Minority-Led Stories

KCK kicks off its first Black Restaurant Week; these are the spots to try

“We really have more entrepreneurs now that have gone through the process of getting brick-and-mortar stores so that’s where we are right now,” said Ken McClaine, organizer of KCK Black Restaurant Week, which runs Sept. 7-13. “We just wanted to shine some light on them, get some exposure to them, and help them out.”

Million-dollar prize: Meet 10 KC companies vying for Startup World Cup, attention of global investors

KCSourceLink on Wednesday revealed the 10 companies advancing to the Startup World Cup’s Kansas City regional tournament, where selected entrepreneurs will compete for a shot at the global pitch event’s $1 million investment prize.

Innovative vintage looks, ‘anti-game day’ fits show out: Why this runway still fits after a decade in KC

Fashion trends change with the season, but eleven years after The Kritiq Fashion Show first dropped onto the streets of Kansas City its core purpose remains consistent, said Mark Launiu: creating a runway for people with bold ideas — and a support system along the journey.

Montre Moore, founder of Los Angeles-built AMP Beauty, pitches her company during a demo day-style graduation for LaunchKC's Social Venture Studio; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

LaunchKC graduates tap Kansas City energy, ‘electricity’ to power social venture growth

Escaping the clamor of Los Angeles for Kansas City has been refreshing, said Montre Moore, whose company AMP Beauty is among two drawn to the region for the fifth cohort of LaunchKC’s Social Venture Studio.

2026 AltCap Your Biz finalists: Easton Koch, BONICEL DENIM; Béty Lê Shackelford, Hella Good Deeds; Wesley Hamilton, INCLŪSIV Wellness; Keliah Smith, Keliah Dyann Art & Paper; DeMarkus Paul, Legacy Service Company; Madeline Johnson, Missouri Kansas Queer Law; Arden Pearson, Missouri Kansas Queer Law; Fred Neis, Rescue ID; Zoe Mays, Scream Queens; Erica Murff, The BeVel Barber Lounge; Casie Murff, The BeVel Barber Lounge; and India Clark Stewart, Your Healing Touch

‘Going bigger than ever before’: Meet the star finalists vying for $60K in AltCap Your Biz prizes

Nearly a dozen small businesses are set to compete this fall for $60,000 in prizes, AltCap Your Biz organizers said Friday, announcing 10 finalists in the expanded pitch competition’s 11th journey to the stage with Kansas City entrepreneurs.