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Recent Articles by Janssen Coffee

iWerx Gladstone opens, expanding Northland coworking community (Photos)

May 17, 2019

Northland startups and business owners need more collaborative workplaces to call their own, Bob Martin said less than a year ago. This week, iWerx Gladstone turns that vision into reality. “More than just a place to work, iWerx Gladstone is a business development center committed to making connections and stimulating personal and professional growth,” said…

Look inside (and out): Corrigan Station expansion offers startups skyline views from within Crossroads

May 17, 2019

Decades have passed since the last new office building opened in the Crossroads Arts District, said Edna Martinson. In a matter of weeks, startups and small businesses can “create their own vibe” when the 22,910-square-foot Corrigan Station expansion project — led by Copaken-Brooks — unlocks its doors and opens them to Kansas City innovators, added Martinson,…

$18M buyout of TomboyX shares shows investing in women pays off, says Women’s Capital Connection

May 16, 2019

Women are winning in Kansas City, said Kelly Sievers as 24 members of Women’s Capital Connection receive their return from an $18-million buyout of their shares in a Seattle woman’s startup. “They’re getting a great infusion of capital to grow even more and we also still have money in the company because we invested a…

UMKC experts: Self-disruption challenges a modern fashion industry in flux

May 16, 2019

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Regnier Institute. The opinions expressed in this commentary are the authors’ alone. When thinking of the fashion industry, the first thing that (rightfully) comes to most people’s minds is the final garment on the shelf. However, there are a tremendous number of challenges…

Bungii launches on-demand hauling in Chicago; quirks of new markets steering KC startup’s agility

May 16, 2019

Bungii is quickly seeing results in the third-largest U.S. city, as the sharing economy startup leaves its tire prints on yet another market. “It’s early, but we are seeing very positive KPIs [key performance indicators] from the Chicago launch. It’s our fastest-growing record to date,” said Ben Jackson, co-founder of Bungii, which was founded in…

Connecting for Good refurbishes The Surplus Exchange with merger championing digital inclusion

May 16, 2019

Two Kansas City nonprofits are melding their expertise into a spearhead against the digital divide. “This is just the beginning of what will be a long-term love affair between Connecting For Good, digital inclusion, environmental leadership, and the Greater Kansas City metro and regional area,” said Tom Esselman, CEO of Connecting for Good. The Kansas…

Life kicked me around — then I found E-Scholars, says student-turned-UMKC mentor

May 16, 2019

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Regnier Institute, but was independently produced by Startland News. Sticky, intricate, and at times invisible, Terri Jordan’s startup journey is a web spun of complexity, creativity and passion, she said. “I would’ve never met my business partner if I hadn’t said, ‘Hey, would…

ShotTracker partners with entire NCAA conference, taking shot at potential in-game analytics

May 15, 2019

The game is all about proliferating ShotTracker’s technology, said Davyeon Ross, announcing a new partnership with the Mountain West conference to spread the Kansas-born stats-and-analytics tech further across collegiate basketball. Ross’ goal: nothing short of overhauling sports. “The Mountain West continues to stand out for being a pioneer in adopting the latest cutting-edge technologies,” the…

No, Dwolla’s Monetery conference isn’t just about money; it’s an inclusive tech challenge

May 14, 2019

Though Monetery aims to be a mix of seminars, networking and investing opportunities, the secret to maintaining the Midwest tech conference’s value-positive vibe is its intimacy, said Steph Atkin. “We want to make sure that there is an opportunity for all our startups, all our venture capitalists, and our speakers, to meet and connect,” continued…

Break Free KC drops beat on cultural stereotypes, aims to rebrand hip hop

May 14, 2019

Hip hop culture in Kansas City is misunderstood, James “Sug Easy” Singleton said, explaining his mission to help local artists break free of stereotypes and live their passion with authenticity. “When I have a 88-year-old lady at my camp seeing her grandson — who came in with a negative notion of what hip hop was going…