Startups

Applicants pour in for a chance at $500K in LaunchKC grants

By Tommy Felts / April 13, 2018

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by LaunchKC but was independently produced by Startland News. After dishing out $1.5 million to 29 startups over the last three years, LaunchKC returns in 2018 with more experience and an enduring determination to drive entrepreneurial impact in Kansas City. The area’s most-popular grants contest already has garnered hundreds…

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Christine Clutton, The Wild Way Coffee Creations

Peek inside: Wild Way coffee rolling Austin flavor onto Kansas City’s bean scene

By Tommy Felts / April 12, 2018

Christine Clutton is taking the rollout of her Wild Way coffee camper concept one cup at a time, she said. Debuting Friday in Midtown, the mobile shop — serving coffee, tea and pastries with a mix of Austin and local flavors — is envisioned as a temporary stop on Clutton’s entrepreneurial journey, she said. “Our…

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Nonprofit Village

Nonprofit Village in Midtown aims to cut costs, attack basic needs for mission-based groups

By Tommy Felts / April 12, 2018

An area investment firm has opened a new collaborative working space to help support Kansas City’s vast network of nonprofits. Led by Jon McGraw and Mehgan Flynn, 31w31 investment group launched the Nonprofit Village, a 6,300-square-foot space at the recently-renovated historic building at 31 W. 31st St. The village hopes to soothe the pervasive challenge…

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Jim David, Blue Collar Press, Sean Ingram and Burton Parker, MerchTable

Merchtable powers a chorus of online stores for emerging bands, artists

By Tommy Felts / April 11, 2018

Lawrence-based Merchtable plays the tune of an accidental tech company, said co-founder Burton Parker, but it’s proven to be a song of success. Operating 200 online merch stores for such varied artists as singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, comedian Maria Bamford, avant-garde metal band Neurosis, and a host of podcast, DJ, dance and EDM clients, the business…

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Plaza marketplace

Made in KC launching Country Club Plaza marketplace with taproom, food, makers

By Tommy Felts / April 10, 2018

A new Made in Kansas City retail concept on the Country Club Plaza will offer local makers and food vendors space to grow their product lines, as well as a prominent showcase in one the city’s busiest shopping destinations, said Made in KC co-founder Tyler Enders. “The whole goal of this — which we feel…

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