News

Imagine Argentine: How 10 students hope to transform a KCK neighborhood

By Tommy Felts / June 20, 2018

It’s about making Argentine better, said Emma Jones and Sergio Garcia. Both middle schoolers are members of Imagine Argentine’s 10-student cohort. The social entrepreneurship program is dedicated to solving social challenges in Argentine, Kansas, said Kurt Reitema, director of justice initiatives for Youthfront, a KC-based youth ministry organization. The cohort meets each day during the…

ECJC unveils new $5M seed fund for regional startups

By Tommy Felts / June 19, 2018

Kansas City has a new fund targeting Midwest startups. The Enterprise Center in Johnson County is leading a bi-state initiative that’s working to capitalize the $5 million Fountain Innovation Fund. The fund — built by the Midwest Seed Consortium — aims to increase the number and pace of scalable firms by investing in the most…

All-Star voting winners: E-Day at the K celebrates KCSourceLink, its network (Photos)

By Tommy Felts / June 19, 2018

KCSourceLink’s Entrepreneur Day at the K heralded the work of the support organization’s sprawling network of partners. But the tailgate party at Kauffman Stadium didn’t let founder Maria Meyers go unnoticed. Reading from a proclamation announcement marking Monday as “KCSourceLink Entrepreneur Day” in Kansas City, Missouri, Nathan Kurtz, entrepreneur advocate at the Ewing Marion Kauffman…

Vote now: KCMO competing for spot in accelerator focusing on gender, racial inclusion

By Tommy Felts / June 19, 2018

KCMO already is a five-star city, Mayor Sly James says, but a new accelerator program could make it even better. “Kansas City’s startup community is growing and innovating, but women and people of color are being left behind,” James says in a pitch video for Living Cities City Accelerator program. A coalition of local organizations,…

Go print yourself! Overland Park doob shop turns selfie concept into 3D replicas

By Tommy Felts / June 18, 2018

A new shop in Overland Park is supplanting the selfie with the mini me. After first opening shops in Los Angeles and New York City, the Germany-based 3D printing firm doob has arrived in the Kansas City area to 3D print people, groups and pets. The technology, process and results capture moments in time customers…