News

17-year-old entrepreneurs find financial, moral support for My Social Gain

By Tommy Felts / June 7, 2018

Entrepreneurship brought Jaden Evans and Benicio Baeza together, they said. The two juniors at Truman High School in Independence, Missouri, started the social media marketing company My Social Gain in early 2018 after realizing the power of social media for companies. Though the company is only a few months old, My Social Gain already has…

‘We’re a big damn deal!’ KC is an underground fintech hub, says Zach Pettet

By Tommy Felts / June 7, 2018

Editor’s note: Zach Pettet is the Fintech Strategist at nbkc bank, with which Startland News has partnered on an upcoming Innovation Exchange event. Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Kansas City is the United States’ underground financial center. Over the years, many financial juggernauts have been born and grown up in Kansas…

Traditional marketing tactics fail to wow consumers, Boomn startup says

By Tommy Felts / June 6, 2018

If an idea doesn’t prompt a “Heck yeah!” response from the team at Boomn, it gets an “Um, no” verdict, said Ryan O’Connell. A data-driven and performance-based digital marketing company, KC-based Boomn works primarily with ecommerce brands. Such clients range from food and beverage companies to TV and YouTube personalities, said O’Connell, Boomn’s chief operating…

Video: ‘Have you eaten?’ KC Pinoy adds food math to flavorful Filipino fare

By Tommy Felts / June 6, 2018

Editor’s note: The following content about Chrissy Nucum’s KC Pinoy is sponsored by Mid-Continent Public Library but independently produced by Startland News. KC Pinoy food truck’s last customer of the day was aptly named: Lucky. “We’ve had a good enough day to break a hundred [dollar bill],” owner Chrissy Nucum told the diner at the…

Blue Hills incubator merging with mission-based urban core developer

By Tommy Felts / June 5, 2018

A catalyst for change within the neighborhoods surrounding Prospect Avenue, the Blue Hills incubator is expected to continue serving entrepreneurs after merging with a leading development group in the urban core. The not-for-profit formed by combining the expertise of Blue Hills Community Services and Swope Community Builders aims to reclaim areas of Kansas City by…