Austin Barnes

Recent Articles by Austin Barnes

Months after taking over century-old tailor shop, owner putts his new golf apparel brand in play

July 29, 2025

Even when an entrepreneur hyper-obsesses over the details, Michael Jerwick learned, opportunity isn’t always tailor-fit to the most conveniently designed timing. The Slabotsky’s owner just transplanted his century-spanning family business to River Market — a mere week before launching a brand new apparel side project. Two of the biggest moves of his career, Jerwick had…

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Five lessons from investing $5 million into 50 startups in five years

July 29, 2025

Editor’s note: The perspectives expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Scott Henderson is managing principal for Nebraska-based NMotion, general partner for gener8tor Great Plains Fund, and a board member for Startland, the parent organization of Startland News. This piece was originally published by Silicon Prairie News. [divide] Seems just like yesterday I was…

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‘Belonging is not a luxury’: KC Chamber winner links DEIB commitment to hope, dignity

July 25, 2025

Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging aren’t just words in reStart Inc.’s strategic plan, CEO Stephanie Boyer said, noting they are the foundation of how the nonprofit’s leaders show up, serve, and lead. “We believe that belonging is not a luxury,” she continued. “It’s a right, and it’s a right that we’re committed to protecting and…

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‘What’s stopping me?’ Bonk takes a loud swing with Crossroads streetwear store, Midwest grit

July 25, 2025

It began with Mason Barry’s search for the perfect black and white checkered sweatsuit. When nothing fit his expectations for design or quality, the Kansas City creative launched his own streetwear brand — featuring bold apparel that already is gaining a foothold in trendy fashion hubs from Brooklyn to Portland. Bonk Supply — a brand…

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‘Stablecoin summer’: Crypto community greets GENIUS Act with optimism, caution

July 25, 2025

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Missouri Business Alert, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, and The Kansas City Beacon. Click here to read the original story. [divide] A new federal cryptocurrency law has sparked a range of reactions across…

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How KC transformed entrepreneurship from counterculture into a model for the mainstream

July 25, 2025

Veteran ecosystem builders returned to the Heartland this week, urging a new generation of entrepreneur advocates to embrace Kansas City’s style of experimentation and its uniquely collaborative startup culture. “Entrepreneurship is not spreadsheets and business plans,” said Jonathan Ortmans, who founded the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) — the nonprofit parent of Global Entrepreneurship Week —…

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They didn’t want to go corporate; how AI gave brothers the tools to forge their own path, together

July 23, 2025

Tyler and Garrett Amundsen are using AI to help insurance brokers spend more time on relationships and less time on data, the duo shared. Inspired by conversations around their family’s Kansas City dinner table, as well as the latest tech developments, the brothers launched LightDoc in early 2023 to automate and streamline repetitive tasks that…

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He retired after an exit; now this govtech veteran is back in a CFO role for KC-scaled PayIt

July 23, 2025

As Kansas City-built PayIt scales across North America, a new financial leader is expected to help guide the company in its game-changing efforts to help government agencies modernize, serve their residents, and improve operating efficiency. Steve Kovzan, a nearly 30-year veteran of leadership across government technology and finance spaces, is now chief financial officer at…

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KC Tech Council celebrates tax fix in Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ that boosts growing businesses

July 23, 2025

A tax fix included in the recently signed “One Big Beautiful Bill” — sprawling legislation meant to overhaul taxes in the United States — marks a major win for Kansas City’s tech and innovation economy, said Kara Lowe. At issue: a long-awaited change to Section 174 research and development expensing that now allows businesses to…

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Thank a community leader; Nominate them to win $50,000

July 23, 2025

Editor’s note: The following is a paid message from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Allison Greenwood Bajracharya, a fourth-generation Kansas Citian, is chief impact and strategy officer for the Kauffman Foundation. [divide] In communities around the country, people are doing uncommon things in the most common places — parks, food pantries, classrooms, soccer fields, and…

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