Austin Barnes and Tommy Felts
Recent Articles by Austin Barnes and Tommy Felts
Time for apathy is over, Condon says; Advocates make business case for Pre-K funding
Kansas City’s unequal playing field for children and inconsistent access to early education programs has a distinct ripple effect into the business community, Matt Condon said, advocating for Mayor Sly James’ Pre-K for KC initiative. “I don’t make any apologies about what a great city this is. But on this issue in particular, we are…
Freightquote, Edison Factory founder-turned-investor touts ‘work ethic worth investing in’
Raise and raise relentlessly. Because in business, the sun won’t shine every day, Tim Barton told a room filled Wednesday morning with entrepreneurs and investors eagerly seeking support and insight at the 20th InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum. The former CEO of Freightquote, who saw a $365 million exit for the company in 2014 before launching…
DEG execs reflect on $100M+ exit: Join an armada before success puts a target on your back
Riding into battle solo won’t help a company win the war that is business, Neal Sharma told a crowd of ACG Kansas City members gathered to hear details behind the exit of homegrown marketing giant DEG. “One of the things we realized three years ago — about DEG — is it was a completely successful, self…
Destiny Wealth moving HQ to KC; former football player owes debt of inspiration to mother
Grit and the gridiron might have helped shape Parker Graham’s business acumen, but it’s the influence of his coach in the game of life who inspired Destiny Wealth — his fintech startup that soon will move to Kansas City. “My Mom stretched herself so thin and sometimes it was hard to put food on the…
Onward scores $1M grant from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative for payday loan end-run
Everyone needs a financial cushion, said Ronnie Washington — even a fintech startup offering low- to moderate-income workers a path to avoid predatory lending practices, the Onward founder said. A member of KC-based Fountain City Fintech’s inaugural cohort, Onward is one of 10 companies from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico being awarded $1 million…
VIDEO: Local Legends makes brick-and-mortar play with new Westport gaming center
A popular E-Sports startup plans to level up sooner than its founder ever envisioned — putting Local Legends Gaming on Main Street. But this time, it’s wheels up, said AbdulRasheed Yahaya. “We really want to introduce Kansas City to the big, E-Sports brand and how social [gaming] really is,” Yahaya said of his new brick-and-mortar…
Make KC Gift Again 2018: 12 Kansas City-stuffed stocking stuffers
Startland News presents its annual gift guide of Kansas City-made products to celebrate dozens of KC makers and give readers curated shopping hints. Check out selections for last-minute (or not) stocking stuffers below. (Have more ideas? Leave them for readers in the comments below. We know this is just a glimpse of what Kansas City…
Make KC Gift Again 2018: Five wearable Kansas City pride shopping ideas
Startland News presents its annual gift guide of Kansas City-made products to celebrate dozens of KC makers and give readers curated shopping hints. Check out selections for showing Kansas City pride below. (Have more ideas? Leave them for readers in the comments below. We know this is just a glimpse of what Kansas City has…
VIDEO: Education startups earn $60K in LEANLAB grants at revamped Launch[ED] Day
The work doesn’t end with LEANLAB Education’s Launch[ED] Day celebration, said Katie Boody. Four of the accelerator’s fellows will continue their startups’ research thanks to $60,000 in grant investments. The entrepreneur-led education ventures took the stage Thursday to pitch their companies to the Launch[ED] crowd at Plexpod Westport Commons, as well as to describe the…
KC Bier Co. brewing regional expansion one tap handle at a time, founder says
Rapid growth in the craft brewing market has tapped out, said Steve Holle, founder of KC Bier Co. A solid understanding of the reasons behind such an overdraught industry has so-far saved the Kansas City-based, German-style brewing company from being caught in the same weeds as recently closed Manhattan-brewed competitor, Tallgrass Brewing Co., Holle said….