Channa Steinmetz

Recent Articles by Channa Steinmetz

Cassie Taylor is just getting queerer and weirder (and thanks to a wild 72 hours, she’s now a Playboy Bunny)

Be your authentic self, said Cassie Taylor, even if that means losing people along the way.  “The biggest thing I’ve learned in the music industry is that if you’re not authentic, it is not sustainable — you’ll burn out fast. During the pandemic, I lost a lot of friends because I was very vocal about…

Read More...

Esports league brings new Midwest Fest event to KC, launching new Army National Guard partnership

Gamers and esports enthusiasts around the Midwest are invited to congregate, connect and create at the first annual Midwest Fest. Midwest Fest, organized by the Kansas City Pioneers and LEVELUP Arena, is a gaming and streaming convention featuring multi-title gaming tournaments for amateurs, opportunities to meet with popular creators, workshops and giveaways. The event is…

Read More...

Their one-night concert event boosts Band of Angels; Why this duo turned up the volume for fifth year on stage

Music connects community in ways other mediums cannot, said Amber Giangregorio. “Life can be so serious sometimes, so it’s good to take a step back and have some fun. On Stage with SIS is all about having fun, while also supporting a good cause. It’s a time for our clients and community to get to…

Read More...

The journey can make or break an entrepreneur; Pipeline gala returns June 15 to celebrate connectivity at the intersection

Editor’s note: Pipeline Entrepreneurs is a partner of Startland News, though this report was produced independently by the nonprofit newsroom. Pipeline Entrepreneurs’ new era is all about community, said Melissa Vincent, with more than a nod to the resilience needed to sustain a vibrant startup ecosystem. “When you go through the Pipeline program, it becomes…

Read More...
Chris Callen, Plot

PLOT digs into commercialization with $2M round, earns backing from KCRise Fund

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 Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures (EGV), a business unit of NetWork Kansas supporting innovative, high-growth entrepreneurs in the State of Kansas. WICHITA — A Wichita-based startup…

Read More...

Community Builders to Watch: Jackie Nguyen unites emerging businesses behind a common flag — Kansas City

Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City changemakers from five local organizations through its third annual Community Builders to Watch series. The following highlights one of the 2023 honorees, selected from more than 100 initial nominees. Click here to view the full list of Community Builders to Watch — presented by Cyderes. Check…

Read More...

Community Builders to Watch: Maria Flynn engineers a future where KC’s digital health legacy rivals its football

Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City changemakers from five local organizations through its third annual Community Builders to Watch series. The following highlights one of the 2023 honorees, selected from more than 100 initial nominees. Click here to view the full list of Community Builders to Watch — presented by Cyderes. Check…

Read More...

Meet the cohort: Founder scaling Startup Weekend’s winning idea through Columbia venture fund, studio

COLUMBIA, Missouri — Winning Missouri Startup Weekend this spring put Chrystal Graves one step closer to revolutionizing the beauty industry, she shared, noting the victory helped secure her spot in the Scale venture fund and studio. “I have been passionate about helping salons be profitable and inclusive for a long time, but I thought building…

Read More...

World Cup is coming to KC (and so are the asks): How leaders must boost the region before 2026

Kansas City is steadily growing and evolving, said Neal Sharma, making it more important than ever to engage at the community level to tackle challenges and secure opportunities facing the region. That’s especially true as Kansas City prepares for the 2026 World Cup, echoed fellow leaders who spoke Thursday at KC Rising’s Horizon 2023 event….

Read More...

Kinship Cafe owner paves plans to take ownership of his coffee shop (with a little help from his community)

In April, TJ Roberts was at risk of losing his coffee shop to a parking lot. Now, Roberts is standing his ground, with the help of his community, to purchase the building that houses Kinship Cafe.  “It was a very dark couple of weeks, but now there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Purchasing…

Read More...