Austin Barnes

Recent Articles by Austin Barnes

He took over a house-trained side hustle; meow it’s time scale the gourmet catnip brand 

October 14, 2025

Adam Larson might be severely allergic to cats, but he’s following his own advice — pawing away at a gourmet catnip side hustle and toying with the best market fit for the business (and his life). Larson — who also is a network convener for MOSourceLink, the founder Decimal Projects, and a former program coordinator at…

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How Main Street Summit is putting homegrown small business on stage with Tim Tebow

October 14, 2025

COLUMBIA, Missouri — Small businesses don’t stay small on purpose, said Colby Kraus, echoing a mantra popular among organizers of the Main Street Summit — an immersive downtown experience rich with enough Americana capital for entrepreneurs and community builders from all walks of life.  Approaching its third year, Main Street Summit is set to return Nov.…

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ICYMI: MTC says it’s moving forward with select entrepreneur programs despite steep state funding cuts

October 14, 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] The Missouri Technology Corp. has released its annual implementation plan, announcing which programs…

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KCultivator Q&A: Jessica Powell gets candid about ‘KC Nice’ (and how she’d spend $1M)

October 13, 2025

Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. [divide] Let’s get real, Jessica Powell said with a wry smirk, explaining her vision for a Kansas City that works together — and stops cannibalizing its own.   “I’m a startup junkie,” the community champion and founder of…

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Pure Pitch Rally reveals competitors for its 10th crowd-funded, spot-cash pitch contest

October 13, 2025

Eight emerging startups set to take the Pure Pitch Rally stage next month will become part of the Kansas City tech community’s evolving story, said Karen Fenaroli, touting a decade of impact that has seen millions in follow-on capital raised and thousands of jobs created across the region. “It is no longer just an event,”…

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Sisters brew backyard-style beers from a historic firehouse in Budweiser territory

October 11, 2025

Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it. [divide] SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A midlife career crisis took…

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LISTEN: Meet the partners behind Plug and Play Topeka’s growth (and impact)

October 10, 2025

On a special episode of Startland News’ 12-part podcast series diving deeper into Plug and Play, we explore how the Topeka-based program and its partners work to turn bold ideas into Kansas success stories. Guests includes Bret Lanz from Kansas State University’s Technology Development Institute; John G. Brown of StenCo; and Cole Ahlvers from NQV8…

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Pour decisions: Craft beverage enthusiasts add Sunday tasting event to KC’s pregame cart

October 9, 2025

Kansas City’s roster of craft beverages — from rookies to veteran players on the scene — come to the field in a wide range of uniforms, said Jason Burton, noting there’s no better time to checkout the lineup with thirsty friends than as the Chiefs return to Arrowhead Stadium this weekend. The play: showcase Kansas…

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Back to the people: Social venture firm connects WyCo entrepreneurs with a human-centered toolkit

October 9, 2025

Editor’s note: The following story is presented through a paid partnership with Network Kansas. [divide] An initiative built on collaboration with business boosters already embedded in urban communities is deepening Network Kansas’ impact, said Erik Pedersen, sharing how the strategy helps more readily connect entrepreneurs to available resources like loans and technical assistance. In Wyandotte…

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Great Jobs KC aims to impact 50,000 Kansas City scholars within a decade — one life at a time

October 8, 2025

Editor’s note: The following story was written and first published by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri (EDCKC). Click here to read the original story. [divide] Natalie Lewis is no stranger to complex work. As chief operating officer of Great Jobs KC, she oversees programs that connect thousands of Kansas Citians with scholarships, tuition-free job…

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