Tag: EMKF Sponsored

Plug and Play innovation summit unleashing Topeka’s animal health, agtech potential

By Tommy Felts / March 3, 2020

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. TOPEKA…

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Tohi ventures down a Midwest ‘rabbit hole’ to discover a rare berry good enough to drink

By Tommy Felts / February 29, 2020

Tohi Ventures is on a quest to save the planet — one rare-berry infused beverage at a time.  “I was literally doing Google research on unique ingredients, specialty crops … these one-ingredient wonders,” explained Shari Coulter Ford, CEO and co-founder of Tohi Ventures — maker of Tohi, an antioxidant-rich beverage available in four, all-natural flavors. …

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Donald Hawkins, KC Collective; STARTLAND's Innovation Exchange

Ecosystem builder on Mayor Q’s budget cuts: Startup support helps fill potholes too

By Tommy Felts / February 21, 2020

Startup support is an investment — not just a cost to the city, a leading ecosystem builder said Thursday following a proposed KCMO budget that would reduce funding for groups aiding KC’s emerging innovators and risk-takers. “Go around to meet the entrepreneurs, understand their stories — see how we max out our credit cards to hire…

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Happy Food Co., Get Happy Catering

High demand, low profits: Happy Food Co pulls meal kits from stores, pivots to catering

By Tommy Felts / February 19, 2020

Love wasn’t enough to sustain the original model of Happy Food Co., but the meal kit company’s ability to pivot opens new doors, said Kiersten Firquain. “For a startup in Kansas City … it is difficult,” Firquain, head chef and co-founder of Happy Food Co., said of geographical challenges that contributed to its restructuring, a…

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Wise Power Shield Club at Children's Mercy Park

WISE Power shifts energy from Hy-Vee Arena to Sporting KC, debuting cutting-edge tech lounge March 7

By Tommy Felts / February 19, 2020

A new partnership with Sporting KC gives a Kansas City-founded startup naming rights to the new WISE Power Shield Club at Children’s Mercy Park, as well as a new lease on its emerging entertainment concept previously set to debut at the Hy-Vee Arena. “WISE Power has designed technology products and services that are incredibly innovative…

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