Profiles

WeWork Corrigan Station, WeWork report

WeWork report links coworking space to success of startups, Techstars KC, KC Collective

By Tommy Felts / April 29, 2019

Nearly two years after it made its Kansas City debut, WeWork is delivering a measurable impact on the startup ecosystem, the company said Monday. A first-of-its-kind WeWork research project — the WeWork Global Impact Report — examined the scope of the Crossroads Arts District co-working site and its influence on entrepreneurs metro-wide. Takeaways from the…

Read More >

KC’s SaRA Health tapping cross-country, international resources for startup’s acceleration

By Tommy Felts / April 26, 2019

Techstars Kansas City graduate, SaRa Health is cutting through the noise of the San Diego startup scene, already shining bright among the healthtech mecca’s competitive entrepreneurial ecosystem, CEO Steven Coen said proudly. The metro-grown company recently joined the Nex Cubed Digital Healthcare accelerator — a semi-remote program that promises to drive commercial exposure and prepare founders…

Read More >
Elaina Brownlee, Plexpod

KCultivator Q&A: Elaina Brownlee finds supporting KC as easy as riding a bike (just don’t ask her to get behind the handlebars)

By Tommy Felts / April 26, 2019

Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The KCultivator Series is sponsored by Plexpod, a progressive coworking platform offering next generation workspace for entrepreneurs, startups, and growth-stage companies of all sizes. Big-time investors don’t beat the collective “cheering squad” behind Kansas City’s entrepreneurial…

Read More >
The Kyle and Heather Steppe family, KC Hemp Co.

CBD modern family: Today’s mom-and-pop shop is selling hemp from a downtown OP storefront

By Tommy Felts / April 24, 2019

With it’s storefront nestled in a mature, but re-emergent Overland Park neighborhood, walking through the door of 8124 Floyd St. shatters the misconceptions of curious customers, said Heather Steppe. “Its not [shady] … it doesn’t feel like a head shop,” Steppe, co-owner of KC Hemp Co., said of the almost bohemian vibe that radiates from…

Read More >

Will CBD get me high? Plus three more burning FAQs about the cannabis cousins

By Tommy Felts / April 24, 2019

Selling CBD is about more than the bottom line, said Heather Steppe, co-owner of KC Hemp Co. “Ninety-percent of what we do is educate. We have people come in here and ask questions and they go home and think about it,” she said from her business’ Downtown Overland Park storefront, noting that the general public…

Read More >