News

Photo courtesy of Venture Legal

Pivoting to freelance: Getting started on your own takes step-by-step attention to detail

By Tommy Felts / June 15, 2020

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Chris Brown is the founder of Venture Legal where he represents startups, freelancers, and small businesses. This column — originally published by Venture Legal and part of a limited series on freelance entrepreneurism — is intended to be general in detail and does…

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Westport facing dwindling foot traffic: Online sales will only get us so far, resilient entrepreneur says

By Tommy Felts / June 13, 2020

Matt Bramlette is stretched thin, bouncing between his two retail shops as Westport storefronts struggle to reopen after a pandemic-induced shutdown, protests that disrupted business and other unexpected challenges. “We rely on tourists and foot traffic — two things that are few and far between right now,” said Bramlette, owner of brick-and-mortar Mid Coast Modern and…

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Austin Evans and Kelly Dahl family, Kris and Kate's Ice Cream

Treat yourself: Iconic pink cone fits entrepreneur’s hunger for nostalgia, growth 

By Tommy Felts / June 13, 2020

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. Just…

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Terry Keith, DoubleTapKC

DoubleTapKC powers past real-world complications with River Market VR arcade, pub

By Tommy Felts / June 13, 2020

Timing and preparation are everything for DoubleTapKC as the virtual reality arcade and pub prepares to unleash a new experience in the River Market — one its owners say is a perfect release for COVID-wary Kansas Citians eager to reconnect.  “To be quite honest with you, I feel really blessed,” co-founder Terry Keith said, reflecting…

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Juan Carlos Chaurand, Diego Chi, Enrique Chi, and Duncan Burnett, Making Movies

Pandemic pauses genre-bending band’s tour, but amplifies message of music as a business, form of activism

By Tommy Felts / June 12, 2020

In a world where empathy can be in short supply, the brothers behind Kansas City Latinx rock band Making Movies see music and songwriting as a way young people growing up in a divided country can level the playing field. The key is exposing them to mentors who can illustrate what’s possible, said Enrique Chi,…

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