Woman-led Stories
10 Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2026
It’s that moment just before dawn, as Kansas City awakens to a new year — ripe with possibilities, potential and change. The light breaks and all eyes turn to the horizon; toward the looming FIFA World Cup, sports stadium shifts, and long-awaited developments and destinations coming on line. But tucked within the twinkling edges of…
MTC advances deputy into interim exec role ahead of critical funding push for Missouri entrepreneurs
A leading advocate for Missouri entrepreneurs plans to approach the next legislative cycle — championing renewed funding for Show-Me State innovation — with a freshly-promoted leader, the group announced Friday. Julia Campbell has been elevated to interim executive director at the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC), as the public-private partnership continues a leadership transition prompted by…
BioNexus KC catalyzes 25 years of work at the crossroads of collaboration, health innovation
A quarter-century commitment to regional investment and collaboration is paying off, said Dennis Ridenour, reflecting on a timeline of impact for BioNexus KC — accelerating innovation and strengthening health outcomes in Kansas City and beyond. “This milestone is not about a single achievement; it’s about decades of collective, focused effort that have allowed our ecosystem…
Overnight proof? Boujee Baker KC rising after decades in the ooey-gooey making
It’s the wee hours of the morning. Pitch-dark sky, hardly a murmur on these urban streets. Most of Kansas City tucked in their cozy beds. But inside this tiny brick building on 12th Street earlier this week, the lights are bright, R&B music is buzzing, and the oven is blazing — ready to finish off…
Toucans and Labubus blow it: Designer boxes tissues that don’t shred your nose (or home’s aesthetic)
WICHITA — As a consumer herself, Ariel Westphal wants to expect more from the items she purchases, the budding Kansas entrepreneur said. And from a business perspective, that means crafting products that blend utility, beauty and long-lasting quality — even in something as simple as a box of tissues. “I didn’t want to just create…
