Tommy Felts
Editor-In-Chief, Startland News
Tommy is editor-in-chief for Startland News, a Kansas City-based nonprofit newsroom that uses storytelling to elevate the region’s startup community of entrepreneurs, innovators, hustlers, creatives and risk-takers.
Under Tommy’s leadership, Startland News has expanded its coverage from a primarily high-tech, high-growth focus to a more wide-ranging and inclusive look at the faces of entrepreneurism, innovation and business.
Before joining Startland News in 2017, Tommy worked for 12 years as an award-winning newspaper journalist, designer, editor and publisher. He was named one of Editor & Publisher magazine’s top “25 Under 35” in 2014.
Recent Articles by Tommy Felts
KC officially earns title of ‘Tech Hub,’ opening door to massive federal grant funding
The federal government’s designation of Kansas City as one of 31 U.S. Tech Hubs is expected to further cement the region’s reputation as a leader in vaccine development and biotechnology, said Quinton Lucas, as well as open access to newly launched federal funding opportunities. “The wins keep coming for Kansas City,” said Lucas, mayor of…
LaunchKC liftoff: Meet 13 startups competing for their share of $300K in grant winnings
Kansas City’s premiere grants competition returns in mere weeks with six $50,000 grants on the line, said Becca Castro, and more than dozen startup founders are being interviewed this week to help determine the winners. LaunchKC — a partnership between the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri, and the Downtown Council — plans to…
Acquiring company: Homebase’s KC team will make valuable workforce, leadership additions
Homebase’s acquisition by an industry leader in the smart home space this week gives its Kansas City team a greater voice in redefining the future of living, said Blake Miller, sharing details of what the exit means for the talent at his Crossroads headquarters. “We’ve created an entirely new category in an industry (real estate)…
‘This one felt pretty epic’: PorchFestKC saturates neighbors with six hours of music, 135 artists
Returning to the steps for PorchFestKC four years later — albeit on a different porch and in a new neighborhood — Erica McKenzie was wowed by the walk-up audience’s reaction to her performance Saturday at the resurrected Midtown music festival. “I’ve always had a lovely turnout the past few years but this one felt pretty epic,”…
Purple Wave’s strategic partnership with global auction site will take KS tech international
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. MANHATTAN, Kansas — A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is expected to help homegrown auction tech company Purple Wave scale into the global brand its co-founders always dreamed it could be, said Aaron…
Mayor appoints city’s first Small Business Task Force as investment in KC entrepreneurs
Small businesses have the potential to thrive in Kansas City in ways unlike other metros across the country, said Christine Lau, highlighting how the city’s unique spirit will play a role in a newly created Small Business Task Force for KCMO. “We have a grit and tenacity that I haven’t seen anywhere else,” said Lau,…
Fueled by $15M, MTC releases plan for boosting entrepreneurs: Here’s how KC is already seeing impact
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri — Increased funding for the Missouri Technology Corporation will keep core support programs healthy through 2024, as well as help expand successful pilot initiatives designed to widen economic opportunity in the Show Me State, MTC officials said Tuesday. Among the new efforts gaining extended life through the announcement of MTC’s FY 2024 strategy…
New CEO for one of KC’s most-talked-about startups could be the first step toward an IPO
A new CEO for Kansas City-based TripleBlind allows the privacy tech startup to advance into a growth stage company — one potentially headed toward a public offering — taking advantage of recent momentum around enterprise artificial intelligence solutions, said Riddhiman Das. TripleBlind on Monday announced the appointment of Prat Moghe, former executive vice president of…
Porter House KC earns MO infrastructure grant, pushing its retail incubator closer to opening
Funding from a pilot physical infrastructure grants program is expected to help The Porter House KC complete phase 2 of the build out for its new 811 Retail Incubator, focused on boosting retail entrepreneurs from the urban core. “This grant will allow us to serve over 90 small businesses focused on retail operations within the…
LaunchKC grants competition eyes startups hoping to scale in KC; Applications now open
When LaunchKC’s next round of grant recipients are announced this fall during Global Entrepreneurship Week, winning startups will receive game-changing exposure in addition to the $50,000 in prize money, said Jon Ruiz. His venture, EB Systems, was among six winners in 2022 when the popular grants competition was rebooted by LaunchKC after a four-year hiatus…