Storytailor

Recent Articles by Storytailor

After coffee, calm: Messenger co-founder, partner envision West Bottoms bathhouse as retreat from what has been

July 16, 2025

Nearly a year in the works, a first floor space in an 1890s-era West Bottoms warehouse is open and envisioned as the place for a “ritual of pause.” Klā Sanctuary — with its special spa baths and body-oriented treatments — and the tea-focused Selah Lounge share the 6,000-square-foot spot at 1400 W. 13th St. Matthew…

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KC-built delivery platform recruiting drivers, retailers ahead of summer app launch

July 16, 2025

Dwayne Overton is no stranger to the hustle, he said. The Kansas City entrepreneur once juggled gigs with Lyft and DoorDash — jobs that gave him an up-close look at the struggles drivers face every day.  Now, as founder and CEO of VendiSafe, he’s building a delivery platform that spins the traditional model on its…

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Tech catches up to this ‘hot commodity’: Trially scaling to next level as an early investor forecasts unlocked opportunity

July 16, 2025

Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it. Kyle McAllister and his Trially co-founders see the Kansas City-based…

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KC Defender invests in Black-owned bookstore’s legacy, keeping its story alive as media startup’s new HQ

July 15, 2025

Missouri’s oldest-operating Black-owned bookstore is set to evolve into a public archive, programming venue, and the new headquarters for The Kansas City Defender — a bittersweet turn of the page for a space marked by resilience and community action, organizers said. Willa’s Books and Vinyl, 5547 Troost Ave., has long stood as a sanctuary of Black…

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How this Top 10 small biz says ScaleUP! KC kept her company on the right path amid growth spurts

July 15, 2025

Entrepreneurs tout business program’s impact as it hits 10-year mark Over the course of a decade, ScaleUP! Kansas City not only has helped develop a foundation of success for dozens of companies; the acclaimed initiative built a legion of champions from within 14 cohorts of growth-minded small business owners. “There’s no other program like it,”…

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Small Biz to Watch: El Café Cubano brews rich simplicity inspired by ancestors’ appetite for the American dream

July 12, 2025

Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, curated by editors from Kansas City’s wide array of hard-working entrepreneurs and business owners. Selection criteria is based on factors…

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Small Biz to Watch: Matchless Cabinet throws ‘BBQ nerds’ onto national spotlight’s grill

July 11, 2025

Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, curated by editors from Kansas City’s wide array of hard-working entrepreneurs and business owners. Selection criteria is based on factors…

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KC-built creator marketplace expands to connect small businesses to influencers of all sizes

July 10, 2025

When Wes Elder and Caleb Vetter launched CreatorSpace more than a year ago, they set out to carve their own path through the blended world of entertainment and technology, Elder shared. Now their startup — what they bill as the world’s first creator marketplace — is taking a new turn. The co-founders plan to release…

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Tiger 21 expands its invite-only peer network in KC as number of ultra-wealthy leaders rises

July 10, 2025

A prestigious — and relatively new-to-Kansas City — resource for high-net-worth C-suite leaders and successful entrepreneurs and founders is expanding: Tiger 21, a premier peer membership organization for ultra-wealth creators and preservers, is adding a second group. The launch is being orchestrated by Heidi Lehmann, a seasoned investor, board member and five-time startup founder leading…

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Small Biz to Watch: Deposit The Work builds mass with tech-enabled consistency — no excuses, all grit

July 10, 2025

Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, curated by editors from Kansas City’s wide array of hard-working entrepreneurs and business owners. Selection criteria is based on factors…

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