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Mark Launiu always felt a bit like an outsider, he said. While the serial entrepreneur now leads KC’s iconic streetwear brand MADE MOBB, Launiu grew up humbly as an immigrant within a small community in South Kansas City. So his recent honor as Samoan Business/Entrepreneur Award of the Year was a pleasant surprise, he said.…
The caliber of founders leading the latest startups funded by Digital Sandbox KC is truly exceptional, said Jill Meyer, describing a third-quarter cohort that includes a Pipeline Pathfinder member, a KC Chamber Small Business of the Year finalist, and the former CEO of the KC Tech Council. “Their industry experience and dedication are the cornerstones…
Small businesses have the potential to thrive in Kansas City in ways unlike other metros across the country, said Christine Lau, highlighting how the city’s unique spirit will play a role in a newly created Small Business Task Force for KCMO. “We have a grit and tenacity that I haven’t seen anywhere else,” said Lau,…
Editor’s note: The following economic analysis was provided by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri (EDCKC). The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Kansas City, Missouri, has recently been the epicenter of two gargantuan events: Taylor Swift’s Eras concerts and the NFL Draft. Both events have left significant economic imprints…
Getting foundational industries — like construction, manufacturing, and energy — to innovate isn’t easy, shared corporate leaders from three regional heavy hitters. “Everybody loves change,” joked Dustin Burns, vice president of innovation at McCownGordon. “They’re just asking for more change to be dumped on them all the time.” “In my experience, a lot of clients…

