Minority-Led

Pitches and peaches: Hy-Vee awards $30K piece of the $50K prize pie to family-run cobbler company

By Tommy Felts / September 29, 2022

Denisha Jones sweetened Hy-Vee’s OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit and pitch competition this week with her ready-to-bake cobblers. Her pitch (and peaches) secured the $30,000 grand prize.  “Every time Thanksgiving comes around, I always crave my grandmother’s cobbler. During the pandemic, I was unsuccessful in finding a cobbler as good as my grandmother’s, so I went…

Meet six newly funded startups Digital Sandbox KC is making more fundable tomorrow

By Tommy Felts / September 28, 2022

Newly awarded funds are expected to help six more companies scale their fledgling startups past the proof-of-concept stage, said Jill Meyer, touting Digital Sandbox KC’s track record of making startups and their products more fundable once they’re built. “Digital Sandbox KC is one of the Kansas City metro’s rare early-stage funds and provides vital support…

Coming soon: 8 new tech startups set for ‘lucky No. 7’ Pure Pitch Rally spot-cash event

By Tommy Felts / September 27, 2022

From nutrition to logistics, local entrepreneurs continue innovating solutions that could result in Kansas City’s next unicorn, said Karen Fenaroli. Eight such potentially game-changing tech startups are expected to showcase their ideas next month, she announced Tuesday. The seventh annual Pure Pitch Rally is set to return Oct. 17 at the Burns & McDonnell Global…

Best in the US: ‘Market days are work days,’ but all are welcome at OP’s award-winning farmers’ market

By Tommy Felts / September 27, 2022

More than 7,000 farmers’ markets across the United States competed for the title of “America’s Favorite Market” — but voters ultimately picked Overland Park’s community of vendors and entrepreneurs as the cream of the crop. “The Overland Park Farmers’ Market is the heart of this vibrant and diverse neighborhood where all are welcome,” said Kristina…

Alchemy Sandbox winners lean into challenge of live pitches as Porter House KC awards third-round checks

By Tommy Felts / September 24, 2022

A third round of Alchemy Sandbox winners each walked away with more than a $5,000 check this week after an intense live pitch experience for the entrepreneurs behind three Kansas City Main Street ventures and two support organizations for Black businesses. “It was interesting to see how I had all this information in my head,…