Minority-Led

Doob 3D aims to capitalize on ‘mecca for foot traffic’ with Country Club Plaza pop-up shop

By Tommy Felts / April 9, 2019

If you build it, they will come. More than a quote from the 1989 blockbuster, “Field of Dreams” — the seven word mantra is what’s pushing Doob 3D to embrace the curve balls of exposing Kansas City to new technology and pinch hit with a new pop-up location on the Country Club Plaza, said Nick Nikkhah.…

WATCH: Faces of KC entrepreneurship find strength in numbers, community resources

By Tommy Felts / April 5, 2019

A new video from KCSourceLink highlights the faces of Kansas City entrepreneurship — featuring makers, innovators, tech founders and social entrepreneurs — and their connection to the resource network and ecosystem infrastructure in Kansas City. “It takes very special people to be able to put everything on the line,” says Reggie Gray, executive director of Black…

We Create KC report: Half of top VC-backed companies tapped early-stage support

By Tommy Felts / April 5, 2019

In 2018, 50 percent of the top venture capital-funded companies in Kansas City got their start with early-stage investment programs that emerged after 2012, according to We Create KC 2019, KCSourceLink’s sixth annual state of entrepreneurship report. “That high percentage shows us how important these early-stage investment programs are to our entrepreneurs and our ecosystem,”…

Wesley Hamilton, Crossfit partner on gym space flexing adaptive athletes alongside able-bodied peers

By Tommy Felts / April 3, 2019

A first-of-its-kind, all-inclusive gym is emerging to reshape what fitness feels like for adaptive athletes, said Wesley Hamilton. “This vision of what we’re about to create here at Crossfit Memorial Hill is magnificent,” said Hamilton, founder and executive director of Kansas City-based nonprofit the Disabled But Not Really Foundation (DBNR), which partnered with the local…

Community rallies behind Chris Goode after ‘violating’ overnight Ruby Jean’s break-in

By Tommy Felts / April 2, 2019

Chris Goode isn’t angry, the Ruby Jean’s founder said after an overnight break-in left shattered glass and an empty cash register at his juicery and kitchen on Troost. “When trials come, maintain the faith and just keeping pressing forward,” Goode said. “People responded to that message pretty quickly. We know that the business is supported…