Minority-Led

‘Red Zone’ concert puts KC’s brightest hip hop stars on stage as NFL Draft focuses eyes on Kansas City

By Tommy Felts / April 25, 2023

As football fans descend on Kansas City this week for the NFL Draft, a quartet of local musicians hopes to showcase to the world what the Kansas City hip hop scene has to offer. City Market Red Zone will bring together artists, musicians, and vendors for a free, all-ages concert and open-air Art Garden KC…

No time for risks or red flags: Why this fund backs ‘unbankable’ businesses in WYCO’s investment desert

By Tommy Felts / April 25, 2023

This story is possible thanks to Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures (EGV), a business unit of NetWork Kansas supporting innovative, high-growth entrepreneurs in the State of Kansas. A partnership between NetWork Kansas and the Wyandotte Economic Development Council is providing minority entrepreneurs in Wyandotte County with loans and technical assistance to get their business ideas off the ground.…

Small businesses tackle NFL Draft opportunities with league coaching from the sidelines

By Tommy Felts / April 24, 2023

Editor’s note: The following story was originally published by KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR member station, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for KCUR’s email newsletter. The NFL’s business connect program aims to feature diverse, local businesses for major events. Next week’s NFL Draft is expected to…

Company boosted by Topeka becomes capital city’s latest Plug and Play corporate partner

By Tommy Felts / April 24, 2023

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.  TOPEKA — Plug and Play Topeka announced this week the addition of Bimini Pet Health as a new corporate partner of the Topeka-based animal health accelerator — a move expected…

Kin crafts flavor into hard seltzer market, targeting overlooked Black consumers looking for authentic social experiences

By Tommy Felts / April 21, 2023

The founding trio of a new hard seltzer crafted in Kansas City hopes the drink will add much-needed inclusivity to the craft seltzer space. Kin Seltzer is a collaboration between Joshua Lewis and Kearra Johnson of UpDown Nightlife, and Eric Martens of Border Brewing Company. Currently, leading seltzer brands target their marketing predominantly to white…