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
WeWork opening second coworking location in newly renovated downtown Lightwell building
WeWork will continue to shine a light on entrepreneurs in Kansas City with a second location inside the newly named Lightwell building downtown. “Since opening our first location here nearly two years ago in the Crossroads at Corrigan Station, WeWork in Kansas City has been bustling with entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses,“ said WeWork’s Kansas City…
Explore inside: Thee Outpost offers fresh brew of Thou Mayest, Collective Ex coffee-creative collaboration (Photos)
The way is open and a new era has begun for Kansas City’s dreamers, doers, makers, and caffeinated creators. “I’m really pulling that curtain back [and letting] makers do what they do,” explained Johnny Dawbarn, founder of Collective Ex — a collaborative of artisans, designers and creatives at 519 E. 18th St., now open to…
Stenovate lands first big investor; founder credits ‘stepping stones’ of KC startup resources
Hold your head high, be eager, and embrace the startup community that surrounds you, Lauren Lawrence said as the first outside investor calls on her Kansas City-filed tech startup, Stenovate. “The first person to really take a risk on you as an outside investor who’s not your mom and dad … they’re always a significant…
Startup synergy: Native Hemp Co opening retail store in former downtown MADE flagship store
A grand adventure awaits Kansas City-baked Native Hemp Co., as the cannabis company reaches new heights and sets up shop with its first retail location. “I have a family all across the world now and it’s been so much fun,” Rich Dunfield, founder of Native Hemp Co., said of the company’s trajectory and success ahead…
Railroad remedy: Fishtech-backed app could bring added efficiency to local transit system
What started out as a joke between coworkers at Fishtech Group, could solve a community-wide pain point in Martin City — and beyond, explained Michael Wilson. “Every single day there’d be a train come by, blowing its horn, interrupting us on conference calls and they would also make a lot of people late for meetings,”…
MoCannaHub lights up information prohibition; launches cannabis resource-finding app
Rolled in entrepreneurial opportunity, tech companies shouldn’t be afraid to take a hit of the growing marketplace that is cannabis, said Andrew Ellis, explaining the methodology behind MoCannaHub — the app that connects curious consumers with experts and information of various strains. “Some of the platforms out there are banning cannabis-related content,” explained Ellis, president…
Photos: Sprint Accelerator leaders salute former managing director at demo day
Gratitude powered down the sixth cohort of the Sprint and Dairy Farmers of America-backed Corporate Accelerator Thursday. “I do have one more person that I need to acknowledge and that person is Doug Dresslear,” Tina Peterson, manager of the Sprint Accelerator, told a packed crowd at the National World War 1 museum’s J.C. Nichols Auditorium. …
LaunchKC, Nueterra Capital announce health accelerator with $50K, plus resources for each startup in cohort
Adding its third vertical in less than a year, LaunchKC will expand its grant opportunities deployment with the new LaunchKC Health Accelerator aimed at improving patient outcomes, the program announced Thursday. “LaunchKC continues to see momentum, headed into its fifth year, having invested over $2 million in cash grants to attract or retain 38 tech…
Hometown startup launches Swappa Local in KC, trading tech junk sellers for secure deals
A firsthand experience with a mysterious Craigslist seller served as fuel for Kansas City-listed startup Swappa’s latest innovation of the local marketplace: Swappa Local. “I exchanged money with the seller, we both drove off, leaving the parking lot at the same time,” recalled Ben Edwards, Swappa founder and CEO. “We ended up stopped at the…
KCMO advancing its smart city action plan with focus on digital equity in urban tech
Kansas City is one step closer to being a fully connected hub for urban tech, as local decision makers craft a smart city action plan. “That document will be what guides all of our future investments in technology,” explained Chris Hernandez, KCMO communications director. The action plan comes a year after the city issued a…