News Stories

Hammerspace at Maker Faire Kansas City 2019

Custom retro arcade gaming consoles take Hammerspace workshop down memory lane

When Hammerspace Community Workshop moved into its space off Emanuel Cleaver Boulevard in 2017, a small gaming console served as a showpiece for a room designed for creative and crafty children. Mimicking the look of a classic Nintendo GameBoy-turned-arcade game, the apparatus allowed kids — and adults alike — to play retro titles in an environment…

Green Bee Tea Towels

From maker to CEO: Green Bee founder turned KC resources into a brand buzzing online, in stores

When the inventory of vintage goods Rena Krouse sold online started to dwindle, her entrepreneurial roots helped her recreate history.  “I grew a huge Instagram following and they would get irritated when I would run out of certain things,” Krouse, CEO of Green Bee Tea Towels, said in explanation of how her maker’s journey began. …

Kauffman survey

Amid recession talk, job-creating startups need government focus now, Kauffman says

Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a sponsor of Startland News, but this report was produced independently of the Kansas City-based nonprofit. U.S. policymakers must shift their focus from the old ways of doing business to efforts that boost entrepreneurship at the grassroots levels and target traditionally underoptimized communities, according to the Ewing…

Graham Dodge, Sickweather patent

Startup leader exits Sickweather CEO role to lead East Coast tech incubator

Serial entrepreneur Graham Dodge is headed back to the East Coast to lead a tech incubator after exiting his position as CEO of Sickweather, one of the KC-based Sprint Accelerator’s early success stories. “I will be moving back to Maryland for MAGIC [the Mid-Atlantic Gigabit Innovation Collaboratory], but my goal is to stay connected with…

Photo courtesy of the Crossroads Community Association

Startup Crawl KC returning as planned in October, despite First Fridays vendor changes

Changes to First Fridays in the Crossroads Arts District won’t impact plans for October’s annual Startup Crawl KC, but other entrepreneurs who frequent the community event as street vendors could use support, Adam Arredondo said.  “It’s business as usual for us and we’re excited to host the community and showcase more than 50 startups at…