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5 gifts for yourself (courtesy of KC makers)

By Tommy Felts / November 27, 2019

Editor’s note: Below you’ll find a list of five gifts you can snag for yourself amid the holiday shopping madness. Click here to check out the rest of Startland News’ 2019 Gift Guide. Soaps and bath bombs Handmade in Westport, Bear Soap Co. is an extension of Midcoast Modern and provides non-toxic soaps and bath…

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N-Gage Grips by N-Gage

10 gift exchange ideas from Kansas City startups

By Tommy Felts / November 27, 2019

Editor’s note: Below you’ll find a list of 10 ideas for your next office or family holiday gift exchange — each from a Kansas City startup or maker. Click here to check out the rest of Startland News’ 2019 Gift Guide. wlle drink sweater Made by Sandlot Goods, the WLLE drink sweater uses the insulating…

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5 Kansas City-crafted gifts for kids

By Tommy Felts / November 27, 2019

Editor’s note: Below you’ll find a list of five Kansas City-crafted gift ideas for the kids on your holiday shopping list. Click here to check out the rest of Startland News’ 2019 Gift Guide. Nanables Created by the minds at Kansas City’s Tesseract Ventures,  miniature, unique houses show kids seeing is believing — with a…

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10 ways to wear (or gift) KC’s maker scene

By Tommy Felts / November 27, 2019

Editor’s note: Below you’ll find a list of 10 wearable gift ideas for your holiday shopping list. Click here to check out the rest of Startland News’ 2019 Gift Guide. Mackbecks shuttlecock earrings Handcrafted in Kansas City, Mackbecks’ tassel earrings capture the spirit of the iconic Nelson Atkins Museum’s shuttlecocks. Price: $25 Where to buy: Midcoast…

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Chad Hickman, Sandlot Goods

Opening pitch: Sandlot Goods’ new workshop puts fresh spin on its best-selling wallet 

By Tommy Felts / November 26, 2019

As Sandlot Goods moves deeper into a new workspace off Southwest Boulevard, the six-year-old premier maker is stitching an aesthetic that holds true to its classic appeal but ventures away from hometown branding. “In the last year, we have been dialing back the overly Kansas City feel,” said Chad Hickman, owner of Sandlot Goods. “We…

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Jason Mispagel, Year-Round Garden

Hemp startup founders cultivate Year Round partnership in light of growing interest

By Tommy Felts / November 26, 2019

A casual supply run produced more than equipment for United American Hemp; the team behind the Olathe startup walked away co-owners of another new venture.  “We hit it off and invested both time and money in [the] business. … Since then [its] exploded in revenue,” Michael Wilson, director of research and development at United American…

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Photos: Culture pops as Kritiq puts KC’s fashion family on the runway

By Tommy Felts / November 26, 2019

The evolution of the Kritiq fashion show — from a one-night event to a full weekend showcasing up-and-coming artists and fashion designers in streetwear and high fashion — was an intentional effort to reflect Kansas City’s booming creative landscape, said Mark Launiu. “The culture [of Kansas City] is changing and we have to be a…

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Matt Watson, Stackify, Full Scale, Startup Hustle podcast

More than a podcast host: Matt Watson’s Stackify raises $6M in rapid scaling maneuver

By Tommy Felts / November 22, 2019

Stackify expects growth on the heels of a freshly announced $6 million funding raise, explained Matt Watson. “We have still never taken any outside, institutional VC money. All the [investments] we’ve raised have been from local Kansas City investors, which is pretty cool,” Watson, founder and CEO, said noting the company’s recent raise was a…

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Dan Smith, The Porter House KC

KCultivator Q&A: Dan Smith coaches retail potential from within east side entrepreneurs

By Tommy Felts / November 22, 2019

Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The KCultivator Series is sponsored by Plexpod, a progressive coworking platform offering next generation workspace for entrepreneurs, startups, and growth-stage companies of all sizes. As Dan Smith looked around Kansas City, he saw his hometown continuously…

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OHUB needs whole community to achieve vision of ecosystem inclusion, leaders say 

By Tommy Felts / November 21, 2019

Opportunity Hub isn’t an exclusive club, said Rodney Sampson. “What I would like to see is greater collaboration with the existing players already on the ground,” explained Sampson, founder of the Opportunity Hub (OHUB), noting that his organization’s goal to foster entrepreneurship within Kansas City’s minority communities doesn’t mean animosity toward the broader startup landscape.  …

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