All Stories

Fund Me, KC: KCGeoLab is bringing geographical science, open data to the mainstream

By Tommy Felts / July 12, 2017

Editor’s note: Startland News is continuing its new segment to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses.  This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to share their stories to gain a little help from their supporters. If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com  Who are you?…

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KC mom turns entrepreneur to help kiddo’s kidney condition

By Tommy Felts / July 12, 2017

In 2013, Tamra Johnson’s daughter faced a life-or-death situation. After contracting an E. coli bacterial infection, Johnson’s daughter, Maleena, lost function to both of her kidneys. Fortunately, a kidney transplant from Maleena’s father, Jamie, saved her life, but it created a new problem: hydration. Maleena was expected to drink over four liters of water per…

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Callie England opens up on why she stepped down from Rawxies

By Tommy Felts / July 12, 2017

Editor’s note: The following piece by Callie England sheds light on why she stepped down as CEO of the vegan snack company Rawxies. It contains explicit language.  The other day I found myself frozen in panic; what the fuck just happened!? And when I say “just happened” I’m referring to the past six years: From the moment…

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Focused on KC, the Lean Lab welcomes five new ed tech startups

By Tommy Felts / July 11, 2017

The Lean Lab, a Kansas City-based education tech accelerator, is returning for its fourth year with a new approach that aims to be more community focused and sophisticated. During a Tuesday event, the Lean Lab announced the five new startups in its 2017 cohort at a breakfast at the recently renovated Corrigan Station. Katie Boody,…

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Innovation coach Diana Kander: Failure is an option

By Tommy Felts / July 11, 2017

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Yes, you could fail, and it would be embarrassing. People would talk about it. People you know. But let’s be honest, they’re only trying to reassure themselves about the risk-averse choices they’ve made. Yes, you could fail, and it could get you fired. I’m…

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Smart City update: Living Lab set to launch, TV show may highlight KC innovation

By Tommy Felts / July 11, 2017

Bob Bennett, chief innovation officer at the City of Kansas City, Mo., said Kansas City has championed itself as a leader in big data and smart city tech for years now. But now the city is reaching an inflection point to leverage the data at a significant scale, he said. “The bottom line is that…

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From homelessness to national TV, Fishing Caddy founder to appear on ABC

By Tommy Felts / July 10, 2017

The Fishing Caddy has reeled in a big opportunity with a national television show that will feature its device making anglers’ pursuits a bit easier. On July 16, Fishing Caddy founder Joe Pippins will hop on Steve Harvey’s Funderdome, an ABC show in which inventors compete for cash to help accelerate their businesses. The Fishing Caddy…

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Events Preview: Summer in the Sand, Second Fridays

By Tommy Felts / July 10, 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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Eyeing area talent gap, Code the Block to teach tech skills to underserved KC youth

By Tommy Felts / July 7, 2017

A new organization seeks to strengthen Kansas City’s tech talent pipeline by bringing computer science education to underserved youth. Co-founded by David Persley and Joe Wilkinson in 2016, Code the Block is an after-school program targeting high school students in Kansas City. Persley, a Teach for America alum, and Wilkinson, a former business analyst with…

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Kansas Citians help break TEDx world record for fastest sellout of tickets

By Tommy Felts / July 7, 2017

In the time it takes to walk from Kansas City’s streetcar line to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, TEDxKC sold out. In record time — only four minutes — Kansas Citians devoured hundreds of tickets for the TEDxKC live event on Aug. 18 at the Kauffman Center.   Mike Lundgren, curator and founder…

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