Channa Steinmetz
Recent Articles by Channa Steinmetz
Music tech startup doubles crowdfunding goal with more time on the clock: It’s like having the opportunity to invest in Disney on the ground floor, founder says
Roy Scott hopes to repeat history, he said, drawing parallels between his company’s trajectory and the opening scenes of Walt Disney’s successful career in Kansas City. “Anybody who knows me, or does their research on me, can see that my passion and my perseverance and my whole mission is to continue pushing Healthy Hip Hop…
How a van life competition, web series could prove Grandview-founded startup’s revenue model
Social media platforms don’t need to rely on advertisements and algorithms to generate revenue, Wesley Elder said — instead they can partner with brands and creators to create unique and authentic experiences. The Jump, a Grandview-based social media platform focused on creating a positive space where users can bond over common interests, has kept its…
Making home haircuts fresh again: KC barber reimagines barbershops with mobile service, app
Michael Thurman had a 1-year-old child at home and another baby on the way when COVID-19’s outset left him without work for eight weeks, he shared. Contemplating how he could have more freedom and stability as a barber, the wheels began turning beneath Thurman’s scalp. His idea: create a traveling barber platform — now known as…
Survival took more than just PPP — but federal relief proved pivotal, small biz owners tell Davids
Sharice Davids strolled through downtown Overland Park Friday afternoon — with an ice cream cone in hand — stopping to meet with local small business owners to hear their pandemic survival stories and how federal relief programs played a role. “Today has been really fun; to see just how innovative … the problem-solving modes that…
Talent off the charts: Bardavon recruits another former Cerner exec to build team equipped for rapid expansion
To keep growing in the workers’ compensation industry — as well as expand into commercial healthcare and beyond — Bardavon Health Innovations needs an even stronger team at the top, said Matt Condon. “I think Bardavon is going to be a bigger, more important company than we first anticipated,” Condon, founder and CEO of Bardavon,…
Olathe biotech startup represents Kansas in MassChallenge’s 50th accelerator program
More than 3,000 startups across the world applied to the 2021 MassChallenge accelerator program with Olathe-based biotechnology lab Ronawk earning one of the 229 slots to participate, shared A.J. Mellott. “[MassChallenge] has a really good reputation for accelerating companies that are in the startup mode and growing,” said Mellott, who co-founded Ronawk in 2019 with…
MindSport gains traction from Olympic-level athletes as founder turns his memoir into documentary
The world of athletics has become more in tune with the importance of mental fitness, mindfulness and the impact both have on athletic performance, said Ryan Stock. “With the pandemic, obviously that shut down athletics across the board. It added a ton of stress, anxiety [and] frustration for athletes of all levels. Athletics serves as…
‘Feelings matter’: Why KC culture experts’ new anxiety rating could prevent stress from ruining careers
Editor’s note: The following story — a spotlight on a member of the Plexpod community — is sponsored by Plexpod, a progressive coworking platform offering next generation workspace for entrepreneurs, startups, and growth-stage companies of all sizes. Measuring the unmeasurable is Culture Think Tank’s specialty when it comes to company culture, said William Lindstrom. “With the…
She earned 21K followers with a plastic circle; now Angela Presnell hoops to transfer social media popularity to a paid platform
An Instagram page launched in 2016 to document then-college freshman Angela Presnell’s progression in hooping today reaches more than 21,000 followers — and sends the active entrepreneur across the globe to teach her artform in person. “I needed some sort of creative outlet that could be totally mine,” said Presnell, the 24-year-old Kansas Citian behind…
Explain it like I’m 5: Bellwethr hits best month of growth to date after simplifying lingo
Editor’s note: The following story is sponsored by Academy Bank, a Kansas City based community bank, and is part of a series of features spotlighting some of the bank’s startup and small business partners. The golden key to success is communication, said Matt Moody, but it can also be the biggest challenge. “Bellwethr’s software has been…