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John Fein

Raising a round in the Midwest? 3 tips from investor John Fein

By Tommy Felts / August 6, 2018

Editor’s note: This column was originally posted by Medium, and is republished with permission of the author, John Fein. The Midwest is a great place to live, sure, but is it a great place to grow a startup? The answer may surprise you: an unequivocal yes. Here’s what you may not know about the American…

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Athlete Network co-founders Dirk Ochs, Chris Smith and Eli Fisher

Lenexa-based Athlete Network teams with K-State, Arkansas, Lindenwood on student engagement

By Tommy Felts / August 4, 2018

A Kansas City-area tech startup is expanding the scope of its social network for athletes, the company announced this week, revealing new partnerships between Athlete Network and three universities with Division 1 sports. The company is collaborating with athletic departments at Kansas State University, Arkansas State University, and Lindenwood University to develop game-changing technology with…

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Trey and Chad Hickman, Coaster Oven

Cut from Sandlot’s lineup: Demand for Coaster Oven ‘coming out of the woodwork’

By Tommy Felts / August 4, 2018

A faint smell of leather washes over customers when they enter Sandlot Goods’ new Crossroads space at 2125 Washington St. But the most recent buzz comes from owner Chad Hickman’s side venture with his brother: Coaster Oven. In the back corner of Sandlot’s workshop, where the Kansas City-born company specializes in leather and stitch work,…

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Aug. 9 KC Coworking Day celebrates the future of work — happening now in Kansas City

By Tommy Felts / August 4, 2018

Editor’s note: The following content about KC Coworking Day is sponsored by the KC Coworking Alliance but independently produced by Startland News. After setting a world record in 2017 for the most people coworking in the same place, KC Coworking Day is set to return Aug. 9 with a party meant to spark even greater…

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Jake Randall, founder of Doughnut Lounge

Emerging from failure: Doughnut Lounge founder gets raw among startup peers (IXKC photos)

By Tommy Felts / August 2, 2018

Jake Randall’s “crazy dream” — a collision of craft, creativity and conversation contained in Westport’s Doughnut Lounge — was gone in a matter of 24 hours, he said. “I found out on Monday. And we closed on Tuesday,” Randall told a crowd of startup community peers this week at Startland’s Innovation Exchange. “I was embarrassed.…

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ShotTracker tech nets entry into NCAA Division 1 sports with Hall of Fame tourney

By Tommy Felts / August 2, 2018

ShotTracker is advancing in the bracket of startup success, company officials announced Thursday, revealing their game-changing, sensor-based, stat and analytics tracking system will debut this fall at the 2018 NCAA Division I Hall of Fame Classic. In partnership with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), ShotTracker technology — which uses sensors in players’ shoes,…

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Camp Cyber KC Tech Council

Camp Cyber reboots conference format with top-security KC Tech Council retreat

By Tommy Felts / July 30, 2018

From cyberspace to the great outdoors, the KC Tech Council is using past success to develop a one-of-a-kind professional development experience: Camp Cyber. Traditional conferencing rebooted, the two-day retreat is expected to provide Kansas City’s top information security leaders with exclusive access to industry insiders, said Ryan Weber, KC Tech Council president. Camp Cyber –…

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High-tech dog kennels to affordable housing: Mayor announces city’s new startup partners

By Tommy Felts / July 30, 2018

Kansas City needs startups’ brightest minds working on the ever-evolving city’s behalf, said Mayor Sly James. Six valuable new startup partners — ranging from companies addressing housing and zoning issues to firms focused on high-tech dog houses and the management of restaurants’ grease — have accepted the call, the city announced Friday. “The Innovation Partnership…

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Cold Cough Flu

Sickweather CEO bringing Cold Cough Flu conference to KC

By Tommy Felts / July 28, 2018

It might be warm and sunny this summer, but a storm is brewing, said Graham Dodge. The Sickweather founder’s Cold Cough Flu conference set for October in Kansas City could help health officials detect what’s to come. Inspired by a similar event organized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Oct. 15 event…

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TRNDSTTRS

Teens’ marketing startup TRNDSTTRS aims to amplify its own business influence

By Tommy Felts / July 27, 2018

Staying young and hungry is everything, said the teenage entrepreneurs at TRNDSTTRS Media. With a team of ten 18- to 19-year-old go-getters, the tech-based firm focuses on providing affordable, in-depth marketing service to small and mid-sized companies. They use their age as an advantage rather than seeing it as an obstacle, said Jake Bjorseth, founder…

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