Startups Stories

Whitney Manney, Kansas City maker; Make48 panel, March 6, 2020

Maker reality show filmed at Union Station set for debut with top KC textile talent in focus

The fourth season of Make48 is set to debut next week on Kansas City PBS — marking the maker-focused reality series’ return to Kansas City and chronicling some of the final days of life in a pre-pandemic world.  Front and center amid the creative chaos  — which descended March 6-7 on Union Station for 48-hours of filming…

Isaac Hodges, president at Messenger Coffee Company

‘Role models’ for KC: Chamber reveals 10 finalists for Small Business of the Year award

Ten Kansas City companies — including a handful of up-and-coming startups and popular food and beverage hotspots — are vying for the Chamber’s top honor: the coveted Mr. K award. “Today’s the day!” said Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, announcing the top 10 small business of the…

Strang Hall Edison District

‘Perfect weather’ helping Strang Hall stay open today, but success requires a longer view, says Tim Barton

Mild summer temperatures have fed Strang Hall’s bottom line, said Tim Barton, even as a persistent pandemic keeps the downtown Overland Park food hall hungry for its full potential. “Having the outdoor space and the roll-up garage door bar area has been very good for us,” said Tim Barton, the serial entrepreneur and mind behind…

Spark Kansas City, murals by JT Daniels

JT Daniels’ murals infuse sparks of Kansas City into new downtown collaborative workspace

A sprawling mural inside Spark Kansas City offers the new collaborative workspace and its members more than just a few pops of color, said JT Daniels. “The subjects are all important figures specific to KC’s history, both past and present,” said Daniels, a Kansas City-based illustrator and muralist tasked with helping bring Spark KC’s common…

$100K in microgrants awarded across 23 struggling, but resilient minority businesses

Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial sponsor of Startland News. This report was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. A COVID-era resiliency fund that quickly closed applications after receiving a deluge of response from entrepreneurs in need has awarded microgrants to 23 minority businesses on both sides of the state…