All Stories

Cutting the card in a digital world? Behold the staying power of the analog business card

By Tommy Felts / July 2, 2019

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Anyone remember Bump? You might not, but the ultra-popular app has about 125 million downloads since its debut in 2009. Free for both Android and iPhone, the app allowed you to instantly share your contact information by literally “bumping” your smartphones together in…

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Depalo app

Perfect shots: KC lifestyle blogger launches Depalo app to guide users to Instagram hot spots 

By Tommy Felts / July 2, 2019

The perfect Instagram-worthy photo location could be within walking distance right now, said Kansas City-based lifestyle blogger Rebeeca Aneloski. A former Missouri representative on the Miss USA stage, Aneloski launched Depalo in June to help users locate picturesque locations across Kansas City — and eventually the globe, she said. “I [initially] started a blog to continue…

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Tech pioneer Don Peterson to guide new LaunchKC-Nueterra health accelerator

By Tommy Felts / June 29, 2019

Leading the new LaunchKC Health Accelerator is Don Peterson’s way of giving back to a community that opened its arms to his family nearly 30 years ago, he said.  “I’m proof that we can accomplish the entrepreneurial dream right here in KC and feel like it’s my duty to pay that forward,” said Peterson, a…

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Andrew Ellis and Matt Blake, Gaudete Development, MoCannaHub

MoCannaHub lights up information prohibition; launches cannabis resource-finding app

By Tommy Felts / June 28, 2019

Rolled in entrepreneurial opportunity, tech companies shouldn’t be afraid to take a hit of the growing marketplace that is cannabis, said Andrew Ellis, explaining the methodology behind MoCannaHub — the app that connects curious consumers with experts and information of various strains.  “Some of the platforms out there are banning cannabis-related content,” explained Ellis, president…

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Lauren Conaway, InnovateHER KC

InnovateHER KC founder leaving KCSF as womxn’s community-building startup scales

By Tommy Felts / June 28, 2019

It’s time to set InnovateHER KC on the path to long-term growth, said Lauren Conaway, announcing her plans to leave the Kansas City Startup Foundation in early July to lead the womxn-focused startup full-time. “InnovateHER KC’s No. 1 priority right now is building out our community with intention,” said Conaway, founder of InnovateHER KC and…

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Sprint Accelerator Demo Day

Photos: Sprint Accelerator leaders salute former managing director at demo day

By Tommy Felts / June 27, 2019

Gratitude powered down the sixth cohort of the Sprint and Dairy Farmers of America-backed Corporate Accelerator Thursday. “I do have one more person that I need to acknowledge and that person is Doug Dresslear,” Tina Peterson, manager of the Sprint Accelerator, told a packed crowd at the National World War 1 museum’s J.C. Nichols Auditorium. …

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LaunchKC health accelerator

LaunchKC, Nueterra Capital announce health accelerator with $50K, plus resources for each startup in cohort 

By Tommy Felts / June 27, 2019

Adding its third vertical in less than a year, LaunchKC will expand its grant opportunities deployment with the new LaunchKC Health Accelerator aimed at improving patient outcomes, the program announced Thursday.  “LaunchKC continues to see momentum, headed into its fifth year, having invested over $2 million in cash grants to attract or retain 38 tech…

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Amado Espinosa

Trust yourself and make your own everything: Hear the artist hustle of Amado Espinoza

By Tommy Felts / June 27, 2019

Whether directing a contemporary indigenous stage performance, covering the Beatles classic Elanor Rigby with a pan flute and charango for TEDxKC or creating a diatonically-tuned bendy-straw, Amado Espinoza understands the importance of fully committing to a pursuit. “For me, being a professional musician means when you dedicate your entire life to music,” he said. A…

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Menufy Chow Now

Food delivery giants are eating up restaurant profits; KC startups add survival back to the menu

By Tommy Felts / June 27, 2019

Ordering a meal at the press of a button is convenient for customers, but behind-the-scenes deals with the delivery giants that made on-demand food popular are running some independently owned restaurants out of business, said Vincent Son. “We’re not making a dime,” said Son, owner of China Feast in River Market, which uses five different…

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Ben Edwards, Swappa Local Kansas City

Hometown startup launches Swappa Local in KC, trading tech junk sellers for secure deals

By Tommy Felts / June 25, 2019

A firsthand experience with a mysterious Craigslist seller served as fuel for Kansas City-listed startup Swappa’s latest innovation of the local marketplace: Swappa Local.  “I exchanged money with the seller, we both drove off, leaving the parking lot at the same time,” recalled Ben Edwards, Swappa founder and CEO. “We ended up stopped at the…

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