Report: UMKC Innovation Center helped create 500 new ventures, boost revenue by $245M in 2020

Sam Yates and Chris Meier, Yup Yup Design Studio; Photo by Ann Millington Photography

Amid a year of pandemic-prompted chaos in the business community, entrepreneurs forged ahead like rarely before seen, according to the UMKC Innovation Center’s new impact report, which details outcomes of the Kansas City-based resource network’s programming opportunities. “These entrepreneurs and leaders are our clients, our inspiration and our hope,” said Maria Meyers, executive director at…

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‘Not an over-glorified hobby’: Comic book creator designs app to help vendors find conventions, sketch path to profitability

Juaquan Herron, VenBoo, 2923 Comics, The Scarlet Knight

Juaquan Herron spent countless hours actively searching for comic conventions to share and sell his work — often feeling frustrated after learning about conventions too late, he recalled. “Especially starting out in the industry, I didn’t have many friends and wasn’t finding out about vending opportunities,” said Herron, who founded 2923 Comics and created the…

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