Woman-led

HI-HERImpact pitch competitors: Anita Koul, Kufukaa; Deb North, YES! Athletics; and Lisa Ragan, Safely Delicious

Women-led ventures vie for $50K in pitch competition with more than prize money on the line

By Tommy Felts / July 26, 2021

Finalists in this week’s debut HI-HERImpact pitch competition say the virtual event offers Kansas City’s female social entrepreneurs an opportunity to tell their stories — and potentially score pivotal funding. “Winning it would be life changing for me, my business and the team of people working for Safely Delicious in so many ways,” said Lisa…

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Miguel Johns, KingFit, DiabetesCare

Kansas startup founder, Pipeline fellow among finalists in NXTSTAGE healthtech competition

By Tommy Felts / July 26, 2021

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. WICHITA…

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Neal Sharma, DEG; John Thomson, PayIt; and Thalia Cherry, Cherry Co.

Junior Achievement taps startup leaders as Hall of Fame inductees, KC Innovator winner

By Tommy Felts / July 26, 2021

The newest inductees to Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City’s Business Hall of Fame play an important role in building the metro’s ecosystem of entrepreneurship, creativity, and cooperation, said Leroy McCarty. “Our 2021 Laureates exemplify the collaborative spirit that elevates Kansas City in the world of business, philanthropy, and civic engagement,” said Leroy McCarty, chairman…

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Quinton Lucas, Kansas City mayor, Working for Youth event; Startland News photo

Initiative to employ at-risk KC youth provides jobs for 427 teens, raises $600K for stipend fund

By Tommy Felts / July 24, 2021

A community’s most impactful investment is in its youth, Mayor Quinton Lucas said Friday during a media event for the Working for Youth anti-violence and youth employment initiative.  In April, the mayor’s office announced a partnership with KC Common Good, Hire KC and Entrepreneurship KC to establish the Working for Youth program that would train…

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Marissa Gencarelli, Yoli Tortilleria

How Yoli Tortilleria’s co-founder went full-time, launched a new zine to showcase Mexican culture

By Tommy Felts / July 22, 2021

Kansas Citians should get ready for a bold taste of culture, Marissa Gencarelli said, teasing the release of a new mini publication inspired by her rapidly scaling business and its mission to bring a bit of authentic Mexico to the metro. “I posted a picture on Instagram and someone [asked] me if I had ever…

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