All Stories

Survey: KC small businesses lack action on diversity, inclusion efforts

By Tommy Felts / August 10, 2017

For many small business people and entrepreneurs, working outside the corporate world has its perks. Some like the nimble nature of a small team, as well as the death of the cubicle. Others appreciate the adrenaline that comes with taking risks. Aside from the benefits, a recent study suggests that smaller businesses in Kansas City…

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Arredondo: Serendipity, passion collide to form the KC Startup Foundation

By Tommy Felts / August 9, 2017

I’m not going to lie. It’s been a heckuva ride. Who could have imagined the Kansas City Startup Village’s serendipitous start in Fall 2012 would turn into all this? Not me. I vividly remember the nights Matthew Marcus and I were awake at 2 a.m., trying to keep up with the flood of emails from…

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KC Streetcar

‘Third-tier’ startup city? KC growing beyond tech snapshot, leader says

By Tommy Felts / August 8, 2017

Momentum matters for a startup city, Ryan Weber said. A recent report ranking Kansas City in the middle of the pack among Midwestern startup hubs doesn’t factor in the ongoing rapid growth of the city’s tech scene, Weber, KC Tech Council president, said. International tech publication TechCrunch listed Kansas City as No. 9 out of…

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Gigabit City Summit shines national spotlight on KC Smart City

By Tommy Felts / August 8, 2017

Showcasing Kansas City’s success is a key part of establishing the city as a thought leader in smart city development, Aaron Deacon said. Last week’s third annual Gigabit City Summit gathered more than 300 attendees — representing municipalities large and small, including city officials, economic development specialists, community builders and entrepreneurs — at Plexpod: Westport…

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Events Preview: Conquer for Good Connect, KC Coworking Day

By Tommy Felts / August 7, 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? Feel free to add it to the FWD/KC calendar for increased exposure. Once your event…

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Kansas City Startup Foundation and CEED merge, receive $1M donation

By Tommy Felts / August 7, 2017

Increasing its ongoing support of entrepreneurs, Affinity Worldwide has donated $1 million to the Kansas City Startup Foundation (KCSF), a nonprofit championing and connecting the local startup ecosystem. As part of the donation, Kansas City-based Affinity is also donating ownership of the Center for Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development (CEED) — the parent organization of Startland News…

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Affinity Worldwide CEO hopes $1M gift to Kansas City Startup Foundation spurs more community giving

By Tommy Felts / August 6, 2017

Editor’s note: Michael Wrenn previously was the owner of Startland News and its parent organization, the Center for Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development (CEED). I’m a big believer in counting blessings and doing my small part to give back. My wife, Becky Cole, CFO of Affinity Worldwide, is of the same mindset. We’ve enjoyed success over the…

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Denise Kruse

Denise Kruse: So your startup has a strategy — now what?

By Tommy Felts / August 4, 2017

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Strategy. Strategic plan. Go-to-market. Blueprint. Tactics. Startup innovators probably have heard an exhaustive list of synonyms and buzzwords. I’ve seen them all as a business leader for more than 30 years, helping companies define their strategy or execute on it. And there’s good reason…

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Innovation Stockyard feeds effort to protect food chain

By Tommy Felts / August 4, 2017

When feeding the world, being proactive on animal health technology is vital, Ronan Molloy said. “The reality is, its importance will only hit home when we have a significant event, like a swine flu,” Molloy, president of Innovation Stockyard, said. “Then all of the sudden people will say ‘Oh, why is my fillet now $40…

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Students bump shoulders with architects at STEAM Studio

By Tommy Felts / August 3, 2017

Most children won’t have experience working in a professional environment until they land their first job or internship, Mandi Sonnenberg said.  “Some kids may have popped into their mom or dad’s work and have gone to a professional space at least a couple times in their life,” Sonnenberg said. “But for kids in the urban…

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