Austin Barnes
Executive Editor, Startland News
Austin is a growth-focused business strategist with deep roots in media and storytelling. As executive editor, he leads Startland’s revenue generation, partnership strategy, and market expansion— aligning mission-driven journalism with scalable business models.
With over a decade of experience spanning media, brand development, and strategic communications, Austin has helped grow Startland’s reach beyond Kansas City, launching new monetization efforts and driving engagement with more than 700,000 readers each year. His work bridges entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable growth —positioning Startland as a national model for community-centered media.
Recent Articles by Austin Barnes
Young agency bottles digital savvy for startup where co-founder brewed booch
From booch bottler to boss, Zack Schneller isn’t forgetting his Tea-Biotics roots as he embarks on his own startup journey — which has him helping his former employer with an eCommerce emergence and social media scale up. “We did a free trial for them, which happened to fall on National Kombucha Day,” Schneller, co-founder of Oak…
Julep owner: KCMO liquor rules could drown bar-restaurants already struggling to reopen
As locally owned bars and restaurants start to reopen, a new threat to their success is emerging — city regulations designed in a pre-pandemic world. “There’s a lot of unintended consequences from these mandated shutdowns that need to be addressed from a legal standpoint,” explained Beau Williams, owner of Julep Cocktail Club in Westport. While…
COVID-19 opened door for to-go cocktails; KC Daiquiri duo wants to keep sales flowing permanently
If Missouri and Kansas City leaders want to help small businesses recoup lost cash after weeks of shutdown, they’d be wise to take a cue from the Big Easy, said owners of KC Daiquiri Shop. “The restaurant industry I’m seeing right now is kind of suffering,” explained Calvin Vick, who co-owns the New Orleans-inspired KC…
Engineered to paint: When life provides a big canvas, use it all, tech-turned-artist says
Talent doesn’t always equal success in the art world — but that doesn’t mean creatives should lose hope, said Aaron Norris. “You have to be willing to grind. Day in and day out. Keep creating, keep sculpting, keep painting, keep sketching — and don’t stop until you accomplish the things you want to accomplish,” Norris, hobby artist…
Dart pedals more than a prototype: E-bikes as a route to equitable employment access
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…
Tesseract’s robot reveal: Wearable proximity trackers to keep workers at a safe distance
Kansas City-wired clip-on robots could make social distancing a second thought, as Tesseract Ventures shares its first mainstream product with the world. “This product exemplifies our mantra that there is nothing more human than technology and is a great example of what you can expect to see from Tesseract Ventures in the future,” said John…
‘Way more on our plate’: How COVID-19 transformed chefs into fortune tellers and perfectionists
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. It’s a tough time to be in the business of food — but…
Interest grows for at-home ultraviolet sterilization, urban farming amid prolonged pandemic
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. If the team at Year-Round Garden had been told two months ago…
Guy Experience founder spins Sandbox cash into opportunity for teen coding students
A new opportunity to build key, startup assets for The Guy Experience has Kansas City kids compiling their futures. “We really believe in giving them a project and believing in them,” Jerren Thornhill, founder of The Guy Experience, said of the startup’s new partnership with We Code KC. As part of the collaboration, We Code…
UMKC’s Enactus team just earned its best-ever finish at national entrepreneurship expo
Tenacious teams get results — especially when obstacles become motivators, said the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Enactus team, fresh off a second-place finish in the USA Enactus Exposition. “It was one of the most incredible things in the world,” said Ali Brandolino, vice president of projects and incoming president of UMKC Enactus, which focuses on…