News Stories

This 45-year-old Missouri brand became an unexpected TikTok star (and earned its team $1M in bonuses)

Social media turned a Smithville, Missouri-based, family-owned business into an overnight sensation; now the tight-knit team behind the viral odor eliminator is trying to preserve the scent of success.

Visitors will never guess what KC has in store for World Cup: Inside Open Doors! new shops

Bubble and slime play. Vegan Mexican cuisine. A jazz listening room. The variety and depth of Kansas City’s wide-ranging small business community will pop when visitors near and far arrive for the FIFA World Cup, said Nia Webster, calling out a compelling list of entrepreneurs selected for the city’s Open Doors! program.

Get in the game: World Cup match lights opportunity (but only if a risk-taker is willing to strike)

“FIFA isn’t thinking about Kansas City’s legacy. That’s up to us,” said Rich Chungong, a serial tech founder and cryptocurrency enthusiast who turned his attention to community organizing around the World Cup once it became clear leaders needed to step up.

Closing time: KC nixes 23-hour drinking plan for World Cup; select bars, restaurants can stay open until 5 am

“The ordinance expands opportunity for our businesses while ensuring the police department, first responders, and the City have the tools to keep residents and visitors safe,” Mayor Quinton Lucas said. 

Missouri’s long-sought angel investor tax credit heads to governor’s desk after years of startup advocacy

“When one side has an angel credit and the other does not, it creates imbalance,” said Greg Kratofil. “This helps founders focus less on which side of State Line Road their office is on and more on building their business.”