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
Toby Rush explores venture studio concept to help startups avoid pre-seed mistakes
Not enough founders in the pre-seed funding stage get the help they need to successfully build their emerging startups, said Toby Rush. “How can you find, focus and accelerate people before they’ve raised money, before they’ve built their team, before they’ve made all of the mistakes that I’ve made plenty of times and that most…
‘Scrappy underdogs’ scale up as PayIt announces move downtown to Lightwell
A move to the Lightwell building signals more than continued growth for Kansas City-based PayIt: it’s the beginning of the company’s transition from startup to scaleup, revealed John Thomson. “We’re scrappy underdogs in this big market of big players and I don’t want us to lose that,” Thomson, co-founder and CEO, told Startland News of…
Five-chef food hall concept headed downtown thanks to one of KC’s most successful founders
Serial entrepreneur Tim Barton is bringing his “chef collective” concept from downtown Overland Park to the heart of KCMO, the founder of Edison District announced Thursday, teasing the first details of a new development at the in-progress Lightwell building. “It’ll be a 13,500 square-foot food hall with five chef concepts,” Barton, whose Johnson County Strang…
High demand, low profits: Happy Food Co pulls meal kits from stores, pivots to catering
Love wasn’t enough to sustain the original model of Happy Food Co., but the meal kit company’s ability to pivot opens new doors, said Kiersten Firquain. “For a startup in Kansas City … it is difficult,” Firquain, head chef and co-founder of Happy Food Co., said of geographical challenges that contributed to its restructuring, a…
Outcrafting Carhartt: KC denim guru opened the door to a hidden maker speakeasy, affordable US-made workwear
The high-stakes world of makers — especially those hoping to develop a national brand built on quality craftsmanship — can require connections beyond what someone finds in a simple Google search, said Ryan Martin. “You kind of have to know somebody,” the Kansas City denim guru behind the KC Jacks workwear line and the couture…
How many fans packed parade route for Chiefs? Crowd counting a touchdown for KC’s EB Systems
While a sea of red greeted Chiefs players Feb. 5 outside Union Station, many fans skipped the official victory rally honoring the world champion football team — opting instead to fight for their right to party nearby, according to crowd data from an emerging Kansas City startup. “Harsh weather and a drunk driving incident on…
Booch! (There it is): Tea-Biotics pours onto 39th Street with its first Missouri kombucha taproom
The “booch” biz is booming and Tea-Biotics Kombucha is bottling growth with its first taproom in Missouri. “We’re really pleased to be growing and also seeing new people, locals, coming in all the time,” said Lauren Klein, who oversees day-to-day operations at the kombucha startup’s latest taproom — the first to be brewed outside of…
The Village KC plans STEM camp, financial literacy efforts to help KCMO teens unlock potential
A new sense of freedom is on the horizon for Kansas City teens as The Village KC opens its doors and empowers young people to find their futures. “Freedom, to me, is access to opportunities that allow you to live well,” Di’Anna Saffold, founder and executive director, explained of ways The Village KC aims to…
First look: WeWork Lightwell illuminates space for growing teams downtown (Photos)
Despite national headlines that question WeWork’s staying power, a second Kansas City location signals light at the end of the tunnel for the coworking giant. “The expectation of the workforce is changing,” Erik Wullschleger, WeWork community director, explained during a Startland News tour of the newly opened space, which occupies the third and fourth floors…
Beyond just bats: Pro Athlete takes a swing at apparel, innovation with its first acquisition
Whether a company has just left the bench or been in the game for more than 30 years, the key to innovation is simple: maintain a startup mentality and growth is sure to follow, said Andrew Dowis. “One of our core values is embracing innovation,” explained Dowis, CEO of Pro Athlete — a Kansas City-grown…