Tag: Shea Geist

Showcase showdown: KC Chamber rallies ‘Mr. K competitors, but small biz owners say it feels more like family

By Tommy Felts / April 12, 2024

The husband-wife duo behind Kansas City-based Shark OFF appreciate the local entrepreneurial ecosystem so much that they actually list it as one of their startup’s co-founders, Geoff Geist shared. “We would not exist if it weren’t for this community,” said Geist, the co-founder and COO of Shark OFF, which offers shark repellent bracelets that are…

Read More >
Photo by Jakob Owens Sharkoff shark bite survivor

5-year-old shark bite survivor returns to the ocean with help of SharkOFF wearable, founder says

By Tommy Felts / July 19, 2019

A sweet taste of its do-good mission has Kansas City-based SharkOff eyeing new ideas, explained Shea Geist, recounting the tale of 5-year-old Violet Jalil’s journey back into the ocean.  “Several months ago we got a big order from [Violet’s mom,] Jessica [Veatch], and she commented when she put in her order, talking about her daughter…

Read More >
Shea Geist, SharkOFF; Neelima Parasker, SnapIT Solutions; and Lisa Tamayo, Scollar

KC’s woman-led startups selected for global summit; founders credit hustle, persistence

By Tommy Felts / May 29, 2019

What started as an opportunity to meet interesting people and showcase innovative ideas to investors has turned into a once-in-a-lifetime shot at elevating five of Kansas City’s women-led startups on an international stage, said Shea Geist, beaming. “My husband made the application and I was like … ‘Whatever, it’s a million to one chance,’ so…

Read More >
KC billion dollar startup

Can KC build the next billion-dollar company? ‘We have the internet here too’

By Tommy Felts / May 22, 2019

Ambitious startups need to believe they can become Kansas City’s next billion-dollar company, said John Thomson, urging confidence — and the ability to roll with the punches — in the face of risk. “Accomplished entrepreneurs who I’ve met … they just did it. Of course it was risky, and it might fail, but they went and…

Read More >
Shark-Off

Beach-loving couple hopes to dissolve fear of sharks with Shark OFF repellent bracelets

By Tommy Felts / January 10, 2019

Saving limbs, lives, and long-villainized, cartilaginous creatures of the sea — it’s the mission behind a first-of-its-kind Overland Park startup, Shark OFF, said Shea and Geoff Geist. “You’re more likely to get killed by a cow. You’re more likely to die falling out of bed,” said Geoff Geist, half of the husband-wife duo who founded…

Read More >