Woman-led

Kathryn Golden, PorchFestKC

One-woman act with 68 stages: Kathryn Golden rallies 152 bands for PorchFestKC

A front porch concert isn’t the typical way to meet your neighbors, Kathryn Golden admitted, but it’s unconventional experiences like those that truly unite communities, the PorchFestKC founder said from atop a stoop in the Midtown Roanoke neighborhood. PorchFestKC — the city’s original porch-packed community music celebration, which returns Saturday for its fifth year —…

Lauren Conaway, InnovateHER KC

Plexpod rebrands womxn-led Herspace coworking concept with InnovateHER KC partnership

A year after Plexpod unveiled its Herspace concept at Westport Commons, a womxn-centric community and networking organization is partnering with the coworking leader to provide reinvigorated programming and support for startup leaders, Lauren Conaway said. “We’re really excited to show off this beautiful gathering place that the Plexpod team has created,” said Conaway, founder and…

Jeff Jones, H&R Block

H&R Block’s $2M investment in KCRise Fund: Corporate engagement can’t stop with one check, CEO says

Entrepreneurial energy surrounding such startups as Bungii and PayIt made a $2 million investment in the KCRise Fund an easy choice for Jeff Jones and his team at H&R Block, the high-profile CEO said.  “When we think about the different pillars of how we want to give back to the community, taking a stake in…

Investing in women

Advice for women founders: Be ‘tough as balls’ but don’t fear asking for help, panelists say 

Want to rise to the top? Stop limiting yourself to gender roles in the workplace, declared Jene’ Hong.  “I didn’t see people as male or female,” Hong, told a crowd gathered for Startland’s Innovation Exchange: Investing in the Power of Women.  “I started off in accounting — everyone was male. I was taught to curse…

Lisa Bledsoe, Tea-Biotics Kombucha; and Hunter Dozier, the Kansas City Royals

Tea-Biotics opens ‘world’s-largest kombucha taproom’ with 32 flavors, Royals flare

The strength of Tea-Biotics’ new, world’s-largest kombucha taproom lies in its bold flavors — and a lot of them, said Lisa Bledsoe. “How good is fresh-pressed, organic blueberry? It’s great for you! It’s full of antioxidants,” said Bledsoe, founder of Tea-Biotics Kombucha, referencing just one of 32 variations on tap at the Olathe taproom. “How…