News

Dos Lokos trio bringing family recipes, culture to former Fountain Haus spot in Westport

By Tommy Felts / June 27, 2025

This immense venue — on the corner of bustling Westport Road and Broadway — has been dark for nearly a year and a half. A new tenant expects to have a new, family-run restaurant in the space by fall. Dos Lokos Sports Cantina plans a September opening at 401 Westport Road (the former Fountain Haus).…

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Big ideas for young people: How Equal Minded Café crowdfunded its coffee shop youth incubator’s next blend

By Tommy Felts / June 25, 2025

Dontavious Young is betting on the next generation. As founder of Equal Minded Café and the Big Ideas Foundation, Young is creating space for high school students to build businesses, find purpose, and take ownership of their futures. “I want to be someone who kids remember their whole life,” Young said. “Almost everyone has an…

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Downtown restaurant fires up the summertime bar and grill in former KC Daiquiri Shop

By Tommy Felts / June 25, 2025

It’s a few days into AJ’s Bar & Grill’s soft launch in downtown Kansas City. Managing partner Matthew Hill stands by the kitchen window, fielding lunch orders for both to-go, dine-in and delivery (he was running some orders to nearby offices in sweltering 90-degree-plus temperatures). Inside the new Grand Boulevard restaurant: it’s cool and low-lit,…

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KC-built sports tech startup acquired by AI-powered fundraising, engagement platform

By Tommy Felts / June 25, 2025

The acquisition of Kansas City-built Athlete Network — a platform designed to foster lifelong connections between student-athletes and athletic alumni — deepens the startup’s work a decade after it launched, its founder said. “This is a huge milestone for our team, and I want to take a moment to sincerely thank our teammates, partners and…

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Investors laud emerging founder’s expertise as CarePilot logs $2.5M for AI healthtech tool

By Tommy Felts / June 24, 2025

It’s rare for a regional venture capital firm like KCRise Fund to invest in an entrepreneur just out of college, the Midwest-focused firm told Startland News, detailing the remarkable talent that led it to join an early round for Joseph Tutera’s digital health startup. Overland Park-based CarePilot recently announced a $2.5 million seed round led…

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