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Kartez Marcel Addison

Hip hop entrepreneur: Rap stardom isn’t the only way to a paycheck

By Tommy Felts / November 1, 2017

Music is everything, Kartez Marcel said. It’s an avenue to express anger and hurt in a positive way. It’s a way to heal. And for aspiring entrepreneurs, it’s an opportunity to earn a paycheck even if they aren’t destined for on-stage superstardom, said Marcel, a Kansas City rapper and hip hop industry mentor. “Everybody wants…

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FAQ: Is it all hype? Tunneling into Missouri’s chances for Hyperloop

By Tommy Felts / November 1, 2017

Virgin Hyperloop One might seem like a pipe dream. But the prospect of Kansas Citians reaching St. Louis in only 23 minutes is more realistic than many think. In fact, according to recent reports, Missouri has at least a 20 percent chance at landing Hyperloop, a yet-to-be-realized transportation system that moves people and freight at…

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CEO: Infusion Express $13.5M round proves realistic investment can come to KC

By Tommy Felts / October 31, 2017

When Kansas City-based Infusion Express closed a $13.5 million Series B round earlier this month with McKesson Ventures as its lead investor, the move wasn’t a fluke, Don Peterson said. “If you build something really great, the money will find you,” said Peterson, CEO of Infusion Express. “I didn’t call McKesson, they called me. When…

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Walter Isaacson, da Vinci and the Vitruvian Man

What KC’s startup community can learn from Leonardo da Vinci

By Tommy Felts / October 31, 2017

Why is the sky blue? Modern-day scientists know it’s because of the way the sun interacts with air molecules when sunlight enters the Earth’s atmosphere. In Leonardo da Vinci’s time, however, the answer wasn’t so clear. He questioned assumptions of the day, even those that seemed simple. “It’s that type of always asking ‘Why?’ that…

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Events Preview: Attracting Hispanic customers, HR workshop

By Tommy Felts / October 30, 2017

There are a plethora of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter, or curious community member — we recommend these upcoming events for you. Are you hosting a relevant community event? Add it to the KCSourceLink Calendar for increased exposure. Email info@kcsourcelink.com for assistance. Startup Rewind…

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Off Kilta Matilda

Fund Me, KC: ‘Off Kilta Matilda’ aims to inspire girls’ love of math

By Tommy Felts / October 30, 2017

Editor’s note: Startland News is continuing its segment to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com. Today’s featured entrepreneur, Sarah Shipley, is also board chairwoman of the Kansas City Startup Foundation, the parent organization of Startland News. Who…

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Amazon HQ2 New Century Gardner

Primed for HQ2? Gardner area was made for Amazon, Kansas legislator says

By Tommy Felts / October 30, 2017

Plans for bringing Amazon’s HQ2 to Southwestern Johnson County were laid in the 1800s, Bill Sutton said. “As soon as the (Santa Fe, Oregon, and California) trails divided here, all of this was in the cards,” said Sutton, a Kansas state representative whose district encompasses Gardner and Edgerton. “If the trails divided here, then guess…

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Ag tech startup Farmobile raises $18M round for global expansion

By Tommy Felts / October 27, 2017

Ag tech company Farmobile has reaped a substantial Series B funding round that positions the firm to rapidly accelerate across the world. The Overland Park-based company announced Friday that it raised $18.1 million to expand its data platform to help farmers mitigate risks and generate a revenue from the data they own. The round includes…

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Chucker, Julia and Susan Luetje

10-year-old Leawood inventor in the running for $250K

By Tommy Felts / October 27, 2017

Kansas City entrepreneurs are known for their Midwestern hospitality, collaborative nature and humility. And each of those traits are expressed by 10-year-old inventor Julia Luetje of Leawood, whose entrepreneurial spirit is now on the national stage as part of a Frito-Lay’s Dreamvention competition. “I invented the Storm Sleeper because I used to be afraid of…

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Face it: Zoloz tech lets you to pay with a smile

By Tommy Felts / October 27, 2017

With a recently revealed new brand and broader strategic focus, Kansas City-based Zoloz is expanding its biometrics security offerings to include another unique human attribute: a user’s face. Formerly known as EyeVerify, Zoloz unveiled three new products — Zoloz Connect, Real ID and Smile — that CEO Toby Rush said will ensure trust and security…

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