Tag: MECA Challenge

Kemet Coleman, Kemet Creative; Heidi Gardner, “Saturday Night Live”; Lisa Ginter, CommunityAmerica; Wendy Guillies, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; and Sandy Kemper, C2FO

Dapper rapper, ‘SNL’ star, top CEOs join student pitch competition as KC celebrity judges

By Tommy Felts / May 20, 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. STARTLAND is the parent organization of Startland News, though this report was produced…

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KCSF STARTLAND

KCSF rebrands to ‘STARTLAND’ and bolsters board, reflecting maturation of organization, ecosystem, leaders say

By Tommy Felts / November 13, 2019

A rebranding and name change for the Kansas City Startup Foundation will see the entrepreneurial community-building organization build on the legacy of Startland News while continuing to grow its education and talent programming. Now operating as STARTLAND, the organization still boasts its most-widely recognized programs — Startland News, MECA Challenge and Back2KC — which also have…

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Lauren Conaway, InnovateHER KC

InnovateHER KC founder leaving KCSF as womxn’s community-building startup scales

By Tommy Felts / June 28, 2019

It’s time to set InnovateHER KC on the path to long-term growth, said Lauren Conaway, announcing her plans to leave the Kansas City Startup Foundation in early July to lead the womxn-focused startup full-time. “InnovateHER KC’s No. 1 priority right now is building out our community with intention,” said Conaway, founder of InnovateHER KC and…

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KCultivator Q&A: Chad Feather ventured to China and back, stayed for KC kindness, community

By Tommy Felts / May 24, 2019

Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The KCultivator Series is sponsored by Plexpod, a progressive coworking platform offering next generation workspace for entrepreneurs, startups, and growth-stage companies of all sizes. Age doesn’t define entrepreneurial talent and Chad Feather is proof, he said…

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KC mayors startups

A dating app for founders? Hotspots overhead? KCMO mayoral candidates pair up to pitch startup solutions

By Tommy Felts / March 1, 2019

Bridging the digital divide in Kansas City is simple: Put WiFi hotspots in the trees, quipped Steve Miller, while pitching startup ideas — formed through on-the-spot brainstorming — to a crowd of entrepreneurs. “I love this tree idea … It’s very unique,” laughed fellow Kansas City, Missouri, mayoral candidate and equally off-the-cuff Alissia Canady, Tuesday…

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