News

KC tech community likely staying home, skipping events and travel until 2021, report says

By Tommy Felts / August 14, 2020

Tech leaders are now accepting that a return to work and live events will take longer — perhaps much longer — than initially expected at the outset of the Coronavirus pandemic, said Ryan Weber. “In April, there was a rosier outlook for the resumed timeframe around in-person business events, office reoccupation and business travel,” said…

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Made in KC's Lee's Summit Marketplace

Made in KC replicating its Plaza marketplace in Lee’s Summit; opening set for September

By Tommy Felts / August 14, 2020

A popular retail marketplace concept made in Kansas City is headed east — to the sixth-largest city in Missouri and a customer base eager to support local makers, said Thomas McIntyre. “We want to keep growing our footprint, but only where it makes sense,” said McIntyre, co-founder of Made in KC, detailing the decision to replicate…

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Focalpod at Plexpod

Plexpod’s new ‘Focalpod’ private, air-filtered workspaces are like stepping inside a mask, says founder

By Tommy Felts / August 13, 2020

Editor’s note: Plexpod is a financial sponsor of Startland News. This report was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. Step inside. Roll the door shut. Just about all you’ll hear is the soft whirring of a HEPA filtration ventilation system that cycles air through Plexpod’s new Focalpod private offices every two minutes, said Gerald…

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Chris Goode, Ruby Jean's Juicery; photo courtesy of Timothy Linn, Rockhurst University

Pressed for cash: Ruby Jean’s gifted $10K second shot with new nonprofit’s debut grant

By Tommy Felts / August 13, 2020

Three months after its founding, one of Kansas City’s newest entrepreneurial support organizations might have just saved Ruby Jean’s Juicery from closing its doors for good.  “It’s amazing to see a dream come true and really get it done,” said Christoper Stewart, board president and founding member of Generating Income For Tomorrow (GIFT) — a newly…

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Still working from home? Don’t get too comfortable, cyber security experts warn

By Tommy Felts / August 12, 2020

Transitioning to home-based operations proved a valuable step in combating the COVID-19 threat this spring, but it appears to have exposed a remote, internet-reliant workforce to a different kind of virus — the ongoing scourge of cyberattacks. “Cybercriminals have a much larger, more engaged audience right now to target because of the increases in peoples’…

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