Woman-led

Philip Gaskin, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, speaking at the 2021 Small Business Celebration; photo courtesy of Rivas Photography/the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce

Kauffman anchors $100M fund to boost minority-led ventures, access to capital

By Tommy Felts / May 3, 2022

Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland News. A $100 million fund is expected to help close the wealth gap and better fund BIPOC-led ventures — thanks in part to Kansas City’s own Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.  Joining forces with Living Cities, the Kauffman Foundation has committed $10 million to…

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Healium team at the NFLPA (National Football League Players Association) Pitch Day

Healium wins $50K in NFL pitch competition with play for pro athlete’s brain, heart health

By Tommy Felts / May 2, 2022

Patrick Mahomes is no longer Missouri’s only MVP in the eyes of the NFL. The organization’s player’s association just crowned a Columbia-based startup the $50,000 winner of its annual pitch contest.  In late April, NFLPA Pitch Day brought six diverse-led startups to Las Vegas to compete for prizes in its annual contest. Among them was…

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Kharissa Forte, Holistic Hustle, Grace & Grind; photo by Lexi Holifield

Don’t just pop off when under attack: A healthier way to handle workplace drama (Holistic Hustle)

By Tommy Felts / May 2, 2022

Kharissa Forte is a writer, certified health coach, and columnist for Startland News. Read her “Holistic Hustle” columns for Startland News here. For more of her self-care tips on how to keep your cup full, visit graceandgrind.co. One of the hardest things to navigate at work is conflict. When your beliefs or ideas are challenged,…

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Jackie Nguyen, founder and owner of Cafe Cà Phê, and her team accept first-place honors in the James and Rae Block Kansas City Startup Awards at the Regnier Venture Creation Challenge

UMKC pitch contest puts Cafe Cà Phê closer to Jackie Nguyen’s big goal; winners range from students to emerging startups

By Tommy Felts / April 30, 2022

The University of Missouri-Kansas City continues to brew innovation — and the return of its Regnier Venture Creation Challenge (RVCC) Friday poured proof, offering more than $88,000 in critical cash prizes to percolating ventures that spill far beyond its classrooms.  “I moved to Kansas City from Washington D.C. over the summer and I started following Cafe…

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Myron McCant, KD Academy, celebrates after being named a finalist for the 2022 Small Business of the Year honor

Meet the KC Chamber’s Top 10 for 2022: One will be the next ‘Small Business of the Year’ 

By Tommy Felts / April 29, 2022

From a rapidly expanding restaurant chain to a 24/7 daycare facility to a workforce training and information technology leader building a statewide footprint, the finalists for the 2022 Small Business of the Year award run the gamut of forward-thinking Kansas City ventures, said Joe Reardon. “Every year I become more and more impressed with our…

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