Startups
Mowd founder pivots beyond mowing lawns to tech startup; offering landscapers an online payment platform
The grass isn’t necessarily greener on the tech side of entrepreneurship, mused Tate Hayes, but revenue and market opportunity grow wild. “[Small businesses and startups] come with their own difficulties and maybe even simplicities,” said Hayes, founder of Mowd, comparing his newly launched startup to his previous venture — Kansas City-based Hayes Lawncare. “[As a…
Confidence for dudes, wrapped in a robe: Luxee launches subscription box for mens wellness
Look good, feel good, and crush it, said Colton Ropson, unboxing the purpose behind his newly launched men’s subscription startup — Luxee. “We pretty much learn to shave and that’s it,” said Ropson, who co-founded the subscription box startup with his best friend, Alec Grawe. They duo described their perception of Midwest-raised men and those…
Former Army intelligence analyst deploys expertise, entrepreneurship to the Market Base
Editor’s note: The following is part of a three-part series spotlighting U.S. military veterans who also are Kansas City entrepreneurs. Hustle runs deep for Jannae Gammage, she said, looking back on the one thing that’s been uniquely hers since childhood: entrepreneurship. “My first business was at 14,” said Gammage, founder and CEO of The Market…
Startup veterans hope to save community banks from fintech ‘feeding frenzy’
The future of small business lending has arrived — and it’s being built by a team of Kansas City tech veterans, at a critical time for the industry, said Hugh Khan. “Small financial institutions are dying; they’re going away. Since the Great Recession, 40 percent are gone,” added Khan, founder and principal of Highploom. “They’re not…
Farm-to-wineglass: Big Mood Natural Wines talks sustainable drinking — ‘Why stop at food?’
It’s never the wrong time to drink wine, said Richard Garcia. “We have a wine for every time of the day,” said Garcia, who owns and operates Big Mood Natural Wines with his friends, Jamie and Liz Zoeller. “Someone came in the other day asking about breakfast wines, and we absolutely have several on the…
