Minority-Led

Recreational golf can be lonely without community; this Olathe-built app brings players together on the green

By Tommy Felts / August 19, 2022

He set out to create an all-encompassing, tech-enabled golf platform that would make his favorite sport more fun, accessible, convenient, and transparent — but Somanath Chilukuri already knew the hazards of the crowded course ahead of him. “Today there is so much app overload on people,” said Chilukuri, an Olathe IT professional and the founder…

New C2FO-powered payment hub unlocks capital for diverse-owned businesses

By Tommy Felts / August 19, 2022

Editor’s note: C2FO is a financial supporter of Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. A just-launched strategic partnership between one of Kansas City’s largest startups and a Detroit-based minority-owned finance and diversity consulting firm aims to help more overlooked and under-capitalized businesses gain access to funds, the companies announced this week. The deal is expected to see…

Allyship means mistakes plus action: New project draws parallels between innovation, DEIB

By Tommy Felts / August 18, 2022

It’s time for coworkers to move beyond best intentions, said Ghadeer Garcia and Mark Logan, announcing the launch of a new project aimed at pushing allies in the workplace to action. The co-founders created the Ally Lab project through Idealect, an equity-centered social innovation company in Kansas City. The Ally Lab will offer knowledge and…

Veteran podcast creator finds inspiration at the crossroads of hip-hop, health; now launching digital magazine

By Tommy Felts / August 17, 2022

Jessica Dalby might be the name and face of her business, but her brands are all about lifting up others, she said. “My mission statement is: everyone can shine and succeed together,” detailed the founder of Jessica Dalby Brand Media. Under the company’s umbrella are four brands: “Diggie A-2: The Progression of Hip-Hop” video/audio podcast,…

Can’t-miss Saigons: KC’s Vietnamese coffee shop debuting long-awaited storefront, new drinks after slow drip

By Tommy Felts / August 11, 2022

Two years after her Vietnamese coffee cart’s opening act — popping up in local businesses and parking lots across the city — Jackie Nguyen has found her audience, formed a community and will soon, finally, take center stage with her own standalone Cafe Cà Phê in Columbus Park. “When I moved to Kansas City, I…