Startups

Chris Goode, Ruby Jean's Juicery; photo courtesy of Timothy Linn, Rockhurst University

Pressed for cash: Ruby Jean’s gifted $10K second shot with new nonprofit’s debut grant

By Tommy Felts / August 13, 2020

Three months after its founding, one of Kansas City’s newest entrepreneurial support organizations might have just saved Ruby Jean’s Juicery from closing its doors for good.  “It’s amazing to see a dream come true and really get it done,” said Christoper Stewart, board president and founding member of Generating Income For Tomorrow (GIFT) — a newly…

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Thirsty for growth: Freshly rebranded Smart Beverage doubles team, expects $2M+ revenue boost

By Tommy Felts / August 11, 2020

If pivots pour progress, Luke Einsel’s glass is full, the entrepreneur said, announcing a rebrand for Thirsty Coconut and new partnerships that could drive revenue through the roof for the frozen and chilled beverage distributor.  “We’ve really gone through and got our processes right and we have a repeatable, scalable model that works in Kansas…

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Rachel Cohen, My Bear Jeff

My Bear Jeff unboxes mission to soothe childhood trauma, begins delivering teddy bear relief

By Tommy Felts / August 4, 2020

Inspired to deliver peace to trauma-affected children, My Bear Jeff officially launched its teddy bear relief effort in late July after a successful kickstarter campaign, said Rachel Cohen. “The support we’ve had is so insane and absolutely wild — like this community and my friends and family saw this vision and were like, ‘Yes, let’s…

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Love Spot KC

Fashion (role) models: How Love Spot KC’s simple statement tees inspire more than words

By Tommy Felts / July 31, 2020

One of Kansas City’s latest apparel companies isn’t just another T-shirt shop — it’s a Black-owned, woman-owned empowerment engine that even a global pandemic hasn’t shaken, said Courtnee White.  “A business that is showing diversity in women, I think that’s a huge thing,” White, owner of the Love Spot KC, said of the brand’s mission to…

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Donald Hawkins, Griffin; Matt Moody, Bellwethr; and Jerry Workman and Parker Graham, Destiny

Trio of KC fintech startups named finalists in Wichita-based NXTSTAGE pilot competition

By Tommy Felts / July 30, 2020

Three emerging fintech startups with Kansas City ties have found new entrepreneurial support southwest of the metro. Griffin, Destiny, and Bellwethr were announced as finalists in the Wichita-based, NXTSTAGE Pilot Competition, Wednesday — an effort designed to propel early-stage companies to the next stage of startup growth, largely through mentorship and connections to companies and regional…

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