News

On the map and in the mirror: 1 Million Cups contrasts international eship visitors with KC startup scene

By Tommy Felts / July 16, 2025

The fail-fast mindset and high risk tolerance many American entrepreneurs employ in their quests to build unicorn startups are arguably foreign concepts to business builders on the other side of the globe, said Lucy-Llonna Larbi. Her experiences in Germany reflect a slower, security-first focus, she said, expressing admiration for the American approach. “We think that…

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After coffee, calm: Messenger co-founder, partner envision West Bottoms bathhouse as retreat from what has been

By Tommy Felts / July 16, 2025

Nearly a year in the works, a first floor space in an 1890s-era West Bottoms warehouse is open and envisioned as the place for a “ritual of pause.” Klā Sanctuary — with its special spa baths and body-oriented treatments — and the tea-focused Selah Lounge share the 6,000-square-foot spot at 1400 W. 13th St. Matthew…

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KC-built delivery platform recruiting drivers, retailers ahead of summer app launch

By Tommy Felts / July 16, 2025

Dwayne Overton is no stranger to the hustle, he said. The Kansas City entrepreneur once juggled gigs with Lyft and DoorDash — jobs that gave him an up-close look at the struggles drivers face every day.  Now, as founder and CEO of VendiSafe, he’s building a delivery platform that spins the traditional model on its…

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Tech catches up to this ‘hot commodity’: Trially scaling to next level as an early investor forecasts unlocked opportunity

By Tommy Felts / July 16, 2025

Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it. Kyle McAllister and his Trially co-founders see the Kansas City-based…

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KC Defender invests in Black-owned bookstore’s legacy, keeping its story alive as media startup’s new HQ

By Tommy Felts / July 15, 2025

Missouri’s oldest-operating Black-owned bookstore is set to evolve into a public archive, programming venue, and the new headquarters for The Kansas City Defender — a bittersweet turn of the page for a space marked by resilience and community action, organizers said. Willa’s Books and Vinyl, 5547 Troost Ave., has long stood as a sanctuary of Black…

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