News

It isn’t just free money: PPP loan funds come with strings attached

By Tommy Felts / April 24, 2020

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the authors’ alone. Kirstin P. Salzman, Jessica Zeratsky and Kyle Gilster are partners at Husch Blackwell. This op-ed is sponsored by the Husch Blackwell law firm, which has offices in Kansas City and across the nation, and intended to provide additional insight into the Pacheck Protection Program (PPP) and its extension this week.…

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Scenes of Kansas City, April 24, 2020

The Kansas City you know is dying; Open letter to banks, donor-advised funds, and fellow Kansas Citians

By Tommy Felts / April 24, 2020

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Adam Arredondo is CEO of STARTLAND — formerly the Kansas City Startup Foundation — the parent organization of Startland News and the talent programs MECA Challenge, MECA Methods, and Back2KC. This opinion piece was produced independently of Startland News with light editing. No…

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Aja James and Mallory Jansen, Flexy

Flexy gets flexible in a newly all-virtual fitness world, but says there’s no substitute for in-person connections

By Tommy Felts / April 23, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. If COVID-19 has a silver lining for Aja James and Mallory Jansen,…

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Malachi Bowman, University of Kansas, Startup Weekend Kansas City 2019

Techstars Startup Weekend returns to fight COVID-19 … the caveat? It starts now

By Tommy Felts / April 23, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Techstars Startup Weekend is adding new programming in the era of Coronavirus…

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Five high-profile KC startup, business leaders slated for Junior Achievement hall of fame

By Tommy Felts / April 23, 2020

A program that connects Kansas City business leaders with classrooms is giving high honors to a handful of startup veterans whose efforts to build global companies has already impacted a new generation of entrepreneurs. Bruce Ianni and Davyeon Ross, co-founders of ShotTracker; Christine Kemper, founding chair of Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy, and Sandy Kemper,…

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