Tag: Joshua Lewis

Six months after acquiring KC startup, BarGlance expands its AI-powered nightlife app across US

By Tommy Felts / March 21, 2025

Launching its latest innovation — BarGlance AI — in nightlife hotspots like Dallas, Las Vegas, Miami, and Kansas City is only part of the story for a South Carolina-based company that recently augmented its tech by integrating features from a Kansas City startup it acquired. By providing real-time data on venue popularity, crowd levels, and…

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BarGlance acquires Updown Nightlife App; founder says deal will scale AI-infused tech even faster than he imagined

By Tommy Felts / October 17, 2024

In a strategic move to elevate the Midwest’s nightlife scene on a national level, founder Joshua Lewis said, the Updown Nightlife app has been acquired by BarGlance, an AI-powered nightlife tech company.  The deal — valued at $5 million, Lewis said — celebrates Updown’s 10-year anniversary, marking a significant milestone for the app that put…

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Kin Seltzer marks first anniversary with strategic C-suite hire, national expansion moves

By Tommy Felts / April 23, 2024

Kansas City’s Black-owned beverage brand Kin Seltzer is popping the tab on a new year of business this month with the addition of a new chief strategy officer and a new focus on expanding the canned drinks’ footprint. Quincy Crutchfield, Kin’s new executive, comes with extensive entrepreneurial experience in marketing, branding, and creative design, successfully…

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Investment from former Chiefs linebacker expected to boost Kin Seltzer’s flow into KC

By Tommy Felts / September 5, 2023

An  investment from former Chiefs player Dezman Moses valued at $3 million is expected to help flood Kansas City with storytelling — and a new surprise flavor — from the first Black-owned seltzer in the market, said Joshua Lewis. Kin Seltzer announced the strategic investment from the Kansas City linebacker-turned-entrepreneur, noting plans to use the…

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Kin crafts flavor into hard seltzer market, targeting overlooked Black consumers looking for authentic social experiences

By Tommy Felts / April 21, 2023

The founding trio of a new hard seltzer crafted in Kansas City hopes the drink will add much-needed inclusivity to the craft seltzer space. Kin Seltzer is a collaboration between Joshua Lewis and Kearra Johnson of UpDown Nightlife, and Eric Martens of Border Brewing Company. Currently, leading seltzer brands target their marketing predominantly to white…

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