Channa Steinmetz

Recent Articles by Channa Steinmetz

Startup pitch at a 2021 NMotion Venture Studio event

NMotion adds ‘concierge’ investment accelerator for early-stage founders; applications close May 30

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by the NMotion startup accelerator, but was independently produced by Startland News. Following NMotion Venture Studio’s successful launch in 2020, Nebraska’s largest and only startup accelerator is adding a new high-touch opportunity to its lineup: NMotion Growth Accelerator.  “Five out of the 10 companies that came through the NMotion…

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Santosh George, Grace George, Meredith George, and Mary Ann George at the dedication of Studio 3030 at Operation Breakthrough's Ignition Lab

Donations honoring late podcast host, comedian fund ‘place of peace’ for young creators; recording studio dedicated to Mathew George

Friends and family of the late podcast host Mathew George gathered to celebrate the dedication of Operations Breakthrough’s newly-debuted recording studio on what would have been Mathew’s 27th birthday. “What could have been a really depressing day was more celebratory, like it would have been if he were still here,” shared Mary Ann George, mother…

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Saroj Gupta, MyDigiRecords, pitching at the Futures Group during the Comeback KC Ventures Innovation Showcase

When a global health crisis exposed ‘broken’ systems, these KC startups jabbed back

Patients need easier access to their medical records, said Saroj Gupta, stressing the life-threatening outcomes for individuals who might miss important vaccinations — or erroneously obtain multiple doses — because of poor or hard-to-find documentation. “We call ourselves a developed country, but our healthcare system is so broken,” said Saroj Gupta, the founder and CEO…

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Armondo Alvarez and Justine Dale Gelbolinga

Will climate change rob me of being a parent? Anxious Millennials, Gen Z question adding more children to Earth

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series on climate change in the Kansas City region produced by the KC Media Collective to support and enhance local journalism so every person in Kansas City can lead a richer life. Members of the KC Media Collective are KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, Missouri Business…

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Willy Schlacks, Scale, EquipmentShare

‘We have to allow for failure,’ says serial entrepreneur; Scale announces 7 startups in second cohort

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. COLUMBIA,…

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Kisha Bausby, JE Dunn

Built to last, bought with intention: How JE Dunn set supplier diversity as a cornerstone

Editor’s note: The following story was sponsored by KC Rising, a regional initiative to help Kansas City grow faster and more intentionally, as part of a campaign to promote its CEO-to-CEO Challenge on supplier diversity.  Approaching supplier diversity for the long haul means defining the work — without limiting it, said Jason Banks, describing how Kansas City-based construction icon JE…

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Maxfield Kaniger and Ali Curbow, Kanbe’s Markets

Chefs transform ‘ugly’ produce into beautiful dinners: How Kanbe’s Markets is taking food waste off the menu

From lumpy apples to a spotty potato, foods with cosmetic flaws are still edible and nutritionally dense, said Ali Curbow.  “People turn away these types of produce because it is considered ‘ugly’ — but we’re hoping to showcase that these ugly produce can be made into something beautiful,” said Curbow, marketing manager at Kanbe’s Markets,…

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Shrimp po'boy at KC Cajun

Gator, shrimp po’boys made to order, but Chef Esra has more than sandwiches plated for KC’s East Side

Opening a restaurant is just one phase of Esra England’s vision for Kansas City’s East Side. “I’m looking at a restaurant as an anchor point. Once you have a restaurant in the area, the community will be able to do different things like host meetings or classes — and hopefully, other businesses will start to…

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David Roberson and Jared Meek at Adelante Thrift

Why an Evangelical church in KCK opened a thrift store to build leaders in its immigrant-rich neighborhood 

The heart and purpose of Mission Adelante is to develop and empower community members — especially its neighbors who come from backgrounds far from Kansas City, said Jared Meek.  “We started Mission Adelante in 2005 to really reach out to the immigrant and refugee community in our neighborhood. We focused a lot on individual transformation,…

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Analysts speak during the HCS Major Kansas City 2022, a bracket-style Halo tournament, at the Kansas City Convention Center

Halo championship arrives downtown as KC-built esports team ‘pioneers a dynasty’

KC Pioneers gain support of Chiefs, Charlie Hustle and other hometown household names for its #MyCity campaign as Kansas City hosts major esports tournament  It’s time to showcase Kansas City’s esports and tech community on a global scale, said Mark Josey — and what better way to do so than with a worldwide tournament hosted…

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