Minority-Led

Designer Whitney Manney using JOANN grant to reshape the fabric of KC’s fashion scene

By Tommy Felts / November 11, 2020

Kansas City is legit — and it’s full of talented creatives who national eyes should be watching, said Whitney Manney.  “I think COVID has shown us you can show up and show out from anywhere in this world,” added Manney, a local fashion designer, maker, and founder of the WHITNEYMANNEY (WM) fashion label, in announcement…

Former Army intelligence analyst deploys expertise, entrepreneurship to the Market Base

By Tommy Felts / November 5, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of a three-part series spotlighting U.S. military veterans who also are Kansas City entrepreneurs. Hustle runs deep for Jannae Gammage, she said, looking back on the one thing that’s been uniquely hers since childhood: entrepreneurship.  “My first business was at 14,” said Gammage, founder and CEO of The Market…

Startup veterans hope to save community banks from fintech ‘feeding frenzy’

By Tommy Felts / November 3, 2020

The future of small business lending has arrived — and it’s being built by a team of Kansas City tech veterans, at a critical time for the industry, said Hugh Khan.  “Small financial institutions are dying; they’re going away. Since the Great Recession, 40 percent are gone,” added Khan, founder and principal of Highploom.  “They’re not…

How two hungry vegan sisters went from making queso to their own storefront on Holmes

By Tommy Felts / October 29, 2020

Arvelisha Woods and India Monique just wanted to style hair and eat nachos, the duo said, breaking into laughter.  “It all started with being hungry,” Monique recalled, with Woods emphasizing the “hungry.” The sisters behind Mattie’s Foods went on a fast in 2015 as part of their mission work. They took what they loved the…

As seen on Troost (and Ellen): Plus-size thrift store owner uses momentum to inspire others 

By Tommy Felts / October 22, 2020

Alesha Bowman had plans March 15 to celebrate the two-year anniversary of her plus-size thrift store, UnLESHed+, by opening a new storefront on the historic Troost Avenue.  But on March 14, a nationwide pandemic forced Bowman’s plans to be entirely reworked.  “You just have to pivot,” Bowman said, noting that she used Facebook and Instagram…