Minority-Led

Edna Martinson notches another big win for Boddle, earning $100K from Google for Startups fund

By Tommy Felts / September 22, 2021

The second cohort of a Google for Startups program focused on high potential ventures from Black entrepreneurs features a high-profile founder who built her company in Kansas City before relocating to Tulsa in 2020. The Black Founders Fund announced the selection of Edna Martinson, co-founder of Boddle Learning, Tuesday in a rollout of the 50…

Who’s getting funded in KC? The answer requires a long look in the mirror, analysts say

By Tommy Felts / September 21, 2021

Editor’s note: Startland News asked industry experts to take an early look at the data behind the 2021 Kansas City Venture Capital-Backed Companies Report — the culmination of a three-month collaboration between UMKC’s Technology Venture Studio and Startland News, and presented by Mylo, a Lockton Company. Below are some of their leading takeaways, along with…

A dough master brought Chinese hand-pulled noodles (拉面) to South JoCo; a robotic cat delivers them to your table

By Tommy Felts / September 18, 2021

Hand-pulled noodles were a staple in Elvin Liu’s childhood, he shared, joking that the traditional noodles could be found on any street corner in China — just like Starbucks in the United States. “I moved to Kansas around the end of the year of 2010. I saw a lot of noodle soups, like pho and…

Pipeline pilots new ‘Pathway’ cohort to boost womxn, minority, rural founders into scaling position

By Tommy Felts / September 16, 2021

Editor’s note: Pipeline Entrepreneurs, a network and fellowship of high-performing entrepreneurs in the Midwest, is a community partner and financial supporter of Startland News. A new fellowship program designed exclusively for underserved entrepreneurs is expected to help better prepare founders who identify as womxn, minority, or are leading a business in a rural community to…

In the Black: Why Venture Noire is bringing capital resources from Arkansas to KC’s founders of color

By Tommy Felts / September 14, 2021

It’s time Black-led companies went from over-mentored and under-resourced to well-connected and infused with capital, Keenan Beasley said, announcing plans for establishing more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems that begin, in part, with a presence in Kansas City.  “Kansas City is a very mature market,” Beasley, founder of Venture Noire, said of what he’s observed among the…