Tag: UMKC

Alec Rodgers Betty Rae's Ice Cream

Why Betty Rae’s new owner traded a finance career for waffle cones; ice cream shop reopens Monday

By Tommy Felts / March 11, 2021

Reopening Betty Rae’s Ice Cream could prove as risky for Alec Rodgers’ waistline as his wallet, the 23-year-old employee-turned-owner jokingly suggested — smiling as he looked across the River Market shop with a mix of nostalgia and youthful exuberance. His eyes lit up as he recalled the rich memory of discovering his own favorite flavor:…

Read More >
Jonaie Johnson, Interplay, University of Missouri-Kansas City

UMKC’s top student entrepreneur has a not-so-secret play: Startups are a team sport

By Tommy Felts / December 7, 2020

Editor’s note: This article is underwritten by Plexpod — a progressive coworking platform offering next generation workspace for entrepreneurs, startups, and growth-stage companies of all sizes — but was independently produced by Startland News. From crafting custom-made bracelets in elementary school to prepping the launch for the world’s first interactive dog crate, Jonaie Johnson said she’s wanted…

Read More >
Tiffany and Brian Kim, My Play Cafe

Toddlers and baristas: MY Play Cafe bets on playground coffee shop concept in Lee’s Summit

By Tommy Felts / August 18, 2020

You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, Tiffany Kim said, recalling a trip to Las Vegas that inspired her to roll the entrepreneurial dice back home in Kansas City — despite a raging pandemic.  “I call it the most relaxing day of my motherhood career,” laughed Tiffany, co-founder of Lee’s Summit-based MY Play Cafe, recalling…

Read More >

UMKC-backed coding academy offers career reboot without the ‘imposter syndrome’

By Tommy Felts / June 23, 2020

Editor’s note: The following story is sponsored by Yoodle, a partner of STARTLAND, the parent organization of Startland News. Click here to learn about the FEC Coding Academy courses or to apply for its coming cohort, a partnership between Yoodle, the Full Employment Council and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. This story was produced independently by…

Read More >

Dart pedals more than a prototype: E-bikes as a route to equitable employment access

By Tommy Felts / May 28, 2020

Free bus rides aren’t the only solution to a lack of equity in Kansas City’s transportation options, explained Thomas Murphy.  “Only 18 percent of jobs here in the metro are available via 90-minute commute via public transit,” Murphy, co-founder and CEO of Dart, explained of the startup’s commitment to outfitting under-resourced pockets of the metro…

Read More >
[adinserter block="4"]