Elyssa Bezner
Reporter
Recent Articles by Elyssa Bezner
WiGo trips isolated travel in its tracks, connecting like-minded journeys through years-in-the-works app
WiGo Trips takes the isolation out of globetrotting, said Jaqui McCarthy, connecting people on a “LinkedIn for travellers” social networking app set to launch Saturday. Soon to be available on iOS and Android, WiGo is expected to feature a marketplace through which users can display and discuss travel plans, CEO and co-founder McCarthy said. Selected…
Target deals new verse to KC-born Mixtape card game; players could pick founder’s next tune
Mixtape allows players of the KC-made card game to “hide behind the song,” connecting without fear of vulnerability, said creator Joel Johnson. That appeal recently helped push the cross-generational, multi-genre product onto Target shelves across the country. Players draw cards with such scenario questions as, “What song or band changed the way you think about…
MADI Apparel founder: ‘It’s not just underwear, it’s dignity’
Hayley Besheer relocated her apparel company’s headquarters from Florida to Kansas City after discovering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and curious customer base, the founder of MADI Apparel said. “Here [in KC] it feels more like [customers can] come into our space and can learn about the mission and [in Florida] everything was sold on online,”…
American Voter App gives power, political sway back to the people, founders say
Gamifying the political process could score a more engaged voting public, said Dan Prince, co-founder of the American Voter App, explaining the still-developing technology would be the first to put the power of the ballot box conveniently into users’ smartphones, he said. “We all realize our obligation to be informed and educated and vote on…
Woof’s dog spa wagging into new markets with startup mindset, owner says
It’s a classic startup tail: Disillusionment with corporate life sends a would-be founder fetching for fresh ideas and more innovative inspiration. Woof’s Play & Stay provided Andy Wiltz the opportunity to scratch that itch, the dog spa owner said. Purchasing the plateauing brand in 2015, Wiltz turned his original Merriam location into a model for…
LaunchKC pivoting from annual grants contest to supporting industry verticals, accelerators
LaunchKC is expected to focus on specific business verticals in 2019 — an effort to bring companies to Kansas City that can fill industry gaps, said Jim Malle. A revamped version of the annual grants competition eventually would grow those verticals into individual accelerator programs, said Malle, business development officer at the Economic Development Corporation…
Cowboy couture: WH Ranch lassos dream of making the ‘best blue jeans in the world’
Ryan Martin sold his best cowboy boots to buy high-quality denim for his western couture brand, said the founder of Kansas-based W.H. Ranch Dungarees. “I was always describing [my product as] ‘custom made’ but ‘couture’ really describes it best,” said Martin, detailing the laborious process that limits production to an average of four pairs of…
Experience unlocked: Aussie pop-up racing into KC in early 2019 with Mushroom Rally
Mushroom Rally — a real life Mario Kart race experience with roots in Australia — is expected to swerve into the Kansas City scene in early 2019, said James Harrison. “[Mushroom Rally] will hit 16 cities [next year], with Kansas City being one of them,” said Harrison, a race organizer for the experience pop-up. “We…
Culture Lab to Fountain City Fintech startups: Before you hire, define your culture
Bringing Culture Lab programming to the Fountain City Fintech accelerator’s inaugural cohort is part of a deeper effort to call attention to workplace culture in Kansas City, said Frank Keck. “We’ve been able to help each of these six cohort companies really define who they are, why are they doing what they’re doing, and help…
ebbie navigates journey from established insurance industry to tech startup mode
Olathe-based ebbie is injecting innovation into the risk-averse insurance industry, said Brian Hess. “We looked for spaces where we could come in and say, ‘We can make this a lot better,’” said Hess, operations officer at ebbie. “Fast forward to now, and we went through the development phase and the build, and we have successfully…