Posts by Tommy Felts
Techstars KC doubles down on virtual demo day with 1-minute pitches, Brad Feld panel
Since COVID-19 kept members of Techstars Kansas City’s 2020 cohort from visiting the City of Fountains during the three-month accelerator, an Aug. 27 virtual demo day will be as much a meet-and-greet with the startups as a pitch event for potential investors, said Lesa Mitchell. “Our cohort didn’t ever come to KC. That was horrible…
Read MoreThirsty for growth: Freshly rebranded Smart Beverage doubles team, expects $2M+ revenue boost
If pivots pour progress, Luke Einsel’s glass is full, the entrepreneur said, announcing a rebrand for Thirsty Coconut and new partnerships that could drive revenue through the roof for the frozen and chilled beverage distributor. “We’ve really gone through and got our processes right and we have a repeatable, scalable model that works in Kansas…
Read MoreBack-to-basics innovation: How two former vegetarians revived a 5,000-year-old pig breed in the hills of Platte County
First comes a sudden rustling of leaves, followed by soft grunting and the patter of dozens of unseen hoofed feet hitting the Platte County earth. A stampede of 30 pubescent Meishan piglets darts out of a wooded area at the base of a rolling hill covered in native plants, legumes and organic maize. “They look…
Read MoreKauffman-backed Skilled KC launching trio of tech training pilots as KC sees unfilled jobs
Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial sponsor of Startland News. This report was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. Opportunity to jump into the tech workforce isn’t capped at age 18, said Jeff Barratt — nor does it require a two- or four-year degree. And the careers are waiting, added…
Read More‘Laser-focused’ microgrant investments aim to curb KCMO violence without law enforcement
Starting a small business can be key to lowering individuals’ risk for involvement in violent activities, as well as increasing household income and financial stability, according to a debut microgrant program that targets new and aspiring entrepreneurs. “We need to find new ways of providing hope and pathways forward in our city where there have…
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