Latest Stories

Crossroads Cars, March 2020; photo By Zachary Bohorquez

Rockhurst teen turns ignition on Crossroads Cars show after COVID-19 stalls events

Drawing on deep familial ties to Kansas City entrepreneurship, 18-year-old Henry Accardo hopes to reduce stress and bring communities back together through shared passions — courtesy of a restored series of car shows as the metro begins to reopen.  “We take time out of everyone’s possibly rough and stressful life to relax and have a…

Elango Thevar, Neer

Drinking in $100K investment, Elango Thevar ready to carry the water for Neer full-time

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Some products don’t require a pandemic pivot, said Elango Thevar, fresh off…

UMKC Enactus

UMKC’s Enactus team just earned its best-ever finish at national entrepreneurship expo

Tenacious teams get results — especially when obstacles become motivators, said the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Enactus team, fresh off a second-place finish in the USA Enactus Exposition.  “It was one of the most incredible things in the world,” said Ali Brandolino, vice president of projects and incoming president of UMKC Enactus, which focuses on…

Kemet Coleman, Kemet Creative; Heidi Gardner, “Saturday Night Live”; Lisa Ginter, CommunityAmerica; Wendy Guillies, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; and Sandy Kemper, C2FO

Dapper rapper, ‘SNL’ star, top CEOs join student pitch competition as KC celebrity judges

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. STARTLAND is the parent organization of Startland News, though this report was produced…

Paul J. Long, Fundamism

Mogul of motivation: Paul Long channels hustle into finding what’s good amid COVID-19

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. As researchers race to develop a Coronavirus vaccine, Paul Long has his…

Rachel Kennedy, Plantain District

Think finding meat at the grocery store is tough? Try shopping to feed 100 people

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Three sold out weeks of curbside service are a sign of better…

Two Kansas City tech startups selected for newly rebranded T-Mobile Accelerator

Innovative drone technology and smart apartment management solutions helped two Kansas City startups earn spots among the freshly launched T-Mobile Accelerator’s six-company cohort. Aware Vehicles, led by PJ Piper, and Homebase, founded by Blake Miller, were announced Tuesday as members of the 2020 program, formerly the Sprint Accelerator. The 90-day accelerator began earlier this month…

Mike Parson, Missouri governor

Already slashed to $1M, MTC funding for startups, innovation centers could hinge on COVID-19

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. A years-long effort to scale back Missouri’s funding for startup investment — coupled…

Investor survey: Angels plan to keep capital flowing to startups, but amounts likely to decline

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. COVID-19 won’t stop most angel investors — though they likely will rethink…

Cory Stipp, Apogee Coffee & Draft

Lattes by day, cocktails by night: Apogee climbs past obstacles for approachable escape (and pizza)

Editor’s note: The following is part of Startland News’ ongoing coverage of the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, as well as how innovation is helping to drive a new normal in the ecosystem. Click here to follow related stories as they develop. Thirsty, COVID-wary customers won’t find apathy tucked away in a modern, outdoor-inspired…