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A new artificial intelligence-fueled chatbot and FAFSA help site aim to digitally remove barriers faced by first-generation American students, children of divorce and others hoping to obtain financial aid to attend college. It’s about delivering peace of mind to members of CommunityAmerica Credit Union, which developed the technology, said Anita Newton, chief innovation officer for…
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Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary about workplace culture are the author’s alone. Ryann Dowdy is a longtime sales coach and trainer. They’re pushy. Annoying. Overbearing. Aggressive. Sleazy. The thought of salespeople conjures all manner of descriptions for many people — including startup founders and leaders. You picture the portrayals in movies like…
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Plexpod is continuing its ride north along Kansas City’s streetcar line — announcing today a new co-working and office space on Delaware Street in the River Market. “River Market is like any other district in the metro,” said Gerald Smith, Plexpod founder and CEO. “Entrepreneurs are everywhere and access to affordable flexible office space is…
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Kyrie Eleison Couture creates custom pieces that incorporate the customer’s cultural influences, said Esmeralda Lole. Lole works closely with individual customers and draws colors from flags and patterns from their countries of origin, she said. “Everyone has a different love language and my love language is acts of service. So for me, to be able…
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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 WeWork Corrigan Station, a modern twist on Kansas City office space.Holding a red, Thou Mayest-branded mug, Bo Nelson credited the success of his 18th Street coffee shop to family talent,…
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Brandon Love hungered for a Kansas City brand as unconventional as his own high-growth aroma confectionery, Crumble Co. He found his match at Betty Rae’s. “I started trying to pick apart [potential partners] to see who would be the best fit,” said Love, Crumble Co.’s founder and “head fruit loop in charge.” “Our way’s really…
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Set against the historic backdrop of the former Lee’s Summit post office, the past and present intentionally collide to create Bridge Space — a 13,000-square-foot coworking space that elevates entrepreneurs in the city’s bustling downtown business district, said Ben Rao. “I’m in the hospitality business. It’s about this experience that people have. We’re not just…
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A half-dozen companies from outside Kansas City earned spots among the first cohort of Fountain City FinTech, said Zach Pettet, hopeful the metro could attract the firms to stay or build long-term partnerships. “There’s a good chance that a number of firms will be putting down roots and creating jobs in Kansas City. We don’t…
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Enhanced leadership, along with the Big Data Summit Track, is bringing the “tech” back to Techweek KC, said Don Peterson. The Big Data Summit, Kansas City’s annual convergence of data, technology and analytics, founded by Peterson and the KC Big Data Group in 2012, had stopped working with Techweek KC after the 2016 event, he…
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After more than five years, Digital Sandbox KC’s proof-of-concept program continues to see a high volume of quality applicants with a wide range of concepts, said Jeff Shackelford. Four startups receiving project funding from Digital Sandbox KC were announced Thursday. Two of those awards are in partnership with Innovation Stockyard in St. Joseph, said Shackelford,…
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