Startups

Riddhiman Das, TripleBlind

Investors swarm to TripleBlind’s $8.2M rapid seed round as ‘deep tech’ changes face of privacy

By Tommy Felts / March 1, 2021

An oversubscribed $8.2 million seed round means one thing for Kansas City-based TripleBlind: its data privacy solution is of critical importance, the rapidly scaling startup announced Monday. Its slate of new and returning investors agree. “TripleBlind will enable our joint customers in regulated industries to leverage enterprise data that today goes largely untapped due to…

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Brett Krug and Dominique Davison, PlanIT Impact

New CEO deepening PlanIT Impact’s mission to help design a carbon-neutral built environment

By Tommy Felts / March 1, 2021

A startup veteran and architecture industry expert is now leading day-to-day operations for one of Kansas City’s Top Venture Capital-Backed firms, shaping the company’s expanded footprint under a new presidential administration as its founder shifts to a more focused role. Brett Krug, who began work today as CEO of the building analytics software platform PlanIT…

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Bar K St. Louis

Sneak Peek: See how Bar K’s new site builds on its KC pedigree with indoor dog park, doggy daycare 

By Tommy Felts / February 26, 2021

When Bar K’s second location opens in the fall, the popular play place for dogs will be ready if another frigid winter is in the forecast, said co-founder Leib Dodell, teasing details of a new 10,000-square-foot indoor dog park at the St. Louis site. “Dogs love being outdoors, and humans generally like being outdoors —…

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Jahna Riley, Aya Coffee + Books pop-up at Blip Roasters

Black and bookish: Founder hopes to turn pop-up page, eyeing coffee and book shop on KC’s east side

By Tommy Felts / February 25, 2021

Jahna Riley loves the atmosphere of coffee shops. Connecting with others over coffee and a good book is a personal joy, she said, noting one glaring exception in most shops: inclusivity.   “Kansas City has an amazing coffee scene, but it’s not necessarily one where I see my culture reflected in it,” Riley shared. “I want…

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Matt Castilleja, Castilleja Furniture | Objects

Why one KC woodworker says he won’t let ‘anything short of the best’ ship out his River Market door

By Tommy Felts / February 23, 2021

Matt Castilleja’s River Market furniture business ships sculptural and elemental pieces from coast-to-coast — often surprising high-end customers and design fans with the craftsman’s firmly planted Kansas City roots, said Castilleja. “People would think we were some New York boutique or based in someplace like Spain or Italy — more established design communities,” the owner…

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