News

Innovation Exchange returns in 2018 with new partners, topics

By Tommy Felts / February 13, 2018

One of my favorite parts of journalism is the “Hm!” moment. They are the occasions when reading, watching or listening to a story whose details yield an inborn reaction of fascination or intrigue. They can’t be stopped. When your curiosity piqued, “Hmm!” is an impulse. “The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket produced 5 million pounds of…

Sickweather storms market with overfunded $1M crowdfunding campaign amid flu season

By Tommy Felts / February 12, 2018

An illness forecaster is never more valuable than when the threat of a widespread virus is high. This year’s severe flu season, however, is only one of the leading contributors to Sickweather’s uptick in interest — and its recent oversubscribed $1 million crowdfunding campaign, said founder Graham Dodge. “We learn a lot every cold and…

Fund Me, KC: Operation Breakthrough hopes to burn into STEM gap with laser cutter

By Tommy Felts / February 12, 2018

Editor’s note: Startland News is continuing its ‘Fund Me, KC’ feature to highlight area entrepreneurial efforts to accelerate businesses or projects. If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com. Today’s featured campaign from Operation Breakthrough spotlights a campaign by the nonprofit childhood development center to boost its…

designWerx makes room for growing makers in North Kansas City

By Tommy Felts / February 10, 2018

A home garage workspace can be a lonely, stifling place for a maker trying to grow his or her business, said Pam Newton, who is leading the artistic vision for designWerx, a new coworking space and incubator specifically for makers in North Kansas City. “You’re alone constantly. Sometimes it’s hard to get motivated,” she said.…

KCultivator Q&A: Tyler Enders talks his biggest failure, the ‘Made In’ concept and Obama

By Tommy Felts / February 9, 2018

Seated amid vintage mosaic tile and striking black-and-white portraits by Kansas City photographer Cameron Gee, founder Tyler Enders seems at home within the walls of the Made in KC Cafe. He’s an art lover with a finance degree — not to mention one of the minds behind Made in KC, a retail showcase for local…