COVID is hurting small biz — but how to help? AltCap, KCBizCare launch listening tour to find best strategy
To help Kansas City’s small business community, leaders first must know what entrepreneurs actually need, said Ruben Alonso, announcing the launch of a KCMO-backed, city-wide listening tour. “As we look to recover from the economic disruption ca... Read more
KC Crew founder set to open ‘first-of-many’ game-centered bar, restaurant in STL metro
Editor’s note: The following is part of a three-part series spotlighting U.S. military veterans who also are Kansas City entrepreneurs. This report features Luke Wade, a member of the Army National Guard who previously was deployed to Iraq. Luke... Read more
Former Army intelligence analyst deploys expertise, entrepreneurship to the Market Base
Editor’s note: The following is part of a three-part series spotlighting U.S. military veterans who also are Kansas City entrepreneurs. Hustle runs deep for Jannae Gammage, she said, looking back on the one thing that’s been uniquely hers since... Read more
Mowd founder pivots beyond mowing lawns to tech startup; offering landscapers an online payment platform
The grass isn’t necessarily greener on the tech side of entrepreneurship, mused Tate Hayes, but revenue and market opportunity grow wild. “[Small businesses and startups] come with their own difficulties and maybe even simplicities,” said Hayes... Read more
Confidence for dudes, wrapped in a robe: Luxee launches subscription box for mens wellness
Look good, feel good, and crush it, said Colton Ropson, unboxing the purpose behind his newly launched men’s subscription startup — Luxee. “We pretty much learn to shave and that’s it,” said Ropson, who co-founded the subscription box startup w... Read more
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Stephanie Campbell is an operations and communications leader at LEANLAB Education in Kansas City. A few months back, I put the last period at the end of my hiring... Read more
Keystone Labs partners with LaunchKC to lead accelerator platform operations
Six years after launching as a grants competition, the ever-evolving LaunchKC program will continue as an accelerator platform, newly led by the minds behind Keystone Labs — an outgrowth of the Keystone innovation district effort championed by K... Read more
New in KC: Serial entrepreneur, advisor Tristan Mace sees KC as next major tech ecosystem
Editor’s note: New in KC is an ongoing profile series that highlights newly relocated members of the Kansas City startup community, their reasons for a change of scenery, and what they’ve found so far in KC. Click here to read more New in KC pro... Read more
Farm-to-wineglass: Big Mood Natural Wines talks sustainable drinking — ‘Why stop at food?’
It’s never the wrong time to drink wine, said Richard Garcia. “We have a wine for every time of the day,” said Garcia, who owns and operates Big Mood Natural Wines with his friends, Jamie and Liz Zoeller. “Someone came in the other day asking a... Read more
The future of small business lending has arrived — and it’s being built by a team of Kansas City tech veterans, at a critical time for the industry, said Hugh Khan. “Small financial institutions are dying; they’re going away. Since... Read more