Minority-Led

BeVel’s edge on Troost: Scaling culture alongside barbershop’s executive clean up

By Tommy Felts / September 26, 2025

A young Casie Murff jumped from cutting lawns to shaping lines, but it wasn’t until decades later — after embracing support from groups like The Porter House KC, Kansas City G.I.F.T. and a resurgent Troost business community — that the entrepreneur’s vision truly started buzzing. “Sometimes as entrepreneurs, you need that reassurance,” Murff, founder of…

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Meet the competition: AltCap Your Biz unveils finalists for pitch event, $60K in awards

By Tommy Felts / September 23, 2025

A popular fall pitch competition for emerging entrepreneurs is returning to Union Station in November with AltCap today announcing 10 finalists for $60,000 in cash prizes — ranging from Kansas City’s first mobile matcha cart to specialty wellness retailers and a dog toy innovator. “The AltCap Your Biz Pitch Competition is so much more than…

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‘The American dream is the Midwest’: LaunchKC powers next generation of startup job creators

By Tommy Felts / September 19, 2025

Editor’s note: The following is part of an ongoing feature series exploring impacts of initiatives within the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City through a paid partnership with EDCKC. [divide] Relocating to Kansas City after winning a LaunchKC grant — and the community and infrastructure support that comes with it — gives Russel Karim’s startup a…

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KC GIFT launches ‘Vibe the City’ passport to showcase Black-owned arts, entertainment venues

By Tommy Felts / September 18, 2025

A newly published mini-guide to Black-owned arts and entertainment venues across Kansas City is expected to push community members deeper into the metro’s rich Black business ecosystem, said Brandon Calloway, highlighting a range of cultural and nightlife destinations.   “Vibe the City” passports are available now at the G.I.F.T. Business Center at 5008 Prospect Ave.,…

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She scored music on Netflix and LA’s star-studded stages; now BodaciousThang is getting vulnerable in KC

By Tommy Felts / September 16, 2025

When Cheyenne Jolene steps on stage in the shoes of her alter ego, the singer-songwriter’s voice carries both raw emotion and unapologetic truth. Performing as BodaciousThang, Jolene blends R&B, hip hop, rock, and soul into what she describes as “genre bending” music. Her songs are steeped in authenticity and storytelling, offering listeners intimate glimpses into…

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