Startups

Ori Goldwasser, Vu Radley, Jonathan "JP" Platz, and Mark Launiu, MADE MOBB

Three months’ rent in 24 hours: How Chiefs’ Super Bowl run already MADE one brand’s 2020 

By Tommy Felts / February 4, 2020

Super Bowl Sunday was a holy time for members of the MADE MOBB, but it was hardly a day of rest for the team behind Kansas City’s most iconic streetwear brand. After prepping the custom T-shirt press in the back of MADE’s Crossroads storefront late Saturday — in hopes of a new, limited drop celebrating…

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Hunter Browning, Ben Schultz, and Tyler Prochnow, LaborChart

LaborChart builds its value with ‘robust’ Series A capital injection from Five Elms

By Tommy Felts / January 30, 2020

A recently closed injection of growth and scale capital will help Kansas City-based LaborChart strengthen its team, expand the company’s market position and accelerate domestic and international growth, said Ben Schultz. The move — finalized in the final days of 2019 and announced Thursday — is expected to jolt the team from a headcount in…

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2018 LaunchKC winners

‘NEXT Missouri’ coalition launches policy push to renew MTC funding; EDCKC backing effort

By Tommy Felts / January 29, 2020

A new effort by a coalition of Missouri policy-focused organizations aims to give Show Me State entrepreneurs a voice among legislators, as well as renew funding for an agency known for providing meaningful cash injections to Kansas City startups. Among the key priorities for NEXT Missouri — a 17-member-strong group, backed by the Economic Development Corporation…

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Roy Scott, Chop It Up

Techstars turn up: Atlanta accelerates inspiration for Roy Scott’s Healthy Hip Hop 

By Tommy Felts / January 28, 2020

When the Kansas City Chiefs kick off Super Bowl Sunday in Miami, avid fan and Arrowhead Stadium regular Roy Scott will be cheering from his temporary home in Atlanta. “It’s incredible what the Chiefs are doing for Kansas City — it’s a really exciting time,” an all-smiles Scott said Tuesday from the Peach State where…

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AbdulRasheed Yahaya, Unified Esports Association

Miami-bound: KC eSports pioneer carrying gaming industry to the Super Bowl stage

By Tommy Felts / January 28, 2020

AbdulRasheed Yahaya never doubted his non-traditional career had mileage, but the KC eSports pioneer couldn’t have envisioned it would drive him to a Super Bowl, he said — let alone one set to feature the Kansas City Chiefs.  “By God’s grace, I get to be a role model to the youth, [show them] that an African…

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