Startups

10 ways to wear (or gift) KC’s maker scene

By Tommy Felts / November 27, 2019

Editor’s note: Below you’ll find a list of 10 wearable gift ideas for your holiday shopping list. Click here to check out the rest of Startland News’ 2019 Gift Guide. Mackbecks shuttlecock earrings Handcrafted in Kansas City, Mackbecks’ tassel earrings capture the spirit of the iconic Nelson Atkins Museum’s shuttlecocks. Price: $25 Where to buy: Midcoast…

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Chad Hickman, Sandlot Goods

Opening pitch: Sandlot Goods’ new workshop puts fresh spin on its best-selling wallet 

By Tommy Felts / November 26, 2019

As Sandlot Goods moves deeper into a new workspace off Southwest Boulevard, the six-year-old premier maker is stitching an aesthetic that holds true to its classic appeal but ventures away from hometown branding. “In the last year, we have been dialing back the overly Kansas City feel,” said Chad Hickman, owner of Sandlot Goods. “We…

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Jason Mispagel, Year-Round Garden

Hemp startup founders cultivate Year Round partnership in light of growing interest

By Tommy Felts / November 26, 2019

A casual supply run produced more than equipment for United American Hemp; the team behind the Olathe startup walked away co-owners of another new venture.  “We hit it off and invested both time and money in [the] business. … Since then [its] exploded in revenue,” Michael Wilson, director of research and development at United American…

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Photos: Culture pops as Kritiq puts KC’s fashion family on the runway

By Tommy Felts / November 26, 2019

The evolution of the Kritiq fashion show — from a one-night event to a full weekend showcasing up-and-coming artists and fashion designers in streetwear and high fashion — was an intentional effort to reflect Kansas City’s booming creative landscape, said Mark Launiu. “The culture [of Kansas City] is changing and we have to be a…

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Matt Watson, Stackify, Full Scale, Startup Hustle podcast

More than a podcast host: Matt Watson’s Stackify raises $6M in rapid scaling maneuver

By Tommy Felts / November 22, 2019

Stackify expects growth on the heels of a freshly announced $6 million funding raise, explained Matt Watson. “We have still never taken any outside, institutional VC money. All the [investments] we’ve raised have been from local Kansas City investors, which is pretty cool,” Watson, founder and CEO, said noting the company’s recent raise was a…

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