Tag: Lever1

COVID-19’s cost to Silicon Valley could be Kansas City’s talent gain, startup leader predicts

By Tommy Felts / May 12, 2020

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Economic disruptions in Silicon Valley and other major startup hubs could mean…

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Matt Watson, Stackify

Inc. 5000 ranks Matt Watson’s Stackify among top fastest-growing companies in KC

By Tommy Felts / August 14, 2019

If founders don’t put themselves out there, they’ll never know how far they can grow, advised Matt Watson, shortly after Inc. Magazine ranked his tech startup — Stackify — one of the fastest growing companies in Kansas City. “I mean, we’re not boiling the ocean over here, but we’re just slowly growing a little every…

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Rhonda Dolan, Udo

Rhonda Dolan, on-demand personal assistant Udo honored as Chamber’s Entrepreneur of the Year

By Tommy Felts / May 23, 2019

A lunchtime affair at the 2019 Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Awards quickly turned from celebratory mingling to shock and awe for Rhonda Dolan. “For [the Chamber] to recognize my efforts over the last year, which have been pretty intense, means a lot,” said Dolan, founder and CEO of Udo, reflecting on her…

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Mr. K Award finalists

Mr. K Award finalists: RFP360, KC Bier Co., Charlie Hustle among Chamber’s Top 10 Small Businesses

By Tommy Felts / April 8, 2019

From one of Kansas City’s most popular breweries to a startup that streamlines the RFP process to an apparel company known for its big heart, 10 small businesses received surprise visits Friday — each now a finalist for the prestigious Mr. K Award. “The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce showered us with confetti today…

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Own it! The good, the bad and the ugly every entrepreneur needs to know

Serial entrepreneur hopes to cultivate ‘real talk’ with startups at day-long Own It event

By Tommy Felts / September 13, 2018

Business often isn’t pretty, said serial entrepreneur Mike Wrenn. And it’s time to expose some of the hard truths he and his wife, Becky Cole — as well as other business heavyweights — have learned through their careers, he said. “Becky and I have built a successful business with national and international reach,” said Wrenn, chairman…

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