Matthew Gwin
Recent Articles by Matthew Gwin
NFL Draft wants diverse vendors for ‘largest event in the history of our city’; Here’s how to apply
When the NFL Draft comes to Kansas City in April, diverse local businesses will share center stage with the next generation of football players. The NFL Business Connect program is an initiative that seeks to link up to 100 local, diverse businesses with large event experience to contracting opportunities related to the 2023 NFL Draft,…
Troost coffee shop ‘broken into pieces’ by collision; caffeinated supporters jump to action
A community of customers and neighbors is rallying behind Anchor Island Coffee this week after a pickup truck barreled into the front entrance of the tropical-themed breakfast spot at 41st and Troost. Fortunately no one was injured in the after-hours incident, said co-owner Armando Vasquez, who noted he was the last person to leave the…
KC innovator’s anti-itch spray so natural it was discovered on a front porch lab
Homindy founder Ronan Molloy discovered the benefits of his company’s itch relief spray somewhat by accident. During the summer of 2020, Molloy volunteered to participate in a clinical study for a tea with all-natural ingredients that was supposed to reduce inflammation in his right knee. At that time, he was president of the Innovation Stockyard,…
Venture experts: Getting your first check in KC is too difficult, but a record influx of coastal investors isn’t a bad substitute
A new report on Kansas City’s venture-backed companies showed year-over-year growth in multiple areas — impressing industry experts who identified key investment trends in the data. More companies with venture capital backing; higher employee counts; a 58 percent boost in fundraising. Yet growth was not universal. Despite gains in top-line figures, the number of Kansas City-based…
KC team developing tool to get low-income entrepreneurs online (and it just got a $240K boost)
A collaborative project to “bridge the gap” in Kansas City’s digital divide secured one of the 2022 Heartland Challenge grants from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. PCs for People Kansas City (formerly Connecting for Good), in partnership with The Usher Garage and No-Where Consultants, will receive $240,000 in funding to be used over two years…
Veteran entrepreneur finds security in pizza, opening new Rosati’s in south Overland Park
Bob Ring sold his homegrown company of 25 years — then got a job delivering pizzas. All part of the recipe for the longtime Kansas City businessman who — despite his decades of experience — initially found banks hesitant to lend to him during the pandemic as he worked to open his own pizzeria in…
KC startup earns $100K from Google initiative, funding its ‘food as medicine’ tech solution for chronic illnesses, healthy food inequity
Kansas City-based startup Free From Market will receive $100,000 in non-dilutive funding from Google as part of the tech giant’s initiative to support Black-led startups. Free From Market is a digital health platform that unites the key components needed for people with chronic conditions to make lasting dietary changes: personalized food selection, nutritional education and…
2000 Vine: Brewed under pressure, KC’s first Black-owned brewery puts more than reputations on the vine
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series from Startland News highlighting entrepreneurs, businesses, and creators leading revitalization and redevelopment efforts in and around the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District. Click here to read additional stories from this series. A brewery under construction at 2000 Vine on Kansas City’s East Side comes from…
2000 Vine: East Side office space amplifies ‘place’ as creative employees head back to work
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series from Startland News highlighting entrepreneurs, businesses, and creators leading revitalization and redevelopment efforts in and around the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District. Click here to read additional stories from this series. As the founder and CEO of public relations firm Lillian James Creative, Aaron Fulk…
2000 Vine: ‘KC doesn’t understand how dope this guy is’ — Painter blessed with a space (and style) of his own
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series from Startland News highlighting entrepreneurs, businesses, and creators leading revitalization and redevelopment efforts in and around the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District. Click here to read additional stories from this series. In an opportunity that “came out of nowhere,” Kansas City artist Warren “Stylez” Harvey…