Government

How Silicon Valley, Topeka joined forces for a downtown tech incubator in Top City capital

By Tommy Felts / February 27, 2025

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.  [divide] TOPEKA — A new incubator is expected to help homegrown tech idealists turn their dreams into successful startups, said Stephanie Moran, sharing a vision for the Link Innovation Labs…

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How Trump’s win on DEI means fewer fresh foods for KC’s east side; USDA rakes back critical grant for farmers market

By Tommy Felts / February 22, 2025

An ambitious plan to create greater food security through urban farming won’t be entirely uprooted by efforts to dry up federal funding for projects linked to equity and access, said Alana Henry — but its harvest likely will yield dramatically less. “Doing right by people is always the right answer,” said Henry, executive director of…

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Kansas City HR tech startup earns $9M defense contract to help hire skilled workers for nuclear subs

By Tommy Felts / February 20, 2025

Meeting the U.S. Navy’s aggressive hiring goals requires collaboration across thousands of contractors in all 50 states at a time when America is already experiencing a shortage of skilled workers, said Ray Dick, co-founder of a talent assessment and hiring software platform developed specifically for manufacturing and skilled trades. His Kansas City, Missouri-based company, Piccadilly…

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NXTUS launches bracket-style pitch competition for Kansas startups with $20K in prizes

By Tommy Felts / February 18, 2025

A new, high-energy pitch competition is expected to help startup founders collide with angel investors and innovation leaders from across Kansas — all set against the excitement of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament this spring. The Gamechangers & Champions bracket bash is set for March 21 in downtown Wichita — a one-day bracket-style experience organized…

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Lawmakers redeploy bill to boost veterans as entrepreneurs; targeting easier access to capital, credit

By Tommy Felts / February 18, 2025

Bipartisan legislation to help veteran small business owners and entrepreneurs overcome barriers on the home front is back in Congress, with backing from two area lawmakers who say the time is now to get resources to those who served. U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, introduced the Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans (SERV) Act alongside…

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