Meet the cohort: ScaleUP! KC’s latest brew hits with some familiar flavors, faces

A new group of ready-to-scale entrepreneurs — including a half dozen boosting beverage businesses — were unveiled this week as ScaleUP! Kansas City prepares to help the cohort create new jobs, open new locations and strengthen the regional economy.

ScaleUP! KC’s just-announced participants hail from a diverse cross-section of industries — from home insulation to trucking, fitness to accounting, boutique clothing to coffee, beer and distilling. The program, now in its ninth year, is open to any industry and any growth-minded entrepreneur in the greater Kansas City bi-state region.

“This transformative program gives these top-tier business owners the training, confidence and the network they need to scale the region’s next multimillion-dollar businesses, and I’m glad we could elevate 20 more entrepreneurs who will embolden our communities,” said Jill Hathaway, program coordinator for ScaleUP! Kansas City and regional director of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

ScaleUP! KC helps members of each cohort create the processes, strategies and long-term plans to not only grow but also to scale their businesses and be prepared for shifts and opportunities. Awards, revenue increases and business growth are common headline-grabbing results of the entrepreneurs who complete ScaleUP! KC.

Including the newest cohort, the program has served 234 Kansas City-area business owners.

“ScaleUP! KC gives business owners the chance to work on their business and not just in it,” Hathaway said. “This program arms some of the region’s standout business owners with the perspective to clear obstacles and the chance to rethink their approach so they can overcome what’s prevented them from scaling in the past.”

The 14th ScaleUP! Kansas City cohort includes:

• Brent Anderson, Friction Beer, Shawnee, Kansas — Friction Beer is a production brewery and taproom located in a historic former hardware store in downtown Shawnee, Kansas.

• Diana Brauer, KS Spray Foam Insulation, McLouth, Kansas — KS Spray Foam Insulation evaluates environmental issues in commercial and residential building envelopes. The company installs insulation, coatings, thermal barriers, fireproofing and sound-deadening.

• Eric Flanagan, Flanagan Consulting, Kansas City, Missouri — Flanagan Consulting is the owner/operator of King G Bar and Deli and Jim’s Alley Bar, which are located in Kansas City’s East Crossroads, as well as Hank’s Garage and Grill (coming fall 2024).

• Rachelle Hofstetter, Plato’s Closet, Belton, Missouri — Plato’s Closet is a sustainable, gently used clothing store that sells current-trend clothing for teens and young adults.

• Katie Holland, Post Coffee Company, Lee’s Summit, Missouri — Post Coffee Company is a coffee retail and wholesale company that has serviced the community for 10 years.

• Kamia Kindle, SPG Web & Marketing, Lee’s Summit, Missouri — SPG offers services in custom graphics, fell website design and development, print design, application design, social media marketing and more.

• Blake Lappan, Spot On/NoDwell Inc., Kansas City, Missouri — Spot On is a yard management and short-haul trucking company based in Kansas City with an average coverage area of around 300 miles.

• Nashaunda Law, Life Changes Home Care, Raytown, Missouri — Life Changes Home Care offers clients an opportunity to maintain their own independence with assistance while staying in the comforts of home.

• Alex Lindsey, West Bottoms Whiskey Co., Kansas City, Missouri — West Bottoms Whiskey Co. blends, finishes, distills and ages spirits to create the perfect American whiskey.

• Eric Martens, Border Brewing Company, Kansas City, Missouri — Border Brewing Company, founded in 2015, is a craft brewery in Kansas City’s East Crossroads, known for unique brews and a welcoming taproom.

• Kathryn McDaniel, MEDiAHEAD, Kansas City, Missouri — MEDiAHEAD manufactures print, labels and packaging and creates fully customizable cloud-based marketing portals that manage marketing materials.

• Jeff McLaughlin, Corporate CopyPrint, Independence, Missouri — Corporate CopyPrint is a local small business celebrating 30 years in business and offers printing, signage and graphic design.

• Joey Mendez, ULAH, Westwood, Kansas — ULAH is a locally owned clothing, gift and accessories store offering a fun, social shopping experience with personal stylists and community events.

• Holli Nicholson, Nicholson Business Services, Lee’s Summit, Missouri — Nicholson Business Services provides accounting solutions to small businesses.

• Michael Pizzato, MVP Fitness, Kansas City, Missouri — MVP Fitness bridges the gap from physical therapy to personal training.

• Jason Provo, Blackhole Bakery, Kansas City, Missouri — Blackhole Bakery is KC’s premier retail/wholesale bakery specializing in breakfast pastry and mochi donuts.

• TJ Roberts, Kinship Café, Kansas City, Kansas — Kinship Café is a Black-owned coffee shop in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas, that provides a unique experience to the specialty coffee industry.

• LaTanya Scott, Blue Chip Roofing & Waterproofing, Grandview, Missouri — Blue Chip Roofing & Waterproofing LLC is a union contractor that specializes in commercial and industrial roofing and waterproofing.

• Debra Smith, Spirit Life Apparel & Screenprinting, Merriam, Kansas — Spirit Life Apparel & Screenprinting does quality, in-house production of custom screenprinting, embroidery, sublimation and promotional items.

• Chentell Stiritz, Convivial Production Inc./Verdant, Kansas City, Missouri — Convivial is a ceramic design and manufacturing company. Convivial creates handmade wares in the home, table and garden categories.

ScaleUP! KC is funded by the Missouri SBDC at UMKC, a program of the UMKC Innovation Center, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. UMKC Innovation Center staff provide coaching and administrative support.

“It’s amazing to see what the hundreds of ScaleUP! Kansas City alums have accomplished, and I am so excited to see what’s in store for this next cohort of business leaders,” Hathaway said.