Minority-Led Stories
This brand on the rise smells a lot like cookies fresh out the oven; why Brown Suga tastes better in Leawood
A fan-favorite Kansas City cookie shop has found its sweet spot in Leawood’s mixed-use Park Place district, said founder Ebony Paul, noting the setting for Brown Suga Bakes’ second storefront clicked right away. “We have people coming in from other businesses, visitors from the hotels, and residents from nearby apartment complexes,” she explained. “We see…
KC-backed (and built) AI startup rebrands amid shift to tackling America’s supply chain pain points
With its pivot from video transcriptions to bulk inventory tracking, one of Kansas City’s most-promising, emerging tech startups is rebranding to match the new direction, co-founders Warren Wang and Cole Robertson said. “‘Rebulk‘ feels like the right name for the future we want to build,” said Wang, reflecting on the company’s efforts to use AI-powered…
No late risers: KC’s hottest line leads to a sell-out doughnut; owners balance appetite with days-long production
At 4:45 a.m. on a rainy Saturday morning, Susan Worrel of Overland Park was first in line at the new Slow Rise doughnut shop by her subdivision. She had tried the week before, arriving an hour before the doors opened, only to find a line of hungry would-be diners stretching down the shopping center. The…
Thai Orchid expansion blossoms; new restaurant coming to emerging foodie destination
It’s time to bring Thai Orchid’s homecooking, well … home, said second-generation owner Jonathan Rojjanasrirat, teasing the October opening of a new Shawnee location for his family-owned, street food-inspired restaurant in a thriving entertainment district. “We live in Shawnee. We’ve always loved the energy in the downtown area. With so many great spots, it’s become…
Keystone Angels takes wing with emerging leader; next up: saving startups from the valley of death
A familiar face in Kansas City’s business ecosystem is stepping into a leadership role aimed at tackling one of the biggest challenges facing local startup founders: access to early-stage funding. In February, Regina Sosa Valdovinos launched into a newly-developed director position at Keystone Angels, an angel investment network focused on connecting founders with investors across…
