Austin Barnes
Recent Articles by Austin Barnes
Menufy’s online ordering platform helped restaurants survive 2020; now the KC-built company is serving a scale up
The startup course has been cleared for Leawood-plated Menufy as the tech company emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic ready to serve its customers a new identity while doubling down on its decade-old mission to empower restaurateurs. “The pandemic initially complicated things, then accelerated things and kept things complicated. … We don’t really think of ourselves…
KC pitmaster joins celebrity chefs in ‘BBQ Brawl’; how reality TV pulled Burnt Finger’s pork through 2020 smoke
When Megan Day hits the screen Monday on Food Network, the Lee’s Summit pitmaster, entrepreneur and veteran of TV appearances — from BBQ battles to morning talk shows — could face her greatest challenge to date, she said. “This was a completely different style of competition,” Day, co-founder and face of Burnt Finger BBQ, said of…
Thank you, Black America! Juneteenth pop-up rallies power of KC’s Black creatives
A celebration of Black America — and the critical work it’s done to begin breaking systemic cycles nationwide — is expected to launch soon in Kansas City, promising to shine a light on Black-owned businesses and creators, Kearra Johnson said. “As young, Black entrepreneurs in the city, we’ve been looking for ways to get our brands…
Give Black campaign for Black-run businesses, orgs eyes $80K goal by Juneteenth
Editor’s note: Give Black and Kansas City GIFT are non-financial partners of Startland, the parent organization of Startland News. This story was produced independently by Startland News’ non-profit newsroom. A newly launched campaign intended to back Black-owned businesses needs widespread community support to make the most impact, Brandon Calloway said, shedding light on why eight…
How a climate tech startup made its footprint in KC, but found its footing in a two-city solution
When the City of Kansas City, Missouri, came looking for ways to combat climate change in 2018, Sunny Sanwar raised his hand with a solution. “There’s a lot of extremely useful models in academia, [but they] oftentimes don’t solve for commercial viability. They’re solving to appease peers or for publishing in top journals,” said Sanwar,…
Legacy Skates rolls beyond fads; neighborhood skate shop laced with roller derby expertise
Luke and Annie Powell’s skate shop in Westside South isn’t just a way to make ends meet; it’s a legacy-building endeavor, deeply rooted in family. And it got its start with a childhood wish. “I wanted a pair of inline speed skates,” Luke Powell recalled, noting his 1990s dream came affixed with a ridiculous price…
R3AL potential: Why Suli4Q’s work in KC doesn’t stop with the final track on his Top 10 hip hop album
A wildly successful 2020 for indie performer Suli4Q wouldn’t mean as much if the entertainer, entrepreneur, and evangelist for Kansas City prosperity didn’t also focus on impact in the real world, he said. “In my journey, my biggest goal in reaching my full potential is being able to visibly see the changes that I’m having…
Talent agency plans Next Paige in Kansas City’s story; a $50K grant could bring dream closer to reality
A shift in the arts and entertainment world is allowing Kansas City creatives to step into roles they’ve long deserved, Elaina Paige Thomas said, looking back on a performance career — and new opportunities — that reflect childhood dreams dancing toward reality. “It has been a journey and I never imagined being here this quickly,…
How King G plans to rule a rebuilt Crossroads corner with a muffaletta and glass raised to perseverance
Rum, rye, and a retail renaissance are headed for the business district that sits just east of the Crossroads Arts District, teased Eric Flanagan. “I’m passionate about sandwiches; I’m passionate about beer; I’m passionate about good service, good music. All the stuff I love, I’m trying to bring that into this place,” said the Kansas…
Topeka approves $5.9M for innovation campus, locking in key funding for animal health, ag hub
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. Plans…