All Stories

Meet the winners of KC’s first grants for micro-businesses; $55K awarded to women of color

By Tommy Felts / April 12, 2024

A newly launched collaboration between entrepreneur support efforts announced Thursday its first batch of grant winners — positioning four Kansas City micro-businesses for greater success amid a near-universally challenging start for the year. “The first quarter of the year is hard for most businesses, and extremely hard for small businesses. This year was no different…

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These ‘Urban Heroes’ are helping evolve downtown KC; here’s why they’re on the right path

By Tommy Felts / April 12, 2024

In a prelude to today’s celebration of downtown Kansas City’s evolution and momentum, four “urban heroes” were honored Thursday for their passionate work to make downtown a more vibrant place to live, work, and play, organizers said. Winners of the “Urban Hero Awards” ranged from honorees on the east side to the Crossroads and the…

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Honey bunches of joy: How this Raytown bee farm landed its blooming business model

By Tommy Felts / April 11, 2024

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Kansas City PBS/Flatland, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, The Kansas City Beacon, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story. Erik and Rachael Messner’s home on an acre in south Kansas City gave…

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Startup Weekend winners could have a billion-dollar solution for struggling taxpayers

By Tommy Felts / April 11, 2024

Organizers of Missouri Startup Weekend predicted this year’s winner could be poised to be the competition’s next billion-dollar alumni. Solvtax presented the weekend’s winning pitch: a solution for avoiding financial implications through better business and personal property tax management. The idea struck a chord with entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs in both the audience and judge’s…

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KU spinout earns $180K+ in prizes at business plan competition; students going full-time with startup

By Tommy Felts / April 11, 2024

LAWRENCE, Kansas — A sustainable engineering startup that emerged from the University of Kansas took fifth place in a recent business competition at Rice University in Houston, earning more than $180,000 in prizes and an opportunity to make history for the founders’ alma mater. Icorium Engineering, the first-ever team from Kansas to compete in the…

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Coffee shop owner (and superhero super fan) pours himself into the pages of Darkmoon Comics

By Tommy Felts / April 10, 2024

Mike Gladney might not be living in the Marvel or DC universes, but he is dwelling within the realm of his own dream world surrounded by comic books, he shared. Gladney — and his wife, Vania — own Comic Coffeehouse in Olathe, and now he’s also the editor-in-chief for Kansas City-based Darkmoon Comics. “I’m doing…

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Tax service wins Missouri Startup Weekend as entrepreneurs embrace ‘building great stuff’

By Tommy Felts / April 10, 2024

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Missouri Business Alert, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, and The Kansas City Beacon. Click here to read the original story. COLUMBIA, Missouri — St. Louis natives David Beach and Bryan Edelman won Missouri Startup…

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The value of professional advice: Benefits of having a financial advisor on your side 

By Tommy Felts / April 10, 2024

Editor’s note: The perspectives expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. The following is a paid thought leadership piece from The Plaza Group at Morgan Stanley in Leawood, Kansas. In today’s complex and volatile markets, making sound investment and financial decisions is a challenge. Investing on your own can be complicated, overwhelming and risky.…

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Theme park developer plans year-round getaway alongside Barbie’s lakeside beach house in KCK

By Tommy Felts / April 9, 2024

Barbie’s Beach House is just the beginning. The developer behind a planned a new theme park centered around Mattel toys this week released more about its vision for Destination KCK, a year-round entertainment destination coming to Bonner Springs, Kansas, in Wyandotte County. “The development will bring a whole new set of adventures just west of…

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She refused to back down; how this gamechanger earned a spot on the field with the KC Current 

By Tommy Felts / April 9, 2024

As a history-making season rolls on for the Kansas City Current, a recent match proved the perfect opportunity to honor the founder and CEO of WeCode KC, said Christina Lively, detailing Tammy Buckner’s selection as the first “Gamechanger” award winner. “Tammy’s story is the perfect example of pursuing your dream and refusing to back down…

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