Woman-led

Carlanda McKinney, Bodify

Right fit, refined: Carlanda McKinney’s third venture in apparel measures up to its digital design

By Tommy Felts / June 22, 2021

Online shopping is a staple for Carlanda McKinney, she noted, but the inaccuracy and variety of size guides leave both shoppers and retailers with major pain points.  “On the shopper side, it is frustrating to order multiple sizes and not have anything fit your body the right way. … On the seller side, retailers are…

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Christopher and Ajia Morris, The Greenline Initiative

60 percent of Black residents on KC’s east side are renters: How one small biz hopes to reverse redlining’s hit to homeownership

By Tommy Felts / June 19, 2021

An investment in The Greenline Initiative is, on its face, an investment in the future of Kansas City’s historic and re-emerging east side, said Ajia Morris.  But there’s more to the effort than meets the eye, the effort’s co-founder explained, detailing ways she and her husband, Christopher, hope to uplift the metro’s Black community; a…

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U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas; file photo, courtesy of Sharice Davids' office

Women bore the brunt of pandemic; now it’s time to reinvest in their businesses, Rep. Davids says

By Tommy Felts / June 17, 2021

A strong recovery from the COVID-19 crisis — which destroyed the businesses of many women, and particularly women of color — requires a deliberate investment in initiatives that drive and support female entrepreneurship, said Sharice Davids. “It’s not enough to recreate the pre-pandemic economy for female workers and business owners,” U.S. Rep. Davids, D-Kansas, said…

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T-Mobile Accelerator preps for June 30 demo day; nearly ready to launch new fall cohort

By Tommy Felts / June 16, 2021

As the Kansas City-based T-Mobile Accelerator readies for its June 30 demo day of immersive technology, the deadline is nearing on applications for a second accelerator program — set to debut this fall with a specific focus on wellness tech. “T-Mobile Accelerator is actively searching for startups developing the next big thing in 5G technologies…

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Meet 13 small businesses leading the way on DEI as Chamber’s Equity Award finalists

By Tommy Felts / June 16, 2021

Some of Kansas City’s youngest companies and startups are among the most committed to achieving DEI goals in the workforce, the Chamber said this week, releasing finalists for its 2021 Small Business Equity Award. The contenders: 13 leading businesses — ranging from lifestyle brands and tech startups to a Kansas City talent agency and an addiction…

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