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
Pet innovators unleash market built on experiences, evolving relationships with dogs (Photos)
Meaningful relationships are no longer only between people, said Davide Rossi, discussing the rise of pet innovators and an emerging market built on experiences with four-legged family members. “They key thing is to recognize that the relationship between us and our pets has been changing,” said Rossi, co-founder of FitBark, a Kansas City-based pet tech…
Pure Pitch Rally passes $1 million in prizes; FastDemocracy and TheraWe lead winners
A quick-paced pitch competition Wednesday saw big wins for political tracking startup FastDemocracy and child therapy resource TheraWe Connect, with more than $1 million in prizes awarded between 10 young companies. “Our sponsors felt a funding head-rush like a speeding train — throwing money everywhere,” said Michael Williamson, an IP attorney for Polsinelli, one of…
Be fearlessly honest about diversity gap, Atlanta expert tells KC Techweek panelists (Photos)
Building an inclusive startup community begins with being unafraid to directly state the problem — a diversity gap — free of coded language related to race and gender, said Rodney Sampson. “I am unapologetically about being ‘color-brave’ and ‘race-brave’ — rather than being ‘color blind’ — because when you say ‘color blind,’ you’re saying you…
Techweek KC taps into thirst for community at Boulevard kickoff party (Photos)
Revelers networking Monday night at a kickoff party for Techweek Kansas City were so lost in conversation that they frequently had to be reminded of the open bar available to them at Boulevard Beer Hall. The evening event capped the first day of Techweek KC programming, which ran the gamut from a KC Mayoral Tech…
Is KC scaring away disruptive tech? Mayor candidates revive sharing economy debate
A wave of technology is coming — and Kansas City should be ready, said Steve Miller, entering the fray between mayoral candidates over regulating the sharing economy. Appearing Monday at a KC Mayoral Tech Forum to open Techweek Kansas City, Miller compared navigating the regulatory waters around such emerging services as Airbnb, Uber and Bird to…
First Friday takeover: Startup Crawl draws 600-plus, showcasing KC, risk-takers, creatives (Photos)
Editor’s note: Startup Crawl and Startland News are both programs of the Kansas City Startup Foundation, though the content below was produced independently by Startland. For more information on the relationship, click here. First Friday revelers and curious minds alike were treated to a five-stop Startup Crawl tour of Kansas City’s entrepreneur community — from…
Artist Vi Tran to KC-based innovators: Wipe ‘local’ label from your vocabulary
Some roots are best left behind, but not forgotten, said multi-faceted Kansas City artist Vi Tran. Others are worth holding close. Speaking at Startland’s recent Innovation Exchange, the actor, playwright, musician and owner of The Buffalo Room decried the idea that innovators who choose to stay in places like Kansas City are any less worthy…
The not-so-secret Sauce behind KC hip hop entrepreneur’s success: Authenticity
Royce “Sauce” Handy wears his influences and inspiration like pins on the outside of his well-worn jean jacket. The KCK-born hip hop entrepreneur embraces his identity: A collector of Goosebumps books. A student of history. A fan of 1990s family sitcoms. And he’s unapologetically black. His lips twist into a smile and his eyes brighten…
Startup Hustle podcast duo pledging $50K in Full Scale tech resources at Pure Pitch Rally
Early stage businesses need more than cash — they need the tools to grow, said the hosts of the KC-based Startup Hustle podcast. “Good ideas in startups move faster when they’re supported by successful business people in the community,” said podcast co-host Matt DeCoursey, announcing the plan late Wednesday to award $50,000 in tech resources,…
Coming soon: New Plexpod River Market space will be a welcome sign to KC entrepreneurs
Plexpod is continuing its ride north along Kansas City’s streetcar line — announcing today a new co-working and office space on Delaware Street in the River Market. “River Market is like any other district in the metro,” said Gerald Smith, Plexpod founder and CEO. “Entrepreneurs are everywhere and access to affordable flexible office space is…