News

J Rieger wants to be a ‘showpiece for Kansas City’ as distiller takes its whiskey international

By Tommy Felts / June 15, 2023

Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program. On the heels of expanding its distribution into several European countries in 2022, J. Rieger & Co. on Wednesday earned the 2023 Weida Award for International Small…

IT firm honored as ‘Emerging Business of the Year’ finds inclusive welcome in Kansas City

By Tommy Felts / June 15, 2023

Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program. NvisionKC — founded during the throes of the pandemic — more than survived 2020, Grace Ahn said; the IT consulting company is positioned for power, earning the…

Photos: Rebooted Startup Crawl reconnects entrepreneurs with a curious Kansas City

By Tommy Felts / June 14, 2023

Kansas City’s Power & Light District was crawling with curiosity Friday as a sellout crowd made its rounds, participating in the recently revived Startup Crawl event and exploring a new side of the city they call home. “We saw a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces,” said Austin Barnes, executive editor of Startland News and…

Give Black campaign returns, aiming to recapture energy needed to close racial wealth gap

By Tommy Felts / June 13, 2023

The 2023 Give Black KC campaign kicked off Monday, beginning the annual week of fundraising efforts focused on supporting Black-led nonprofits in Kansas City in an effort to achieve racial equity. This year’s fundraiser will benefit four organizations: Be Great Together, Front Porch Alliance, WeCode KC, and Kansas City G.I.F.T. Brandon Calloway, CEO and co-founder…

Too many gyms leave people with disabilities to the wolves, says Wesley Hamilton; his solution: become a wolf yourself

By Tommy Felts / June 13, 2023

Wesley Hamilton’s latest project — an inclusive gym in Westport — provides community and a comfortable environment for other people with disabilities, the entrepreneur-turned-reality TV personality and advocate shared. Hamilton, founder of the Disabled But Not Really Foundation and Kansas City social entrepreneur, opened the doors to his new training hub at 3939 Washington St.…