Channa Steinmetz
Recent Articles by Channa Steinmetz
WATCH: Small biz struggles didn’t begin with pandemic pinch, says Rep. Davids; solutions go beyond COVID relief
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exaggerated pain points that small business owners were already facing before the global health crisis, said U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids. “I really think that what the pandemic did was, in some ways, highlighted the things that we should have been focusing on. … I know a lot…
Ting’s takes a page from grandma’s cookbook, bringing Filipino fare to KC; second ‘dream’ location coming to 39th Street
Filipino food goes hand-in-hand with Theresa “Ting” Santos’ fondest memories, she said. Wherever her family gathered to celebrate or just simply be together, food followed. “It’s always been a passion of mine to feed a lot of people. My grandma in the Philippines had her own little eatery. When I was little, I would go…
It’s a ‘movement, not just a moment’; H&R Block audits impact of Black excellence, businesses
Reading is among the best way to learn about Black history, said Willa Robinson, the founder and owner of Willa’s Books & Vinyl. “I’m grateful to be able to educate people about what’s going on in the Black community through books. There’s so much history on what we have experienced, what we have accomplished,” said…
Building a business is a lonely journey, says serial risk-taker; but access to resources can grow Black community, generational wealth
Editor’s note: SCORE is an advertiser with Startland News, though this report was produced independently by the nonprofit newsroom. Forget the fluff, said Isaac Collins. Kansas City’s SCORE Community Strategic Alliance (SCSA) is planning a KC Business Ecosystem for Black Entrepreneurs webinar that will leave attendees with constructive teachings that they can bring into today,…
Torch.AI secures second acquisition in two months with more in its pipeline, revealing strategy to ‘turbocharge’ military intel
Leawood-based artificial intelligence firm Torch.AI recently expanded its team and capabilities through the acquisition of B23 — a Virginia-based data extraction software company, noted Adam Lurie, chief strategy officer of Torch.AI “Our belief is that the combination of Torch.AI’s software platform Nexus, alongside the subject matter expertise and customer capabilities of B23, will allow us…
New initiative has a message for KC: When Black men say they need a ’90s self-love reboot — listen
Love yourself enough to know you matter It’s virtually impossible to love others when there’s not already a sense of self love, said Kansas City small business owner Christina Williams, announcing the launch of an initiative to guide its community of Black men to understanding and believing in their own self-worth. “I know a lot…
Why this KC esports startup is betting on a gambling app to scale into new NFT, cryptocurrency levels
The Kansas City Pioneers became the first professional esports organization to step into the head-to-head gaming and gambling sphere thanks to its pairing with PLLAY Labs — an AI-based wagering platform. “We see this partnership as a tremendous opportunity to tap into a community of folks who love competition — and then inject the KC…
‘Everybody at TripleBlind is better than me,’ founder says as top startup’s global team firewalls groupthink
Startup companies are on a continual mission to create, define and own the category in which they operate within, Riddhiman Das noted, and to do so — startup founders must build a proficient team. “If you’re not the category-defining company, then it’s not as big a win. Categories are typically defined at the global level,…
Premiere: In the span of 11 minutes, you’ll watch one entrepreneur fight for his life (and win)
DJ Stewart beat the odds — and his prognosis — in a health battle chronicled by friend and Kansas City filmmaker Ryan Lovell. The intimate documentary they created together premieres today. “Rare Enough” captures Stewart at his most raw during the Journey Pro Wrestling founder’s fight against Grade 4 glioblastoma — a rare malignant brain tumor…
Retro-inspired activewear brought this stay-at-home mom out of isolation; why it’s go-go time for Molly Heise’s budding business
Molly Heise’s earliest memories go back to playing marbles on her great-grandma’s avocado-colored shag carpet, captivated by the various floral patterns that surrounded her, she recalled. Today, those memories inspire her personal style and activewear line, GoGoBloom. “I’ve loved the retro style for as long as I can remember,” she shared. “But in the past…