Channa Steinmetz

Recent Articles by Channa Steinmetz

Scott Leigh, Tom Jantsch, Heather Decker and A.J. Mellott, Ronawk

Ronawk accelerates its growth with exec hires, creation of expansive ‘Bio-Block Universe’

Synergy and chemistry are just as important as expertise when hiring strategic, high-level positions within a startup, said A.J. Mellott. “Ronawk has gone from this startup with its organized chaos, to having structured pathways that have emerged because we are better informed. That in itself has been really exciting and stimulating. We are more of…

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Charon Thompson and Dan Smith, The Porter House KC

Porter House KC’s new ‘Alchemy Sandbox’ grants 20 main street businesses with up to $5K each

A newly launched program by The Porter House KC is aimed at providing small business owners with as much as $5,000 for their back office, equipment cost, rental assistance or general system needs, detailed Dan Smith.  “We’re really excited about this Alchemy Sandbox program. ‘Alchemy’ is a word that just kept coming up at the…

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Baby back ribs from Marina 27

Taste 200 restaurants in 10 days? Why your stomach (and hungry neighbors) will thank you

Curious Kansas City diners can step away from their kitchens for the next 10 days, teased Carlos Mortera, as chefs at 200 restaurants across the city plate their latest trending tastes during the metro’s most-anticipated culinary showcase. “It’s a big deal in Kansas City. Many of the restaurants feature items they don’t usually have on the…

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Willy Schlacks and Jabbok Schlacks, EquipmentShare, Scale

Winning alumni revive Columbia Startup Weekend to unlock Midwest talent, find the next billion-dollar startup

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. Techstars…

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Cosmo Burger; photo courtesy of Pilsen Photo Co-Op

How this Waldo burger stand crafts the tastiest patties in the cosmos (and where its ground round galaxy is expanding next)

Keep it simple and smashed, said Jacob Kruger. “I have always been a big fan of restaurants and businesses that have a very simplistic approach,” said Kruger, who serves as the head chef (or “Burger Boy”) at Cosmo Burger, located within Dodson’s Bar and Commons in Waldo — and coming soon to Lenexa Public Market….

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Olive Cooke, Sylvia Metta, and Kim Conyers Cauldron Collective

Vegan spell falls over West Bottoms restaurant as this trio’s plant-based potions ring in a new year

Every witch needs a coven, said Olive Cooke, Sylvia Metta and Kim Conyers; so they conjured a community in the West Bottoms to serve their vegan bites.  Cauldron Collective — a plant-based, comfort food venture co-founded by self-proclaimed “cooking witches” Cooke, Metta and Conyers in January 2021 — made its mark in Kansas City through…

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Jon Kramer and Brian Weaver, Torch.AI

Torch.AI acquisition boosts its national security thumbprint, building out workforce proudly in KC

Leveraging Torch.AI’s local talent alongside targeted acquisitions gets the Leawood artificial intelligence firm closer to its goal of securely sharing data with the world, said Brian Weaver, founder and CEO, committing to keeping the surging company in Kansas City. “As our technology is being adopted by more and more customers and those customers continue to…

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Shekhar Gupta, MyANIML

2022 Startups to Watch: MyAnIML plans to save the bovine industry millions through AI facial analysis in cattle

Editor’s note: Startland News selected 10 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list, now in its seventh year recognizing founders and startups that editors believe will make some of the biggest news in the coming 12 months. The following is one of 2022’s companies. Click here to view the full…

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Jonaie Johnson, Interplay

2022 Startups to Watch: Interplay reimagines dog crating for the busy, but attentive, pet parent

Editor’s note: Startland News selected 10 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list, now in its seventh year recognizing founders and startups that editors believe will make some of the biggest news in the coming 12 months. The following is one of 2022’s companies. Click here to view the full…

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Sarah-Allen Preston, afloat

2022 Startups to Watch: afloat makes same-day gifting from local stores easy with soon-to-launch app

Editor’s note: Startland News selected 10 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list, now in its seventh year recognizing founders and startups that editors believe will make some of the biggest news in the coming 12 months. The following is one of 2022’s companies. Click here to view the full…

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