Letter from the editor: Every story starts somewhere
October 6, 2021 | Tommy Felts
Editor’s note: The following letter from Startland News’ editor in chief kicks off Startland News’ eight-week donor campaign seeking reader support for the nonprofit newsroom. Click here to donate.
[divide]
Every story starts somewhere — and today we’re asking for your help to start more.
Tommy Felts, Editor in Chief, Startland News
Startland News is continuing its mission in 2022 to elevate bold, untold stories of Kansas City startups, entrepreneurs, makers, creatives, and risk-takers.
Our goal: raise $100,000 from readers and supporters to further power the community-focused, solutions-based journalism you’ve come to love and expect from us over the past 6.5 years.
The eight-week campaign went live Tuesday — National News Engagement Day — and runs through Giving Tuesday on Nov. 30. In the coming days and weeks, we’ll reveal exclusive giveaways and offers for donors — but don’t worry, you can still give today and be eligible for these exciting rewards.
We’re happy to announce that we’ve already secured $20,000 in committed matching dollars from early donors. The first comes from KCRise Fund, a Kansas City venture capital firm, which pledged $10,000 toward our goal.
“We hope you will consider giving a gift of any dollar amount to help us support this great organization and their mission of supporting entrepreneurial efforts and the design thinking mindset that they’ve done an amazing job of growing in our region,” said Darcy Howe, founder and managing director of KCRise Fund, who pledged the match funds alongside Ed Frindt, general partner, and Caroline VanDeusen, principal.
We’ll unmask additional match donors as the campaign rolls on.
Watch a testimonial video from KCRise Fund below, then keep reading.
[divide]
Startland News stories often are the start of an entrepreneur’s media story — frequently serving as the first piece of local news that covers their startup, small business, non-profit, project, or idea. With about 400 stories already published this year, that makes us one of the metro’s leading discovery platforms for new and innovative ideas and a key resource for the talented people making them a reality.
As a program of Startland — a 501(c)3 non-profit community-building organization that seeks to unlock the starter in everyone — our newsroom’s mission goes far beyond cheerleading.
By shining a spotlight on these individuals and businesses (along with their challenges, setbacks and even failures), we aim to make entrepreneurship more approachable and accessible, exposing untapped potential in Kansas City and beyond.
It all starts somewhere. And today it can start with you.
Tommy Felts,
Editor in Chief,
Startland News
2021 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
South KC hub heats up with $100M+ cold storage investment; logistics site expected to bring 190 jobs
A strategic collaboration between Americold and CPKC underscores Kansas City’s growing role in advancing cross-border commerce and temperature-controlled logistics, officials said Tuesday, celebrating the grand opening of a 335,000-square-foot Import-Export Hub in South Kansas City. Americold’s new $100 million-plus facility is expected to create nearly 190 new jobs and serve as a hub for Canadian…
Innovation Fest pitch winner touts unexpected treat: growing his animal health startup in Kansas
Emmanuel Bijaoui’s first time in Kansas — for Tuesday’s Innovation Festival and onboarding for the incoming Plug and Play Topeka cohort — has left the Treat Therapeutics founder with a lasting impression of the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, he shared. “We always talk about the Animal Health Corridor,” he said after winning the festival’s BioKansas Startup…
‘Troost is not scary’: Kansas City equity walk highlights Black business revival
Editor’s note: This story was originally published by The Beacon, a member of the KC Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story from The Beacon, an online news outlet focused on local, in-depth journalism in the public interest.…
Here’s how Bungii delivered spot No. 981 in its Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies debut
Nailing Bungii’s geographic expansion model has unlocked significant growth, said Ben Jackson, detailing a years-long evolution that earned his Kansas City-built final-mile delivery carrier a coveted spot on the latest Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list. “Bungii’s network is becoming one of the largest sharing economy footprints across the U.S.,” explained Jackson, who co-founded the company…