Posts by Tommy Felts
Chatterbox speaks the language of reluctant learners: games featuring global cast of AI tutors
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. WICHITA — A Kansas-built language-learning app takes a gamified approach to fluency — inspired by travel and the simple joys of players feel when competing in traditional board games, said…
Read MoreHella Good lunar launch party celebrates KC’s rising Asian culture, bringing ancestors to the night market
Béty Lê Shackelford hopes Hella Good Deeds — the nonprofit sister organization of the popular Vietnamese coffee shop Cafe Cà Phê — makes members of Kansas City’s Asian community feel held and hugged, she said. “Hella Good Deeds is here; we love you; and we’re really open to collaboration,” explained the founder and executive director…
Read MoreHusband-wife culinary duo among 8 KC bars, restaurants named James Beard semifinalists
Editor’s note: The following story was published by KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR member station, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for KCUR’s email newsletter. Many of Kansas City’s best-regarded culinary luminaries are represented in the nominations, including The Town Company and Chewology; But the list…
Read MoreThe Black Pantry’s new retail-coffee spot is far from copy and paste, owner says; offers fresh taste of Good Karma
A new store on Gillham Road fuses retail and coffee culture, creating what Brian Roberts calls an “elevated Black coffee space” that moves beyond the transactional nature of traditional coffee shops. “I like my store concepts to be a representation of me,” Roberts told Startland News. The shared space at 3134 Gillham Rd. blends The…
Read MoreTractics partners with UK software company to ground heavy construction market with powerhouse cloud platform
Integrating a Kansas City startup’s construction management tech within a global software provider’s solutions for small businesses builds on both brands’ strengths and trusted products, said Tyler VanWinkle. Tractics on Tuesday announced a significant new partnership with Sage Intacct Construction, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The move is expected to help empower heavy civil…
Read More

