News

From the pitch to the Plaza: KC Current flipping the switch on new retail shop in iconic shopping district

By Tommy Felts / November 25, 2025

Add team gear to the holiday shopping list this weekend. The Kansas City Current is kicking off a new permanent retail shop on the Country Club Plaza — just in time for the 2025 Plaza Lighting Ceremony. The Current Shop is set to open Wednesday, Nov. 26, in the former Starbucks building at 302 Nichols…

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Kauffman wraps three fast-paced rounds of capacity building: Meet the year’s final grantees

By Tommy Felts / November 25, 2025

A revised strategy to help nonprofit organizations strengthen their internal effectiveness and long-term stability — while still aligning with the Kauffman Foundation’s focus areas — next must showcase outcomes, said Allison Greenwood Bajracharya, announcing a final round of capacity building grant winners for 2025. Built with intentional versatility, capacity building grants are meant to meet…

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Five stocking stuffer gift ideas that brew support for women-owned KC businesses

By Tommy Felts / November 24, 2025

Editor’s note: The following holiday feature is presented by nbkc bank, where small businesses find big support Shopping with intention this season is just one way Kansas City gift-givers can squeeze local impact into each nook and cranny of those holiday stockings, said Melissa Eggleston, highlighting a sleigh-ful of women-owned businesses shoppers should bank on…

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Their brands survived legal bruises; here’s what still keeps these founders up at night

By Tommy Felts / November 24, 2025

A brand worth building is worth safeguarding, said Bo Nelson, joining a chorus of battle-tested entrepreneurs at GEWKC who encouraged emerging business owners to trademark their own peace of mind early by locking down intellectual property — like designs, names and unique processes — from the start. “If you do have something that you genuinely,…

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Scout charts pre-seed funding from Midwest investors at KCRise Fund, eGrowth Ventures

By Tommy Felts / November 24, 2025

The just-announced pre-seed round for an emerging innovator in veterinary medicine software is expected to help the Kansas City-built startup deepen its product capabilities, further strengthen its core technology, and strategically grow its team to meet rising demand. “Closing this round gives us the resources and momentum to execute on our mission,” said Dr. Gonzalo…

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