How a pair of chicken footstools hatched into a yarn barnyard of sold-out flock-pleasers
What first hatched 11 years ago as a class project at Kansas State University has taken on a colorful and quirky life of its own, Sally Linville said. “We ask people to think a lot about their names,” Linville, founder and creative director of... Read more
The secret to KC Black Owned’s success so far? Businesses worth finding, founder says
A business’s digital footprint is the new word of mouth, the founder of KC Black Owned said, emphasizing that getting noticed is just half the fight for many Black-owned businesses. “It is so hard to find Black-owned businesses in certain profes... Read more
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Victor Hwang is the founder and CEO of the Right to Start movement. Click here to learn more about Right to Start, a campaign to drive economic recovery and advance... Read more
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary — the fourth in a four-part series — are the author’s alone. Chris Brown is the founder of Venture Legal where he represents startups, freelancers, and small businesses. This column is int... Read more
When crisp fall air kept Bill Wald cooped up inside, all he could think about was pouring himself the perfect cup of hot chocolate — topped with a sweet, sticky, marshmallow. But while Wald’s mug was full, his cupboards were bare; with not a si... Read more
KC proptech startup Simplifyy gets $5M Series A boost toward expansion plans; next up: DFW
A Kansas City startup vying to replace traditional property management is rapidly expanding its services into new markets thanks to a multi-million dollar Series A round, CEO Jake Lisby announced Wednesday. Led by UnitLeader, a San Diego-based v... Read more
Checkmate: Inventors’ high-tech chess board unlocks worthy opponent for rookies to rooks
An Overland Park-built connected gaming startup is making moves that run the queen’s gambit — approaching nearly $1 million in crowdfunding and unveiling its mission to make STEM-focused games more approachable. “I think a lot of kids and adult... Read more
Rapid response, rapid scaling: Why the feds prescribed ModRN Health to meet nation’s indefinite demand for holistic virtual care
Kansas City-dispensed ModRN Health is scaling up and scrubbing in — working to help the U.S. government provide critical care on demand. The virtual primary care solutions startup has entered into a two-year indefinite demand and indefinite qua... Read more
Secret sauce called faith: How being Black, religion and mentors shaped Jy Maze, kept her startup from failing
The COVID-19 pandemic has not been the only hurdle for Maze Freight Solutions, said Jy Maze, and it certainly won’t be the last. “People think because you’re a CEO of a company that everything is gravy. No one knows about the bloody knees from... Read more
Editor’s note: The following commentary, sponsored by Husch Blackwell, is the second in a two-part series looking at an initiative at one of the city’s largest law firms to provide pro bono legal representation to minority businesses. The opinio... Read more