Profiles

Jeff Rohr and Rachel Smith, SquareOffs

Village veteran SquareOffs launches long-awaited social opinion site, tops $2M+ in funding

By Tommy Felts / December 17, 2019

SquareOffs hopes its new consumer-facing destination website — showcasing interactive “microdebates” aggregated across a growing network of publishers and influencers — moves digital conversations back to civility. A fresh round of funding will help, said Jeff Rohr. “We are all tired of the toxicity that fills our social media feeds and dominates comments at the bottom…

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Ben Nelson, Huck Adventures

Startup Road Trip: Huck Adventures goes west, using AI to turn outdoors into a social setting

By Tommy Felts / December 17, 2019

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. BOULDER,…

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Laura Manivong, Fattyhead Keto Crust

Keto crust on the rise: Fattyhead bakes ingredients for expansion into new distribution deals

By Tommy Felts / December 14, 2019

Laura Manivong is feeding a hunger for keto diet-friendly pizza crusts that already stretches to freezer aisles across the metro — with stores and distributors salivating for more. “Out of the blue, I just called Sam Paris and Paris Brothers,”  Manivong, founder and CEO of Fattyhead Keto Crust, said of how a recent distribution deal…

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Isaac Collins, Yogurtini

Pivoting back to a full-time franchise hustle: ‘Worst thing you can do is stop,’ Yogurtini owner says

By Tommy Felts / December 12, 2019

Running a franchise can require as much passion and perseverance as any other entrepreneurial endeavor — including those in the startup space, said Isaac Collins. Would-be business owners shouldn’t get caught up in the jargon of what is and isn’t “real” hustle when trying to craft a livelihood for themselves or their families, he said. A…

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Nathan Kurtz, Brush Creek Partners; Drew Solomon, Economic Development Council of Kansas City, Missouri; Tommy Wilson and Mike Hurd, Downtown Council of Kansas City

LaunchKC, Brush Creek unveil InsureTech accelerator led by longtime startup advocate

By Tommy Felts / December 11, 2019

The latest LaunchKC-powered industry accelerator aims to bring a new wave of technology Kansas City’s insurance community, said Nathan Kurtz. “There’s a rich heritage of insurance in Kansas City,” said Kurtz, COO of Brush Creek Partners, announcing the bcp tech InsurTech Accelerator, which teams Brush Creek with TechAssure and LaunchKC. “Brush Creek’s purpose is to…

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