News

Just-launched initiative aims to capitalize on Kansas City’s promise as a global leader in health tech, renews call for KC investment

By Tommy Felts / May 13, 2023

Advancing Kansas City’s digital health industry begins with attracting and nurturing talent, said Dick Flanigan. “What [Digital Health KC] seeks to do is connect ideas to talent; talent to capital; capital to companies and companies to marketplace — and we do not lack for ideas,” said Flanigan, who serves as the CEO of Digital Health…

How Urban TEC used eye-opening VR tech to bring teen mental health into the real world

By Tommy Felts / May 13, 2023

Students at two Kansas City, Kansas, high schools are tackling teen mental health issues with the help of virtual reality, shared youth and tech advocate Ina P. Montgomery. From February through April, 28 students from Wyandotte and JC Harmon high schools learned Unity programming software, identified and researched a health concern for youth ages 13…

‘Mr. K’ finalists tease what it’s like to work for the next Small Business of the Year

By Tommy Felts / May 12, 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. Finalists for the KC Chamber’s Small Business of the Year award highlighted their companies’ commitments to strong workplace culture, DEI initiatives, and community relations during a panel…

KCMO forms small biz task force for entrepreneurs; underinvested businesses a key focus

By Tommy Felts / May 12, 2023

Editor’s note: KC BizCare, the small business office of Kansas City, Missouri, is a partner of Startland News. A new task force committed to giving space for Kansas City small business owners to share their voices — on issues ranging from major events like the NFL Draft to everyday concerns on permits and zoning —…

Rescue florists give new life to leftover flowers; nonprofit just needs 6-inch stems and someone to surprise

By Tommy Felts / May 11, 2023

Impact is growing again for an initiative that sends recycled floral arrangements — flowers otherwise headed for the trash after events — to homebound Kansas City seniors. Volunteer-run Unexpected Blooms recently celebrated its sixth birthday, after being forced to take a pause when the pandemic stalled many large gatherings from which they sourced flowers, shared…