Black Ambition fund’s $50K gives KC healthech startup the ‘jet fuel we need to propel into 2025’ 

By Tommy Felts | November 22, 2024

An initiative led by musician-turned-philanthropist Pharrell Williams to help close the opportunity and wealth gap for Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs has selected Kansas City-based AskSAMIE for its latest cohort of funding, training and mentorship. Through the just-announced Black Ambition cohort, 30 founders are receiving awards between $25,000 and $1 million, totalling $2.7 million. AskSAMIE earned…

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UMKC pitch competition brings validating relief, cash prizes for emerging founders with big ideas

By Tommy Felts | April 13, 2024

A popular UMKC pitch competition awarded more than $80,000 in cash prizes to student and full-time entrepreneurs Friday — validating new ideas and emerging ventures alike.  “I never saw anything like this when I was in college,” said Dr. Brandy Archie, founder of AskSAMIE, who competed in a category especially for established startups at the University…

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Build a bigger bandwagon for women entrepreneurs, founders say; an isolated journey is too lonely 

By Tommy Felts | April 4, 2024

Representation of women in entrepreneurship is critically important, Vanessa Jupe told a crowd gathered this week at Union Station, emphasizing the power of exposure and leading by example to create a stronger, more diverse ecosystem. “If we don’t start businesses, then other women aren’t going to see that as a possibility,” said the founder and…

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C3KC organizers: Want to bring real social change to Kansas City? Let’s talk about it

By Tommy Felts | March 28, 2024

The sold-out C3KC — a one-day conference that returns Tuesday, April 2 to Union Station — reflects the Junior League of Kansas City’s mission to bring together leaders for collaborative change in action, shared Ericka Duker. The Junior League — which aims to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and…

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