Austin Barnes
Recent Articles by Austin Barnes
KC founder’s hip hop edtech app for children, families earns earns $50K in 5G innovation competition
A grants program focused on boosting social entrepreneurs — traditionally underfunded women and persons of color — who are using 5G wireless innovation to address pressing community challenges this week awarded a $50,000 prize to Kansas City startup Healthy Hip Hop for its work on child literacy. Catalyst — a competitive grants initiative by the Washington,…
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As global technology company SafetyCulture closes another massive funding round, Kansas City — its largest market and biggest opportunity — stands primed for continued investment at the firm’s U.S. headquarters in the Crossroads Arts District. SafetyCulture on Tuesday announced a $112 million round — which values the Sydney, Australia-based workforce operations company at $1.7 billion —…
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Editor’s note: The following story was originally published by K-State News. [divide] MANHATTAN, Kansas — A K-State 105 project is boosting economic growth in Douglas County by building an entrepreneurship ecosystem. Project organizers say the effort The network of aspiring entrepreneurs and established businesses could add 1,300 technology and 300 non-tech, high-paying jobs to Douglas…
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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] ROCK PORT, Missouri — Mandy Herron turned two…
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Editor’s note: The following story was originally published by AltCap, an ally to underestimated entrepreneurs that offers financing to businesses and communities that traditional lenders do not serve. [divide] The Kansas City Chiefs came up one win short of entering the Super Bowl when they lost by a field goal to the Cincinnati Bengals in…
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Editor’s note: The perspectives expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. The following is a paid thought leadership piece from Chris Schumm, McQueary Schumm Munsell Group at Morgan Stanley in Leawood, Kansas. [divide] Cap table management can be more complex than it seems; Discover six ways to improve the accuracy of your cap table As…
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Melesa Johnson, Tracey Chappell share their solutions for combatting recent uptick in break-ins at Kansas City businesses Editor’s note: Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker is not seeking re-election, so it’s an open race for her countywide seat. Democrat Melesa Johnson and Republican Tracey Chappell are running in the 2024 general election with a vote…
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Jack Williams’ dream of seeing his great-grandmother’s picture in every grocery store across the country is one step closer to reality as the Lenexa entrepreneur’s jars of Grandma Morrelli’s pasta sauce — emblazoned with her photo — hit Kansas City shelves. “I’m trying to honor her and family traditions,” he said, describing how the venture…
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A board game originally conceived in the wake of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1969 assassination is making a revival in 2024 — thanks to the Kansas City entrepreneur who created it and remains committed to keeping Black history alive. SLANG-A-LANG!™ returned to shelves earlier this year, said Irene Carter, noting the game was born out…
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A new data dashboard built to better understand Kansas City’s business needs — and guide the city’s response — is not only revolutionary for the metro, said Nia Richardson, it could be the first of its kind, period. Small business advocates already are calling it a win. “I don’t know of any other city or playbook…
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