Woman-led

Alex Krause Matlack, director, Entrepreneurship Scholars, UMKC

Demo Day: UMKC E-Scholars partners with KC Arts Institute for more authentic entrepreneurial representation, director says

By Tommy Felts / November 30, 2021

Art and entrepreneurship so often go hand-in-hand, noted Alex Krause Matlack.  “Many artists will inevitably become entrepreneurs because they can create their own brand or business to showcase their craft,” explained Krause Matlack, the director of Entrepreneurship Scholars (E-Scholars) at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. “This semester, E-Scholars has a new partnership with Kansas City…

Read More >
ThinkPod

Why an interactive digital business card could replace LinkedIn for startup, small business leaders

By Tommy Felts / November 30, 2021

People want to get their foot in the door, Jess Phillips said, laying out her plan for a newly launched social media platform that opens professional connections with an insightful twist: an interactive digital business card offering data on who visits and why.  Free of the awkward sales pitches and forced conversations that often come…

Read More >
Jessi Levine, Gary floral design studio; photos courtesy of Jessi Levine

Gary floral design blooms along ‘upside-down’ path as founder pivots from camper pop-up

By Tommy Felts / November 27, 2021

Even when a side hustle grows organically, it still takes a creative mind to arrange a meaningful and worthwhile venture, said Jessi Levine, whose drive to pay homage to her father led to an eye-catching floral design business. The journey to her subscription floral service has been admittedly “upside down,” she said. From the outside,…

Read More >

Shop small: Five holiday hacks for supporting KC makers without leaving home

By Tommy Felts / November 27, 2021

Editor’s note: Startland News explored its 2021 archive of most-popular maker stories — as well as looking at the creatives behind its own T-shirt campaign — as part of the newsroom’s five-part holiday gift guide. These items are all available online now. Featured stores, makers and products were not asked to pay to be included…

Read More >

Shop Small: Five ways to give makers a smile as wide as the person opening your gifts from Shop Local KC

By Tommy Felts / November 24, 2021

Editor’s note: Startland News explored Shop Local KC in Midtown as part of the newsroom’s five-part holiday gift guide that highlights locally owned shops and the makers within them. The items identified here were curated by Katie Mabry van Dieren, the founder of Shop Local KC the Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair. Featured stores, makers and…

Read More >