Startups

Choir Bar Swell Spark

Watch: Choir Bar debuts ‘One Day’ video from its first reverse karaoke singalong event

By Tommy Felts / June 20, 2018

The excitement was palpable Saturday as Choir Bar launched into song for the first time in River Market, said Matt Baysinger. Now organizers are ready to share the singalong experience with the world. “People are so dang impressive,” said Baysinger, co-founder of Swell Spark, which debuted the Choir Bar concept in hopes of it becoming…

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Ben Rendo, president, Mighty Good Solutions, Pizza Saver

Another slice in stock: Walmart picking up KC startup’s Made-in-the-USA Pizza Saver

By Tommy Felts / June 20, 2018

Mighty Good Solutions leaves no ideas to waste, said co-founder Ben Rendo. The Crossroads-based company’s Pizza Saver product — baked from a simple premise — is its latest offering to earn a deal with the world’s largest retailer. “We just try to focus on products that are going to make everyday life better,” Rendo said…

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Go print yourself! Overland Park doob shop turns selfie concept into 3D replicas

By Tommy Felts / June 18, 2018

A new shop in Overland Park is supplanting the selfie with the mini me. After first opening shops in Los Angeles and New York City, the Germany-based 3D printing firm doob has arrived in the Kansas City area to 3D print people, groups and pets. The technology, process and results capture moments in time customers…

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Reggie Gray, Black Privilege

KCultivator Q&A: Reggie Gray finds magic in connecting entrepreneurs with Black Privilege, no excuses

By Tommy Felts / June 15, 2018

Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The KCultivator Series is sponsored by WeWork Corrigan Station, a modern twist on Kansas City office space. He’s left his “Magic Man” persona behind, but Reggie Gray can’t quite shake the performer inside him, he said. “Whenever I…

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Eastside Collaborative

Eastside Collaborative coworking space envisions a home for black entrepreneurs

By Tommy Felts / June 13, 2018

Stay on the lookout for Eastside Collaborative, said Maleika Robinson. Recognizing a need for a coworking space specifically for black entrepreneurs, Robinson founded Eastside Collaborative in early 2018 after rebranding the KC Black Coworking Community. Eastside operates from within Uzazi Village on Tuesdays and creates an environment where she and others can be their authentic…

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