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
UMKC contest awards $35K+ to winners, feeds student-community innovation
One startup’s winnings from Friday’s Regnier Venture Creation Challenge are expected to have a near-immediate, tangible impact on Kansas City — helping Kanbe’s Markets provide produce in one of its corner markets for an entire year. “This means that about 4,500 people will have consistent access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food on Kansas City’s…
Pitch & Pint: KC Collective unveils founders competing in real-time April 30 pitch event
While COVID-19 wreaks havoc across the globe, Kansas City entrepreneurs already are proving their resiliency, said Donald J. Hawkins. “They’re still grinding, iterating, and finding ways to make things happen,” said Hawkins, co-organizer of the KC Collective founder network, as well as co-founder of Griffin. “In addition to working on their own businesses, they’re diving…
MTC forced to surrender entire $2.9M budget — including funds already awarded to startups — to help MO pay for COVID-19 shortfall
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. A critical funding tool for Missouri startups could become the latest casualty…
Kauffman officials: None of us can survive — or solve — COVID-19 small business challenges alone
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland News. Entrepreneurs…
Federal relief funds open to VC-backed startups; ‘nimble’ PPP rollout praised as checks arrive in KC
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Sometimes a check is answer enough. While federal officials never officially clarified…
Boddle dials into another $100K from AT&T to boost gamified learning at home
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Homebound students taking advantage of Boddle’s gamified edtech platform have helped the…
SINGER gives 30 sewing machines to face mask effort; Rightfully Sewn doubling goal after passing $125K in donations
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. The pieces are coming together for a massive, face mask-making…
AltCap: COVID-19 relief effort sees $30M+ in funding asks in first 72 hours of launch
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland…
Teens already sick of Tik Tok videos? CommunityAmerica launching 100 virtual innovation internships
Editor’s note: The following story is sponsored by CommunityAmerica Credit Union, a partner of STARTLAND, the parent organization of Startland News. Click here to apply for CommunityAmerica’s virtual innovation internships. Applications close Sunday, April 5. The arrival of COVID-19 isn’t simply keeping young adults home from school, said Anita Newton. It’s denying them opportunities and…
‘Waiting on the world to reopen’: Blade & Timber now distributing J. Rieger’s must-have hand sanitizer
Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Two lines of cars, at times numbering in the dozens,…