Latest Stories
Topeka startup backers launch ‘Golden Ticket’ to lab space in just-opened incubator
One winning startup is expected to receive a full year of free lab space at Topeka’s LINK Innovation Lab — luring startup talent to the state-of-the-art startup incubator facility as the capital city ramps up its entrepreneurial support infrastructure.
KC-built Attane Health merges with digital grocery pioneer to forge food-is-medicine platform
The merger offers scale neither business could achieve alone, the companies said, noting a rapidly changing industry landscape that is creating both urgency and opportunity.
‘We’re not waiting for anybody else to build it for us’: KC previews amped-up small biz energy ahead of World Cup
As host cities across North America prepare to welcome the world in 2026, Kansas City entrepreneurs are already getting in formation — with a choreographed assist from backers at the City of Entrepreneurs initiative. That REP URS spirit was on full display Wednesday during an Open Doors! Spotlight event at DISTRKCT, offering a closer look…
KC Chamber honors MADE MOBB for wearing its values on the streetwear brand’s premium tees
A streetwear brand known for turning Kansas City subculture into wearable storytelling earned mainstream recognition Wednesday for its commitment to community and belonging — values sewn proudly into the fabric of MADE MOBB’s workweek and frequent apparel drops. The homegrown company received the 2026 Small Business Spirit of Inclusion Award — which honors organizations that…
Emerging biz of the year put its own twist on Kansas City sweets; now it’s scaling up
Breaking away from the Yogurtini brand as a franchisee — and branching out on his own — took a leap of faith for Isaac Lee Collins, the owner of Fifth & Emery Frozen Yogurt and Chocolate said.
Mr K winner sipped deeply with community; now it’s savoring Small Business of the Year accolades
Built at the crossroads of coffee and cultural placemaking, the KC Chamber’s just-announced Small Business of the Year has brewed more than a thriving family business — it’s a story steeped in creating space for the region’s Latin and Indigenous communities alongside incoming FIFA World Cup visitors.
Out-of-the-box business: How Ling Vong’s food truck got more than she bargained for with Labubus
Ling Vong’s decision to sell Labubus alongside her Vietnamese street food wasn’t random, the owner of Dragon Wagon KC and KC Monsters shared. It was a strategy rooted in serving culture, creating experiences, and building community, she said.
Boulevard’s Easy Orange ale makes Dutch fans’ bucket lists as World Cup anticipation ferments
Boulevard Brewing Co.’s Easy Orange limited-edition summer ale was so popular in 2025, the Kansas City brewery planned to roll it out again this year — long before Kansas City was announced as the FIFA World Cup base camp for the Netherlands.
KC-built startup brokers $18M funding round as benefitbay pushes market trends to the norm
A just-announced $18 million Series A round for benefitbay is more than just investor or market validation, said Brandy Thompson; it’s a signal that the solution she built in Kansas City is no longer part of a niche conversation with consultants and employers — too often requiring lengthy explanations about why the model matters.
Big Grove Brewery opens in Prairie Village, leading neighborhood’s sprawling retail reboot
A massive restaurant and brewery is the first tenant to open in the redeveloped Macy’s building in Prairie Village, with more tenants coming soon to the complex, as well as The Shops of Prairie Village.
