Woman-led

Pipeline unveils first-ever double cohort in bid to develop region’s next great serial entrepreneur

By Tommy Felts / January 27, 2022

Twenty-five founders are entering the Pipeline network this week, Melissa Vincent said Thursday, revealing the newest additions to its elite fellowship, as well as the just-debuted Pathfinder cohort for earlier-stage, underserved entrepreneurs. “We were blown away by the response,” said Vincent, executive director of Pipeline, noting the fall 2021 recruiting period was the most vigorous…

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Aishah Augusta-Parham, SEPOW

Yelp for DEI: New tech gives public a tool to share discrimination concerns in real-time, empowers companies to monitor, improve

By Tommy Felts / January 25, 2022

Aishah Augusta-Parham’s tech platform has a goal rooted in impact: help business owners become more mindful of diversity, equity, inclusion efforts in their day-to-day operations — better ensuring their customers do business with companies and brands that embody shared values.  “We are the Yelp of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Augusta-Parham said, detailing the mission behind…

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Anne Lewis Marzette, Easy as Pie; headshot photo by @pilsonphotocoop

Dough-re-mi: Choir teacher’s pop-up pie hustle bakes her second verse from scratch

By Tommy Felts / January 24, 2022

On any given weekday, Ann Lewis Marzette can be found in the classroom, teaching and training students in the Kearney Middle School choir.  But when the clock strikes 3 p.m., she trades sheet music and scales for mixing bowls and measuring cups, embracing a side hustle that has her singing dough-re-mi — while customers serenade…

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Raven Book Store ownership group, front row: Nikita Imafidon, Mary Wahlmeier Bracciano, Jack Hawthorn, Danny Caine; back row: Kelly Barth, Hannah Reidell, Chris Luxem, Sarah Young.; photo by Adam Smith

A radical new chapter: Why Danny Caine gave up 49 percent of his business to form an employee ownership collective

By Tommy Felts / January 20, 2022

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. LAWRENCE…

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Jannae Gammage and Tammy Buckner, TechquityBase

KC’s top emerging business just exited; How a deal forged in the stands at Arrowhead rewrites the code on Black women in tech

By Tommy Felts / January 19, 2022

No stereotypes here, Tammy Buckner said, announcing a merger between Techquity Digital and a rising Kansas City-born startup that’s expected to elevate Black tech in the region — and the women in its ranks.  “[There’s an idea that] ‘Black women can’t work together.’ … I think this proves that we can,” Buckner, founder and CEO of…

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