Social Side Effect: Ex-KC influencer lands commercial with Patrick Mahomes (but building an Instagram brand isn’t magic) 

Ian Merzwinski, Hy-Vee commercial with Patrick Mahomes

Editor’s note: Social Side Effect is an ongoing profile series that identifies the intersection between social influencing and entrepreneurship   People follow Ian Merzwinski on Instagram because they like him, the social influencer said as he explained the importance of personal brand building.  “The best thing that you can do is just be consistent,” Merzwinski, founder…

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From KC to Down Under, expanded LEANLAB attracts education innovators to latest fellowship

Katie Boody, LEANLAB Education

Ten companies arriving Friday to LEANLAB Education’s latest fellowship are expected to be met with real-world classroom partners from nine school systems in the Kansas City metro and Colorado. “When those closest to the issues in education — teachers, parents and students — have access to cutting-edge innovators and researchers, they’ll be able to collectively…

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Plug and Play: Global accelerator could unify animal health corridor, grow Topeka’s startup ecosystem

Plug And Play launch event at the Kansas Statehouse

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. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. TOPEKA…

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