Opinion

Arredondo: Serendipity, passion collide to form the KC Startup Foundation

By Tommy Felts / August 9, 2017

I’m not going to lie. It’s been a heckuva ride. Who could have imagined the Kansas City Startup Village’s serendipitous start in Fall 2012 would turn into all this? Not me. I vividly remember the nights Matthew Marcus and I were awake at 2 a.m., trying to keep up with the flood of emails from…

Affinity Worldwide CEO hopes $1M gift to Kansas City Startup Foundation spurs more community giving

By Tommy Felts / August 6, 2017

Editor’s note: Michael Wrenn previously was the owner of Startland News and its parent organization, the Center for Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development (CEED). I’m a big believer in counting blessings and doing my small part to give back. My wife, Becky Cole, CFO of Affinity Worldwide, is of the same mindset. We’ve enjoyed success over the…

Denise Kruse: So your startup has a strategy — now what?

By Tommy Felts / August 4, 2017

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Strategy. Strategic plan. Go-to-market. Blueprint. Tactics. Startup innovators probably have heard an exhaustive list of synonyms and buzzwords. I’ve seen them all as a business leader for more than 30 years, helping companies define their strategy or execute on it. And there’s good reason…

In swan song, departing innovation official Kate Garman reflects on tenure with KCMO

By Tommy Felts / July 18, 2017

Editor’s note: Kate Garman is the KCMO innovation analyst but will be departing this week for a new opportunity in Seattle. She wrote the following piece reflecting on her time with the city. I’ve had a desk at Kansas City Hall now for three years. Starting as an intern, and later joining the staff as…

Callie England opens up on why she stepped down from Rawxies

By Tommy Felts / July 12, 2017

Editor’s note: The following piece by Callie England sheds light on why she stepped down as CEO of the vegan snack company Rawxies. It contains explicit language.  The other day I found myself frozen in panic; what the fuck just happened!? And when I say “just happened” I’m referring to the past six years: From the moment…