Minority-Led

Crossroads collaboration brings booch on tap, kegs, mocktails to MO’s (new) biggest kombucha taproom

By Tommy Felts / February 9, 2024

Brewer’s Alley in the East Crossroads is getting a new kind of taproom, Kortney Lee and Lisa Bledsoe shared. In a freshly bottled collaboration, Tea-Biotics Kombucha opened Missouri’s largest kombucha taproom Friday in the former home of Community Groceries Crossroads Market. “Beer is brewed; Kombucha is brewed, as well,” said Lee, who owns Community Groceries…

Crowdfunding platform for small businesses launches local hub for KC entrepreneurs

By Tommy Felts / February 8, 2024

Editor’s note: KC BizCare is a partner of Startland News. A newly announced partnership with the international non-profit Kiva is expected to boost Kansas City entrepreneurs who have had difficulties securing traditional bank loans — offering access to social underwriting and affordable starting capital. Kiva Kansas City (Kiva KC), a crowdfunded microloan program for small businesses,…

Mayor: ‘KC is on fire’ (and the city needs to keep turning up the heat); Lucas urges investment ahead of World Cup, major events

By Tommy Felts / February 8, 2024

Kansas City, Missouri, is its strongest fiscal position ever, said Mayor Quinton Lucas, emphasizing the city’s potential to capitalize on that economic stability — coupled with headline-grabbing national attention thanks to the Chiefs — to tackle a range of concerns facing entrepreneurs and workers. Opportunities for investment, growth, redevelopment and crime prevention for small businesses are…

Looking for the right exit? Driven founders first must know their startup’s destination

By Tommy Felts / February 7, 2024

Setting an exit goal early is crucial when founding a startup, shared Robert Zhou, a Kansas City serial entrepreneur-turned-angel investor. “Every startup I mentor, I ask the founder this from Day 1: ‘What’s your goal?’” he explained. “‘Are you trying to build a business that you ultimately sell for $10 million? Is it $1 million?…

MTC grant puts ‘cherry on top’ for KC startup closing its seed round; two more local companies earn MO funding

By Tommy Felts / February 7, 2024

A trio of Kansas City tech startups are among seven Missouri companies splitting $2.2 million in equity-based investments from the State of Missouri — a funding milestone that not only reflects momentum, but amplifies it, one grant-winning founder said. The Missouri Technology Corporation on Tuesday announced the awards from its IDEA Fund, with investments slated for…