Education

Why executing even the greatest startup idea first requires sales (and beyond-superficial curiosity)

By Tommy Felts / April 22, 2025

That sexy pitch alone might not get your startup its first customer, said Lee Walter, noting that lasting success relies heavily on jumping outside the vaunted “ideation” phase to truly question a venture’s value. Walter’s revelation — born from a sales career that stretched from selling school lockers and coffee beans to commercial espresso machines…

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KC’s college education gap is widening based on income; new effort targets barriers to dreams after high school

By Tommy Felts / April 16, 2025

A just-announced initiative — backed by the Bloch Family Foundation — has a straightforward goal: put more college advisors in Kansas City Public Schools and develop a strategic plan to boost access to quality, affordable college education or career training after high school. The newly launched Kansas City College and Career Attainment Network (KCCAN) already…

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Teens tackle universal pain points: Junior Achievement competition pushes students to pitch biz ideas

By Tommy Felts / April 2, 2025

A new student innovation competition linked to Junior Achievement not only challenges Kansas City teens to develop business solutions for immediate real-world problems, said Will Bowler; fostering entrepreneurial thinking develops longer-term impacts. “This program empowers them,” said Bowler, a teacher at Olathe East High School, as students wrapped up Tuesday’s 3DE Innovators Showcase at the…

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Trio of early stage Kansas City startups tapped to join K-State Accelerator focused on boosting Kansas economy

By Tommy Felts / April 2, 2025

MANHATTAN, Kansas — Seven startups are expected to begin work this month within the K-State Accelerator, earning funds, training and resources to turn their concepts into successful Sunflower State ventures. Three of the selected companies hail from the Kansas City area, including dScribe AI; 4D Leaders; and Rebound Jerseys. The eight-week, virtual Center for Entrepreneurship…

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So you think you’re CEO material? UMKC’s ‘CEO Academy’ puts that ambition to the test

By Tommy Felts / March 19, 2025

Aspiring executives with an eye on the C-suite need to be ready well before the opportunity arises, said Dan Hesse, leaning on his years of past experience as president and CEO of Sprint. It’s not about just being the boss, he emphasized. “Of all the roles, that of the CEO is so different than any…

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