All Stories

Entrepreneurs worry World Cup could leave small biz, communities on the losing team

By Tommy Felts / April 17, 2025

FIFA’s summer games set to bring opportunity to Kansas City, but some fear a ripple effect that lasts far longer than the 2026 matches With each month that passes before Kansas City hosts games for the FIFA World Cup in June 2026, local small business owners are facing anxiety about the uncertain plays ahead —…

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Real-life KC startup bros create virtual basement gaming vibes, turning once-isolated streaming into a familiar party

By Tommy Felts / April 16, 2025

In today’s connected world, gaming with or against relative strangers — or “friends” a player only knows from a specific game or platform — is the norm. A Kansas City startup’s new streaming venture aims to recreate old school gaming-with-friends-in-the-basement vibe in the digital world. Available on Steam for free when its beta goes live…

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KC’s college education gap is widening based on income; new effort targets barriers to dreams after high school

By Tommy Felts / April 16, 2025

A just-announced initiative — backed by the Bloch Family Foundation — has a straightforward goal: put more college advisors in Kansas City Public Schools and develop a strategic plan to boost access to quality, affordable college education or career training after high school. The newly launched Kansas City College and Career Attainment Network (KCCAN) already…

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Growth-fueled HR tech startup moving to Crossroads after announcing $9M defense contract

By Tommy Felts / April 16, 2025

Jumping from a handful of employees to 15 over the past year has come with growing pains for Piccadilly Software Group, said co-founder Abe Dick, but the flip-side comes in the form of enhanced community presence, new office space, and greater opportunity for its signature product. The company this month announced its move to a…

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Muralist Sike Style tapped to bring Buck O’Neil’s legacy to life along bridge honoring KC baseball icon

By Tommy Felts / April 16, 2025

A new mural project honoring legendary baseball player Buck O’Neil not only helps capture the spirit of a Kansas City icon, artist Phil “Sike Style” Shafer said; it bridges a cross-generational legacy for the barrier-breaking sports icon. “Meeting Buck O’Neil at the K was a moment I’ll never forget,” said Shafer, a renowned Kansas City…

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OMG! Her gooey butter cookies saved the family home; now this KC shop is baking even more believers

By Tommy Felts / April 16, 2025

St. Louis cult favorite — gooey butter cake — serves as the springboard for a new Kansas City bakery … with a twist. It also sells gooey butter cookies. “Gooey butter cake is a St. Louis tradition. It’s where I’m from and we have the family recipe,” said Tennille Lampe, founder of Oh My Gooey…

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Ideem locks in $2.4M seed round for trust tech spinout driven by Toby Rush, startup veterans

By Tommy Felts / April 15, 2025

The Ideem team has a clear vision for how to make two-factor authentication easy and invisible for users, serial tech entrepreneur Toby Rush said, noting an early investment round will help the rapidly emerging startup double-down. Ideem announced a $2.4 million seed round Tuesday, backed by Sovereign’s Capital, Quona Capital, Everywhere Ventures, Hustle Fund, Oread…

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New role at Endeavor Heartland scales Craig Moore’s concierge ecosystem building

By Tommy Felts / April 15, 2025

In a move that highlights Kansas City’s growing influence within the global landscape, innovation booster Craig Moore has taken on a new role with a Northwest Arkansas-based network for high-impact entrepreneurs — bringing his ecosystem-building superpowers to a broader scale. As senior manager of entrepreneur experience at Endeavor Heartland, however, Moore isn’t abandoning his roots…

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Thai Orchid opens Northland location with homey street food set to wow its new neighbors

By Tommy Felts / April 14, 2025

Even though the new Thai Orchid restaurant in Kansas City’s Northland proudly pays homage to the Rojjanasrirat family’s culinary legacy in Mission, its second-generation owner wants to shock the taste buds of diners who are unfamiliar with the business’ story. “I want the reaction of the people who try our food to be, ‘Wow! That’s…

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C2FO accesses $30M investment with World Bank-backed IFC to expand KC firm’s working capital platform

By Tommy Felts / April 14, 2025

A just-announced capital infusion for Leawood-built C2FO reflects a shared commitment with global partners to boosting jobs and strengthening economic opportunities — notably for micro, small and medium enterprises in emerging markets worldwide. The $30 million funding round features investment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and existing…

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