Profiles

Akshay Dinakar, Tangible

Tangible ‘teleportation’: Shawnee Mission East grad re-envisions how humans communicate over distance 

By Tommy Felts / April 13, 2021

Serving as a caregiver to his late mother during her battle with cancer prepared Akshay Dinakar for the next step in his journey as an entrepreneur, he said. “I learned how to do everything — constantly be on call; be able to suit up faster than a fireman and drive to the hospital at a…

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Serendipity Labs, Overland Park

Disrupting the work-home loop: Serendipity Labs brings luxe concierge coworking to Overland Park

By Tommy Felts / April 8, 2021

One of the metro’s newest coworking spaces prides itself on hospitality — but happy hour comes as a bonus.  “When people order DoorDash or GrubHub — we’re bringing that to your office with extra plates and napkins. ‘What kind of soda do you want? What kind of snacks do you want?’” said Dawniel Richards, general manager of…

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Amanda McIntyre, Classy Canines

No-shame salon: How a dog grooming business helped its owner overcome life’s bites

By Tommy Felts / April 7, 2021

Dogs don’t judge, said Amanda McIntyre as she sat in the grooming shop she built from scratch with a thrifty $5,000 and the experience of a life-changing business program. “I’ve been judged my whole life,” shared McIntyre, who founded Classy Canines after overcoming a turbulent battle with addiction. “But, when it comes to dogs, they…

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Sunti Wathanacharoen, Pulmonaer Analytics

Pulmonaer Analytics joins Spencer Fane Startup Lab to advance digital asthma solution

By Tommy Felts / April 7, 2021

A leading Kansas City health tech startup is the latest company to join Spencer Fane’s three-month startup lab aimed at addressing the young venture’s legal needs as it develops a digital platform and app to improve asthma outcomes. “I deal with adult asthma every day of my life,” said Sunti Wathanacharoen, founder of Pulmonaer Analytics.…

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Godfrey Riddle, Civic Saint; photo by Fawn Lies

Civic Saint: How life-threatening setbacks inspired company built on universal humanity, survival

By Tommy Felts / April 2, 2021

Loss is stitched throughout much of Godfrey Riddle’s human story, he said. But its threads don’t define him — and they won’t unravel his mission to bring opportunity to Kansas Citians of every shade, size, and sexuality.  “Being a Black, gay man … I’ve lived through countless experiences of marginalization,” Riddle said, looking back on his…

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