Startups

Tiffany and Brian Kim, My Play Cafe

Toddlers and baristas: MY Play Cafe bets on playground coffee shop concept in Lee’s Summit

By Tommy Felts / August 18, 2020

You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, Tiffany Kim said, recalling a trip to Las Vegas that inspired her to roll the entrepreneurial dice back home in Kansas City — despite a raging pandemic.  “I call it the most relaxing day of my motherhood career,” laughed Tiffany, co-founder of Lee’s Summit-based MY Play Cafe, recalling…

Read More >
Isaac Collins, Yogurtini Overland Park

Entrepreneur opening third store: Don’t let ‘buy local’ be a fad; we’re investing it all in our businesses

By Tommy Felts / August 18, 2020

Conversations and social media advocacy pivot quickly, acknowledged Isaac Collins, but “shop local” should be more than just the flavor of the week as COVID-19 serves a full menu of challenges for small business owners. “The Amazons, the Walmarts, the Targets of the world, they are going to be OK,” said Collins, a serial entrepreneur…

Read More >
Ryan Maybee, Nathan Perry, and Andy Rieger, J. Rieger & Co.; Thalia Cherry, Cherry; Shea Geist and Geoffrey Geist, Shark Off; and Matt Baysinger and Ryan Henrich, Swell Spark

Startups pitching this week to earn finalists spots for ‘Mr K’ Small Biz of the Year award

By Tommy Felts / August 17, 2020

Innovation-led companies are going mainstream in Kansas City with an increasing number of product, experience and tech-based startups named as candidates for the top small business prize in the city: the Mr. K Award. Such well-known names to Startland News readers as Cherry, Chicken N Pickle, Crema, Plexpod, J. Rieger & Co., McLain’s Markets, Messenger…

Read More >
Made in KC's Lee's Summit Marketplace

Made in KC replicating its Plaza marketplace in Lee’s Summit; opening set for September

By Tommy Felts / August 14, 2020

A popular retail marketplace concept made in Kansas City is headed east — to the sixth-largest city in Missouri and a customer base eager to support local makers, said Thomas McIntyre. “We want to keep growing our footprint, but only where it makes sense,” said McIntyre, co-founder of Made in KC, detailing the decision to replicate…

Read More >
Focalpod at Plexpod

Plexpod’s new ‘Focalpod’ private, air-filtered workspaces are like stepping inside a mask, says founder

By Tommy Felts / August 13, 2020

Editor’s note: Plexpod is a financial sponsor of Startland News. This report was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. Step inside. Roll the door shut. Just about all you’ll hear is the soft whirring of a HEPA filtration ventilation system that cycles air through Plexpod’s new Focalpod private offices every two minutes, said Gerald…

Read More >