News

E-Scholars grad Heidi Van pushes boundaries with ‘nomadic theater’

By Tommy Felts / August 24, 2017

Obstacles along the path to success are often produced in the minds of the creative people themselves, Heidi Van said. “These obstacles are created from self-doubt,” said Van, Fishtank Theatre founder and artistic director. “If you actually looked closer and broke it down into action items, you could probably make a couple of phone calls…

Jobs alert: 5 Techstars firms now hiring in Kansas City

By Tommy Felts / August 24, 2017

Less than halfway through Techstars’ three-month program, five startup companies in the class are hiring. The program’s first annual cohort — which included 10 startups — spent the first month meeting nearly 100 mentors and investors. Following the feedback, half of the class is ready to scale and hire more people, said Techstars managing director Lesa Mitchell.…

Techstars Spotlight: Startup hopes to bridge teacher-school gap

By Tommy Felts / August 23, 2017

Matching best-fit teachers to school districts can be challenging, Michael Barnes said. Serving nearly three years as a district talent manager at Austin Achieve public schools, in Austin, Texas, Barnes felt a lot of pressure to make the right decisions for students. “Oftentimes I would stay up until 2 a.m., wishing I had better teachers…

5 TEDxKC perspectives on navigating life’s next disruptions

By Tommy Felts / August 23, 2017

What’s the greatest threat to humanity? Self obsession? Artificial intelligence? Resentment? Depends on your perspective. An eclectic group of TEDxKC presenters gathered Friday at the Kauffman Center of Performing Arts to share their expertise on how art, philosophy, technology, individual experiences and even interpersonal relationships shape the perspectives through which people see the reality around…

TEDxKC speaker Shantanu Bala: Tech moves communication beyond words

By Tommy Felts / August 23, 2017

Editor’s note: Startland News is exploring a few of the most impactful quotes from speakers at Friday’s TEDxKC event at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. “The blind cannot only lead the blind, but lead any of us who can see to experiences that we’ve never seen before.” — Shantanu Bala Think about the…