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2020 celebration photos: Startups find value in being watched — $2.6M across 520+ stories

By Tommy Felts / February 4, 2020

Editor’s note: The celebration event showcasing Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2020 was sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works with communities in education and entrepreneurship to increase opportunities that allow all people to learn, to take risks, and to own their success. Ten of Kansas City’s…

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Ori Goldwasser, Vu Radley, Jonathan "JP" Platz, and Mark Launiu, MADE MOBB

Three months’ rent in 24 hours: How Chiefs’ Super Bowl run already MADE one brand’s 2020 

By Tommy Felts / February 4, 2020

Super Bowl Sunday was a holy time for members of the MADE MOBB, but it was hardly a day of rest for the team behind Kansas City’s most iconic streetwear brand. After prepping the custom T-shirt press in the back of MADE’s Crossroads storefront late Saturday — in hopes of a new, limited drop celebrating…

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Union Station, Kansas City

Chiefs’ victory parade forces TEDxKC to call an audible, move sold-out event to June 

By Tommy Felts / February 4, 2020

The sold-out return of TEDxKC will see a delay of game, as organizers push the popular event back four months to make room for the Kansas Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade and rally Wednesday. “For a couple of weeks, we have been doing the calculus on what we would do if the Chiefs won the…

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Hunter Browning, Ben Schultz, and Tyler Prochnow, LaborChart

LaborChart builds its value with ‘robust’ Series A capital injection from Five Elms

By Tommy Felts / January 30, 2020

A recently closed injection of growth and scale capital will help Kansas City-based LaborChart strengthen its team, expand the company’s market position and accelerate domestic and international growth, said Ben Schultz. The move — finalized in the final days of 2019 and announced Thursday — is expected to jolt the team from a headcount in…

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2018 LaunchKC winners

‘NEXT Missouri’ coalition launches policy push to renew MTC funding; EDCKC backing effort

By Tommy Felts / January 29, 2020

A new effort by a coalition of Missouri policy-focused organizations aims to give Show Me State entrepreneurs a voice among legislators, as well as renew funding for an agency known for providing meaningful cash injections to Kansas City startups. Among the key priorities for NEXT Missouri — a 17-member-strong group, backed by the Economic Development Corporation…

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Roy Scott, Chop It Up

Techstars turn up: Atlanta accelerates inspiration for Roy Scott’s Healthy Hip Hop 

By Tommy Felts / January 28, 2020

When the Kansas City Chiefs kick off Super Bowl Sunday in Miami, avid fan and Arrowhead Stadium regular Roy Scott will be cheering from his temporary home in Atlanta. “It’s incredible what the Chiefs are doing for Kansas City — it’s a really exciting time,” an all-smiles Scott said Tuesday from the Peach State where…

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AbdulRasheed Yahaya, Unified Esports Association

Miami-bound: KC eSports pioneer carrying gaming industry to the Super Bowl stage

By Tommy Felts / January 28, 2020

AbdulRasheed Yahaya never doubted his non-traditional career had mileage, but the KC eSports pioneer couldn’t have envisioned it would drive him to a Super Bowl, he said — let alone one set to feature the Kansas City Chiefs.  “By God’s grace, I get to be a role model to the youth, [show them] that an African…

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Rodney Sampson, Opportunity Hub

It’s official: ‘Shark Tank’ casting call coming Feb. 21 to Kansas City’s 18th & Vine District

By Tommy Felts / January 28, 2020

The TV show that helped make investing in wild and innovative startup ideas a household conversation is looking for new talent and opportunities in Kansas City. ABC’s “Shark Tank” is planning an official casting call 10 a.m. to 5 pm. Friday, Feb. 21 at the OHUB.KC Ecosystem Lab in the historic 18th & Vine District.…

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Boddle

Two KC edtech startups just won $50K each, tickets to OHUB’s demo day at SXSW

By Tommy Felts / January 26, 2020

Opportunity Hub pulled out the big checks Friday, awarding two Kansas City edtech startups with $50,000 each as the accelerator nears its culmination at SXSW in March. Three winners from outside KC are expected to establish a presence in the metro as part of their awards. Boddle — led by co-founders Clarence Tan and Edna…

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Meet the half-dozen, seasoned KC founders joining Pipeline’s latest fellowship class

By Tommy Felts / January 24, 2020

Nearly half of the new class of Pipeline fellows hail from Kansas City startups, revealed the high-profile entrepreneur network Thursday at the Pipeline Innovators Daytime Showcase. Among those Kansas City founders taking the stage during the announcement: Dominique Davison, PlanIT Impact; Kyle Ginavan, OneHQ; Bo Lais, Lula; Luke Lim, Tile Five LCC; A.J. Mellott, Ronawk…

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