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Happy Food Co

Happy Food Co. packs outside-the-box flavor into locally sourced meal kits

By Tommy Felts / November 30, 2017

Finding the right mix of flavors for Kansas City’s pallette has been a trial-and-error effort for Happy Food Co., Jeff Glasco said. The Olathe-based direct-to-consumer meal kit company offers about 20 easy-to-prepare dinners infused with bold spices and outside-the-box local ingredients. Customer favorites include a bison cheeseburger quesadilla, butter-basted salmon, and soba noodle bowl with…

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Ennovation Center

Ennovation Center helping food entrepreneurs avoid charring their dreams

By Tommy Felts / November 30, 2017

In the seven years of leading a food business incubator, Lee Langerock has seen plenty of businesses — and dreams — sour. “We’ve had a front-row seat to the startup challenges and trials of food-based business,” said Langerock, the executive director of the Independence-based Ennovation Center. “The biggest pitfall we’ve witnessed is lack of practical,…

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KCMO, Avis launch first-in-the-world test lab with 5,000 connected rental cars

By Tommy Felts / November 30, 2017

Accelerating the Smart City initiative’s focus on enabling autonomous vehicles, the Kansas City area is now serving as the laboratory for a large test of thousands of connected rental cars. Avis Budget Group and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, announced Thursday the launch of the “Mobility Lab,” featuring a fleet of 5,000 internet-connected vehicles…

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Document: Techstars raising a $400M startup fund

By Tommy Felts / November 28, 2017

Accelerator and investment firm Techstars is working to raise a massive new fund to boost portfolio startups around the world. Techstars — which operates an accelerator program in Kansas City — is now raising a $400 million fund, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund more than doubles Techstars Ventures’…

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Andy Stoll: Entrepreneurial ecosystem answers aren’t inside the Kauffman Foundation

By Tommy Felts / November 28, 2017

Editor’s note: This content was sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation but independently produced by Startland News.  Acting in a Bollywood film. Pie making on Armenian television. Cooking on a dude ranch in Australia. Sewing in a dress factory in Bangkok. Farming maize in Zambia. Each revealed a lesson and mission for Andy Stoll.…

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Rx Savings secures $18.4M funding round, nears 2 million members

By Tommy Felts / November 28, 2017

An $18.4 million funding round is the prescription Rx Savings Solutions needs to expand its fight against a crippling, yet common ailment, said Michael Rea. “Everyone in the nation has the same problem — high drug costs — and most people don’t know there are options to save money,” said Rea, founder and chief executive…

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Former Amazon distribution center, Coffeyville, Kansas

Before prime time: Did Amazon’s 1999 arrival in Kansas deliver on hype?

By Tommy Felts / November 27, 2017

In 1999, Amazon — still in its infancy — meant only two things to most consumers: low-priced books and CDs. But for one small town in Kansas, residents believed the online retailer had the potential to be a game-changer for their economically depressed, rural community. “People in Coffeyville were practically doing cartwheels in the streets,” said…

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Ajit Pai Net Neutrality

FCC head: Repealing net neutrality will boost innovation, investment; startups disagree

By Tommy Felts / November 21, 2017

The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to eliminate regulatory rules that prohibit internet service providers from interfering with consumers’ access to web content. FCC chairman Ajit Pai announced in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that the regulatory body will vote Dec. 14 to repeal 2015 Obama-era regulations. That regulatory model, referred to as Title II,…

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Lyn Cook, Tammy Buckner, April Boyd-Noronha and Janelle James; photo courtesy of Ayleen Bashir, KCSourceLink

April Boyd-Noronha: GEW showcases STEM topics facing women of color

By Tommy Felts / November 21, 2017

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. This year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kansas City featured many enterprising events and networking activities for aspiring entrepreneurs of all ages. It also served as a speaking platform for local entrepreneurs to share their expertise on topics that might usually get no play…

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Roy Scott, Healthy Hip Hop, H3

Bitten by Disney sharks, Roy Scott beats the odds with Healthy Hip Hop

By Tommy Felts / November 21, 2017

When a potentially life-altering business deal suddenly vanished, Roy Scott didn’t get mad — he got funded. “Disney thought they were going to snuff us out, but all they did was put gasoline on this fire,” said Scott, founder of Kansas City-based H3 Enterprises (Healthy Hip Hop). Rewind. Starting his company with a live performance-based…

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