Latest Stories
How EZ Pedicabs’ streetcar collaboration opened a new route to connected culture, art
Launched ahead of this month’s First Friday events in the Crossroads Arts District, the “Partners in Transit” effort pairs the streetcar with homegrown EZ Pedicabs, an electric-assisted pedicab service known for its eye-catching string lights and dangling knitted hearts.
Poor leaders can tank employees’ mental health (and the company); his business summit puts workplace culture on blast
“I’m a big believer in human to human connection because there’s so much loneliness and isolation happening,” explained Ebrima “Abraham” Sisay, host of the You Gotta No! Podcast (YGN) and its annual YGN Summit. “That’s because we’re getting further away from what we are meant to do as humans.”
Wichita founder flexes Startup World Cup win as his company swells into fitness industry
Another Kansan is headed to San Francisco this fall for the Startup World Cup Grand Finale after winning Wichita’s regional pitch competition earlier this month. And founder Miguel Johns is wasting no time adding reps to his startup through an AI partnership with a Wichita gym.
Athena Award winners: Be more than the star player; add women to the roster, spotlight
The 2026 honors recognized two high-profile women: Angie Long, founder of Palmer Square Capital Management and co-founder and owner of the Kansas City Current (recipient the 2026 ATHENA Leadership Award); and Elaina Paige, CEO and founder of The Next Paige Talent Agency (winner of the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award).
Construction pushes Goodwill’s $4M adult high school ‘from shared dream to physical reality’
A construction kickoff Wednesday at Park 39 marked an early step in Excel Center’s invitation to broader opportunities for adult high school students, said Robyn Wiens, noting the standalone space at the site of the former Westport High School could soon bring 350 students back to campus. “Our students aren’t just earning a diploma,” said…
Network Kansas exec passing CEO torch to decades-long collaborator who co-built the entrepreneur resource community
With the duo starting their jobs at Network Kansas just two weeks apart, Erik Pedersen feels like a co-founder, said Steve Radley. Now, 21 years later, the organization’s first employee is preparing to depart, leaving his longtime friend and colleague to step into the top role.
I was wrong about sports: Why KC’s ‘escape velocity’ keeps pointing back to 18th and Vine
Sports, music, and barbecue are not three separate Kansas City brands, writes urbanist and entrepreneur Kemet Coleman. “They are one story, and it starts at 18th and Vine,” the Vine Street Brewing co-founder explained.
Celebrated nonprofit leader moving from CEO to social impact role; here’s what’s behind the transition at Reconciliation Services
A year after being honored as one of the region’s top entrepreneurs for his work to bring transformational social change to Kansas City, Father Justin Mathews is departing his leadership role at Reconciliation Services, but the community advocate won’t be going far.
Event series explores AI’s unglamorous underbelly: the place where innovation breaks or sticks
Kansas City-built AI platform Intuidy is inviting engineers, business operators, entrepreneurs, students, and civic and technology leaders to bring their real-world problems to Spark Coworking on Oct. 29 for Let’s Build It — an evening of breakout sessions led by Intuidy’s team, engineers and customers.
Why this architect rebuilds KC’s blighted history ‘floor by floor’ (hint: it isn’t just the tax credits)
“Our approach is to take blighted buildings that have the potential to be historic,” said Bob Mayer. Historic tax credits make the numbers work, but for Mayer they’re not the point, he said. Preserving a building’s historic character, he said, keeps “the fiber of Kansas City.”
Cotton candy catering: Kiffany Bosserman refined her taste for business (and the value of her time)
After nearly a decade in business, Cottontale KC is still spinning sugar into a confection for success, shared founder Kiffany Bosserman — pivoting her business to say “yes” less and reprioritize the balance of family and life and profitability.
Registering momentum: Pitch winner gains traction with care support tech platform
The winning company at Thursday’s Square One small business pitch competition continues to evolve as audiences — along with patients, caregivers, and partners — get a closer look at the Kansas City-built tech platform’s personalized support registries and guided planning, said Amy Steinhour.
Just funded: Digital Sandbox KC awards $160K+ to eight emerging tech startups
Boosting innovators with up to $20,000 in proof-of-concept support can be the catalyst for a company surviving to see its next stage of growth, said Kayla Anderson, announcing eight newly funded startups that are joining the ranks of Digital Sandbox KC.
Innovative leader wins Kauffman’s $75K prize: KC is stronger when it rallies together, school founder says
Accepting the first-ever Kauffman Uncommon Leader Visionary Award, Tysie McDowell pointed to the team who helped her build Crossroads Charter Schools — and challenged those gathered in celebration of her Thursday to create legacies of their own.
KC healthtech company earns ticket to Startup World Cup, shot at West Coast investor’s $1M
Win or lose, Nick Love is excited to keep spreading the word about his company’s injection medication delivery system to a whole new audience, the Love Lifesciences co-founder said Tuesday after earning a regional victory in the global Startup World Cup competition.
