Regnier student venture contest widens to high schools, eyeing next generation of innovators
A broader reach is expected to drive the Regnier Venture Creation Challenge in 2020, as the University of Missouri-Kansas City expands the impact-driven contest beyond multiple state lines. “We hope to see even more regional representation in t... Read more
Not enough founders in the pre-seed funding stage get the help they need to successfully build their emerging startups, said Toby Rush. “How can you find, focus and accelerate people before they’ve raised money, before they’ve built their team,... Read more
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Sarah Mote is marketing director for UMKC Innovation Center and KCSourceLink. The right introduction, at the right time, can make a world of difference. Tech entrep... Read more
Tohi ventures down a Midwest ‘rabbit hole’ to discover a rare berry good enough to drink
Tohi Ventures is on a quest to save the planet — one rare-berry infused beverage at a time. “I was literally doing Google research on unique ingredients, specialty crops … these one-ingredient wonders,” explained Shari Coulter Ford, CEO and co-... Read more
Charlie Hustle named TeamKC MVP for KC Heart icon, unveils trio of summer charity events
Charlie Hustle’s KC Heart icon gained regional notoriety after a high-profile association with the World Series-winning Kansas City Royals, but now the brand is helping put Kansas City on the global stage with its simple, but historically-rooted... Read more
State Your Line: Ritz Brothers’ podcast straddles KC, border between fun and dumb
Holed up at home, recovering from a broken ankle, Kevin Ritz started to toy with the idea of launching a KC-centric podcast — despite living in a city rich with audio storytellers, he noted. “I did a lot of research as far as seeing if there wa... Read more
Ecosystem builder on Mayor Q’s budget cuts: Startup support helps fill potholes too
Startup support is an investment — not just a cost to the city, a leading ecosystem builder said Thursday following a proposed KCMO budget that would reduce funding for groups aiding KC’s emerging innovators and risk-takers. “Go around to meet t... Read more
Plug and Play innovation summit unleashing Topeka’s animal health, agtech potential
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, w... Read more
What’s startup support worth? Orgs threatened by budget cuts rally behind ROI numbers
Editor’s note: Startland News is a program of STARTLAND, an ecosystem-building organization that is among the participants in an informal coalition of entrepreneur support groups hoping to increase funding for startup support in the 2020-2... Read more
College curriculum often falls short of the crucial soft skills to get young entrepreneurs from coffee chats to the head of the table, said Kaylee Chappelow. “I don’t want to say college sucks … but I think we all agree that it doesn’t touch on... Read more