Matthew Gwin
Recent Articles by Matthew Gwin
Rock Chalk hustle: KU launches ‘Startup Jayhawk’ event series to demystify entrepreneurship
Editor’s note: The University of Kansas’ School of Business is a partner of Startland News. LAWRENCE — A three-day startup event series at the University of Kansas is expected to help shine a spotlight on student entrepreneurship and innovation, said Brian Anderson, noting an intentional effort by KU’s School of Business to make startup life…
Equal Minded Cafe serves a wealth of wins as taste buds power Troost bistro’s word-of-mouth appeal
Dontavious Young will happily brew customers at Equal Minded Cafe a chai or latte, but his main goal is to blend ideas, not ingredients. “Our mission is to provide resources, opportunities, and connections to people from all districts of Kansas City,” said Young, the property owner, event coordinator, and cafe manager at Equal Minded Cafe….
City leader: Newly OK’d limits on Airbnbs will help keep Kansas Citians from being priced out of homes by unchecked rentals
Voter approval of a pair of ballot measures that regulate and tax short-term rentals will boost the city budget and make neighborhoods more affordable as brands like Airbnb and Vrbo continue to operate in Kansas City, said Eric Bunch. “The successful ballot questions are really about making this city whole on our financial expectations and…
LaunchKC winner shows value with $900K pre-seed round, earns critical local support
Kansas City’s DataAppraisal has secured $900,000 in pre-seed funding for its AI-powered proprietary software that helps healthcare organizations unlock the monetary value of their enterprise data, said Tam Tran. And the tech startup’s recent developments come after a year of earning local resources and support, its co-founder and CEO said. DataAppraisal’s unique solution contains two…
Founder to founder: One day you’re eating cheap ramen, the next you’re KC’s big exit story; struggles define startups as much as success
Even after building a startup into one of Kansas City’s biggest exit success stories, the entrepreneurs and leaders behind BacklotCars don’t sit around to talk about their grand achievements when they reunite, said Anders Ericson; they reminisce about how the tech company nearly went out of business along the way. “Everyone always wants to ask…
Blerdy for 30: KC comic creator’s documentary takes Black nerd culture from niche to your screen
A recently launched Kansas City entertainment company hopes to become the digital epicenter of “Blerd” — shorthand for Black nerd — content, said Brandon Calloway. Now the founder of Blerd TV, Calloway debuted the Blerd YouTube channel in January, where more than 3,000 subscribers already have access to free content, he said. However, that represents…
Their joyful art began with pom poms, but Bubble Gum Kurt’s upcycled expression won’t be boxed in
Infusing their work with plenty of color and a DIY approach, Kansas City artist Kurt Ryan weaves their identity into each craft, article of clothing, and piece of jewelry they sell. Ryan’s creates their work as Bubble Gum Kurt, and through their business venture FunStarShine, both of which evoke the colorful wares Ryan creates. “I…
Startup’s swift action against siloed systems: Finding that ‘single version of truth’ hidden in the data
This story is possible thanks to Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures (EGV), a business unit of NetWork Kansas supporting innovative, high-growth entrepreneurs in the State of Kansas. Celerity Enterprises is aiming no lower than industry modernization with its plug-and-play SaaS financial platform — designed to bring clarity to a world of industrial wholesale distribution that often is rooted…
UMKC pitch contest returning with $90K in prizes; spots remain for emerging startups
The 2023 edition of the Regnier Venture Creation Challenge (RVCC), an annual pitch competition hosted by UMKC, is expected to award $90,000 in equity-free funding to student entrepreneurs and Kansas City businesses. Ben Williams, managing director at the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, shared his excitement for this year’s event — set for April…
How ‘raving fans’ in small town Kansas built this govtech startup’s sales funnel
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. MANHATTAN, Kansas — A trio of govtech…