News

Inside-the-box thinking: Veteran entrepreneurs craft memory care tools to engage dementia patients

By Tommy Felts / July 1, 2022

The founders of one of Kansas City’s celebrated small businesses are launching a new solution for dementia care: a curated, monthly subscription box full of themed engagement activities and tools designed to improve patients’ quality of life. Prairie Elder Care’s Michala Gibson and Mandy Shoemaker originated the idea for the Connectivities subscription tool during the…

Top emerging business finds its bliss as city uncorks bookstore’s ability to serve wine 

By Tommy Felts / June 29, 2022

A city ordinance change is expected to move one of Kansas City’s only Black-owned bookstores closer to its chilled brick-and-mortar location — popping the cork on Bliss Books & Wine’s ability to serve its namesake beverage once the Midtown storefront opens. “People have been waiting a very long time for this storefront and have been working…

LA game tech startup boosting its KC footprint with 100 new jobs, high-profile downtown HQ

By Tommy Felts / June 29, 2022

A rapidly expanding gaming technology studio hopes to put approachable blockchain technology in the hands of consumers — and it’s pressing play on a strategy to bring dozens of new jobs to Kansas City and give players, developers, and content creators “true ownership” within the games they love. Based in Sherman Oaks, California, Mythical Games…

‘Homegrown unicorn’ helped this startup hub beat the bracket (and its top seed Kansas competition)

By Tommy Felts / June 29, 2022

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. A…

Ulta, Venture Noire apply foundation with new beauty startup accelerator to ‘uplift minority founders’

By Tommy Felts / June 28, 2022

Ulta Beauty’s premier MUSE Accelerator is nothing short of life changing, said Emma Willis.  The national beauty retailer has partnered with Venture Noire to launch a 10-week, hybrid accelerator that supports Black, Indeginous and underrepresented founders of color as they prepare to break into and thrive in the beauty retail space, explained Willis, who serves…