Minority-Led Stories
Winning chemistry: KC GIFT pitch competition rewards joy on stage, work behind the scenes
Earning a $30,000 grand prize over the weekend closed out a six-week process for LaToya Ebony Sirls and other founders who were pushed to refine not just how they present, but how they build.
‘Fitting in is boring’: How this young founder gained the glow of entrepreneurship with her family’s meat pies
Naeches Nourishment is serving up savory meat pies with a side of its student founder’s Nigerian roots, Chinecherem Ihenacho shared, noting she started the business to make her culture more approachable to people who otherwise might not see the richness of its flavor.
Destination discount: Mobile business hunt hides prizes across KC (and you can find them without a new app)
A new venture from Soda Pop Graphics founder Kamia Kindle is turning everyday errands into something more interactive, inviting Kansas Citians to play their way through local neighborhoods while helping small businesses see who is actually walking through the door.
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…
