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
Tech champion tapped to lead Patterson Family Foundation; How Maria Flynn plans to ‘make opportunity happen’ for rural communities
A startup leader, exited executive, and tech advocate who emerged from Cerner to become one of the most prominent voices for investing in Kansas City will now champion the region in a new way: as president and CEO of an influential nonprofit that bears her former boss’ name. Maria Flynn was announced Tuesday as the…
KC pet tech startup fetches $120K Techstars investment, taking founder’s pitch to Atlanta
As Kansas City-built Interplay prepares to bring its debut product to market, the pet tech startup is getting a jolt of new energy from one of the nation’s top accelerator programs. The timing couldn’t be better, said founder Jonaie Johnson, announcing Interplay’s acceptance into Techstars Atlanta & New Orleans Powered by J.P. Morgan, which welcomed…
GEWKC just launched its 2024 lineup; Here are three of the can’t-miss entrepreneur events
Inspiration — and top honors — are on the calendar this fall as registration launches for Kansas City’s busiest week in entrepreneurship. Among the headline events for the connection-packed summit: two grants competitions and a new-to-GEW celebration of Kansas City innovation. Organizers this week released the official schedule for the in-person Nov. 19-21 Global Entrepreneurship Week –…
M25 rankings: Startup hubs are slowing; why KC could be losing ground to Midwest neighbors
Kansas City’s startup scene is walking a fine line between flat and stagnant, said Victor Gutwein, teasing caution and other insights into KC’s No. 11 ranking — a position it’s held since 2022 — on M25’s latest Midwest startup cities list. “We’re seeing fewer startups (registered in our datasource Pitchbook) than we used to in Kansas…
Venture for America abruptly closes; ending fellowship that matched talent with KC startups, VCs
A coast-to-coast fellowship program that sought to reinvigorate communities — including Kansas City — by pairing recent college graduates with emerging startups, investment firms, and nonprofits has unexpectedly ceased operations, leaders with Venture for America announced this week. “While this chapter for our national organization is closing, the spirit and impact of VFA will endure through…
PHKC earns more state funding for 811 Retail Incubator; MTC boosting small biz
Another round of financial support from the Missouri Technology Corporation proves state economic development leaders understand that innovation also runs along main street, said Dan Smith. The Porter House KC — which just opened its 811 Retail Incubator in late July — is among seven entities just awarded a total of $1.8 million in Physical Infrastructure…
MTC just awarded $2.6M in investments; three KC tech startups earn state backing
As Advoteck works to bring its app to market later this year, an equity investment from the Missouri Technology Corporation is expected to help the Kansas City-based startup expand its reach nationwide in the fight against cyber crime. MTC on Tuesday announced $2.6 million in investments across seven Missouri companies — primarily focused on fostering…
Photos: Founders score electric vibes, human connections with Startup Crawl’s return
Even tech startups benefit from one-on-one conversations with peers and the public, founders said, reflecting on the connections, collisions and real-time feedback earlier this month during Startland News’ Startup Crawl in downtown Kansas City’s Power & Light District. “It was an incredible experience that allowed for free-flow conversations and engaging activities between myself and the…
KC housing tech startup builds momentum, refines business model in Nashville accelerator
As Shapree’ Marshall prepares her final pitch for Twendé 2024’s demo day in June, the Kansas City founder and Pipeline Pathfinder already is seeing results from the six-month Nashville-based program. Her startup, A Traveled Path Homes, was among 56 companies led by founders of color that were named to the Twendé cohort in January. The…
PopBookings rallies as KC startup looks for its own key hires: ‘We’re back in a big, big way’
After dialing back its event staffing platform’s operations during the pandemic, Kansas City-grown PopBookings is back online in the Midwest — ramping up hiring as it works toward a Series A funding round by year’s end. “Kansas City has a real nurturing feel to it. And this community is why I believe we’ll have our…