Minority-Led

KC mom’s goal for her daughters’ brewing coffee business: Making history, served Blakk

By Tommy Felts / April 21, 2023

Germaneke Drone is steeping her daughters’ entrepreneurial vision with her own lived experience to turn the kids’ idea into the Kansas City-based, dairy-free mobile coffee cafe of their dreams, the Blakk Brew founder said. Growing up with a Vietnamese grandmother, Kai, 8, and Keanu, 6, were introduced to coffee and tea culture at an early…

Top 10 unfurled after banner year: KC Chamber narrows contenders for ‘Small Business of the Year’

By Tommy Felts / April 21, 2023

A half-dozen fresh-faced ventures — plus a few high-profile returning businesses — round out the Top 10 finalists for the KC Chamber’s 2023 Small Business of the Year award, announced publicly Friday during a social media rollout. “Small businesses drive KC’s economy, and we couldn’t be more excited for this year’s Top 10, and the…

Maker featured in NBC series says ‘death cleaning’ opened his eyes to grief without guilt

By Tommy Felts / April 19, 2023

Godfrey Riddle made it his mission to uplift others, the Kansas City social entrepreneur said, but when a new, high-profile Peacock series begins streaming next week, viewers will witness Riddle on the receiving end of that love and support. The Civic Saint founder is set to appear on an episode of “The Gentle Art of…

AI Hub builds creative space in River Market, giving artists access to business tech, tools

By Tommy Felts / April 19, 2023

The Midwest needs more resources to help creatives start their own businesses and keep them thriving, said Taylor Burris and James Spikes, who designed a one-stop art incubator to give artists’ innovation a fresh canvas. The husband-and-wife team opened AI Hub — powered by IRIS Creative Projects Agency and with funding from The Porter House…