True State redefines cannabis for daily life: There’s more to ‘hemp’ than CBD, says Michael Wilson
Opportunities are high — but True State customers won’t be, joked Michael Wilson, announcing the launch of a new hemp-based brand and the one-time luxury watchmaker’s return to the world of consumer goods. “We’re trying to get to the point... Read more
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Chris Brown is the founder of Venture Legal where he represents startups, freelancers, and small businesses. This column — originally published by Venture Legal and... Read more
Start with heart: Sisters’ yard signs offer a ‘stepping stone’ to support Black lives
Amari and Sa’mya Lewis’ young entrepreneurial venture — a yard sign featuring a simple black heart — first spread in a predominantly white Johnson County neighborhood, the teenage sisters said. Amid ongoing national discourse over the “Black Liv... Read more
PCs for People: Connecting for Good upgrades amid ‘full-blown explosion of tech need’
A Kansas City-built nonprofit hoping to refurbish the metro’s perception of digital inclusivity is now an affiliate of PCs for People — a nationwide network with a shared goal. “Digital inclusion is ensuring that everybody — regardless of their... Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic clearly isn’t going anywhere until the arguing stops, said Jason Wadsworth. “Mask-wearing has become political and that’s just so disheartening,” said Wadsworth, vice president of engineering at MobileUp Software. “These t... Read more
Smart doorway could detect high temp, neutralize COVID on clothing, KC tech pioneer says
Blockchain might be the future, but eliminating exposure to COVID-19 is the now, said serial entrepreneur Shekhar Gupta as he takes an intelligent disinfecting doorway to market. “When you go to the airport you have to go through the X-Ray machi... Read more
Balancing health tech with holistic and Taoist perspectives keeps the most important startup element — humans — top of mind, said Stacy Tucker. “Being in the tech space, we have these amazing advances in medical technology, yet we have gotten fu... Read more
Heartland Challenge: Meet Kauffman’s 17 grantees (and the projects getting funded)
The only way to regain lost momentum in the Heartland’s cities and rural areas: work together to develop, catalyze, and expand inclusive programs and strengthen regional ecosystems, said Melissa Roberts Chapman. A new portfolio of 17 grantee org... Read more
Tea shop on Troost finds its flavor at the intersection of herbal serenity, cultural activism
Kansas City’s air is thick with revolution and restoration, contemplated Nika Cotton. “In the social and cultural climate, it’s really a time that people are rising up. The systems are changing. We’re talking about the abolition of... Read more
OP-baked Safely Delicious takes big bites of allergy-free snack market amid pandemic
Some of the most unconventional entrepreneur stories offer the sweetest flavors, said Lisa Ragan, detailing how diet restrictions and divorce combined to drive her deliciously disruptive Overland Park-based company forward. “You can’t have one f... Read more