’s denying them opportunities and…

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Jason Grill on election innovation: No one wants to waste time, votes, or health security at polling places right now

By Tommy Felts / April 2, 2020

Though Kansas Democrats’ transition to mail-in ballots for the coming primary is itself increasingly important because of COVID-19 and social distancing concerns, the initiative — when paired with Ranked Choice Voting — will eliminate “wasted votes” and empower voters, said Jason Grill.  “It’s just a better way. It’s innovative. It’s something that more people are…

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Zen Donkey Farms, photo courtesy of Anna Petrow

‘Bray of Sunshine’ during dark times: Zen Donkey Farms juices light from lemons

By Tommy Felts / April 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. A few weeks ago, home delivery was just a quirky,…

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Blade & Timber team

‘Waiting on the world to reopen’: Blade & Timber now distributing J. Rieger’s must-have hand sanitizer 

By Tommy Felts / April 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. Two lines of cars, at times numbering in the dozens,…

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