Startups

Only made in KC: Sandlot Goods revives iconic ‘KC hat’ with 25-step, felt-to-field production

By Tommy Felts / November 17, 2020

The classic, Baldwin-style KC hat is back in the game — boasting a newly drafted team of makers and a modern twist on its otherwise traditional look, Sandlot Goods announced.  “With most major hat manufacturers moving their production overseas, there is a space and a need for a classic, American-made ball cap,” said Chad Hickman, founder…

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Chris Bohannon, Artist KC

Fur-miliar faces: Teacher-turned-entrepreneur captures pet personalities through custom art

By Tommy Felts / November 17, 2020

Combining her love for art and animals, Chris Bohannon is happily letting pets and passion guide her entrepreneur journey. “I absolutely adore animals,” said Bohannon, the artist behind Artist KC — a Waldo-based small business specializing in custom pet art. “I am a crazy cat lady. I love dogs. I think hedgehogs are super weird…

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Dave Alburty, CEO of InnovaPrep

InnovaPrep CEO honored as an ‘inspiration’ among Pipeline fellows

By Tommy Felts / November 16, 2020

COVID-19 couldn’t stop the steady flow of innovation through the Pipeline Entrepreneurs Fellowship.  The organization crowned a series of winners through its (virtual) Innovator Awards on Thursday — a testament to its commitment to entrepreneurs weathering unprecedented times, said David Alburty.  “Pipeline has been absolutely mission-critical in my evolution as a scaling CEO,” Alburty, CEO of…

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Can I do it? New online tool helps users assess risk, make COVID-smart decisions about activities in KC

By Tommy Felts / November 16, 2020

As a second wave of COVID-19 cases bear down on the nation, Kansas Citians have a new tool on their side to help them assess risk of exposure in everyday activities.  Created as part of a partnership between pandemic-born resources, Comeback KC and COVID Can I Do It (CCIDI) touted the tool — branded “KC…

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BacklotCars co-founders: Josh Parsons, Fabricio Solanes, Justin Davis, and Ryan Davis

BacklotCars completes historic $425M exit, joining ‘power and fierce entrepreneurial spirit’ of KAR Global

By Tommy Felts / November 13, 2020

The $425 million acquisition of Kansas City-based BacklotCars is complete, nearly two months to the day it was announced.  “There is so much energy and excitement around this combination with our employees and with our customers,” Justin Davis, president and co-founder of BacklotCars, said in a release announcing the milestone acquisition’s completion Thursday by KAR…

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