Guest Authors Stories

Harrison Proffitt, co-founder, Bungii; KCMO Speakeasy Session public session on the 2020-2021 budget

Open letter to KCMO: Entrepreneur community makes 0.1 percent budget ask ‘for backbone of our economy’

Editor’s note: The following open letter was produced independently of Startland News by a coalition of small business and entrepreneur support leaders and signed by more than 210 members of Kansas City’s startup and business community. The opinions expressed in this commentary are the authors’ alone. The signatories are provided courtesy of the authors. Mayor Quinton…

Sprint Corporate Accelerator Program

Sprint VP: Corporate engagement helps drive KC startup ecosystem, next-generations of innovation

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Bryan Fries is vice president of 5G marketing strategy and global services for Sprint. From job creation and economic growth to the increase in competition and innovation, Kansas City-area startups and entrepreneurs play a vital role within the ecosystem of our community.  And…

Chris Barnett: Pause what you’re doing for a Magical To-do List thought experiment

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Chris Barnett is the former executive vice president of global sales and marketing for EyeVerify (now Zoloz), as well as an advisor to such startups as Ainstein, Pepper IoT, and Yotabites. Barnett is fractional chief sales officer for RiskGenius and founder/principal of Barnett…

Louis Byrd, Goodwim Design

An entrepreneur’s confession: Being a stay-at-home dad is the manliest thing I’ve ever done

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. I am the man! Women stay at home and care for the children. Men are the breadwinners. Throughout history, that has been the societal norm. Women take care of home and men are the providers. From the hunter-gather period, until modern times —…

Pathways to inclusive prosperity: Racial and economic disparity impact all of Kansas City

Editor’s note: The following is excerpted from opening remarks by David Warm, executive director of the Mid-America Regional Council, at the 9th Annual Greater Kansas City Education and Workforce Summit, which assembled more than 150 education, workforce, civic and business leaders to explore expanding pathways to inclusive prosperity. The summit was hosted by Ewing Marion…