Woman-led

KC Defender invests in Black-owned bookstore’s legacy, keeping its story alive as media startup’s new HQ

By Tommy Felts / July 15, 2025

Missouri’s oldest-operating Black-owned bookstore is set to evolve into a public archive, programming venue, and the new headquarters for The Kansas City Defender — a bittersweet turn of the page for a space marked by resilience and community action, organizers said. Willa’s Books and Vinyl, 5547 Troost Ave., has long stood as a sanctuary of Black…

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How this Top 10 small biz says ScaleUP! KC kept her company on the right path amid growth spurts

By Tommy Felts / July 15, 2025

Entrepreneurs tout business program’s impact as it hits 10-year mark Over the course of a decade, ScaleUP! Kansas City not only has helped develop a foundation of success for dozens of companies; the acclaimed initiative built a legion of champions from within 14 cohorts of growth-minded small business owners. “There’s no other program like it,”…

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Small Biz to Watch: El Café Cubano brews rich simplicity inspired by ancestors’ appetite for the American dream

By Tommy Felts / July 12, 2025

Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, curated by editors from Kansas City’s wide array of hard-working entrepreneurs and business owners. Selection criteria is based on factors…

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Tiger 21 expands its invite-only peer network in KC as number of ultra-wealthy leaders rises

By Tommy Felts / July 10, 2025

A prestigious — and relatively new-to-Kansas City — resource for high-net-worth C-suite leaders and successful entrepreneurs and founders is expanding: Tiger 21, a premier peer membership organization for ultra-wealth creators and preservers, is adding a second group. The launch is being orchestrated by Heidi Lehmann, a seasoned investor, board member and five-time startup founder leading…

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Small Biz to Watch: Someday Sunday opens the door to me-time without guilt (or toxins)

By Tommy Felts / July 8, 2025

Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, curated by editors from Kansas City’s wide array of hard-working entrepreneurs and business owners. Selection criteria is based on factors…

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