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Startland News
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Kansas City-based nonprofit news organization dedicated to humanizing entrepreneurship by covering startups, small businesses, and innovation while amplifying untold stories to inspire and inform. Visit StartlandNews.com for trending headlines.
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Small businesses don’t stay small on purpose, said Colby Kraus, echoing a mantra popular among organizers of the Main Street Summit — an immersive downtown experience rich with enough Americana capital for entrepreneurs and community builders from all walks of life.
How Main Street Summit is putting homegrown small business on stage with Tim Tebow
Small businesses don’t stay small on purpose, said Colby Kraus, echoing a mantra popular among organizers of the Main Street Summit — an immersive downtown experience rich with enough Americana…
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Owners of the award-winning Bar K dog bar — a popular destination for four-legged Kansas Citians and their friends — announced its closure Tuesday, after nearly a decade in business that saw the concept expand to St. Louis and Oklahoma City before suddenly shuttering all operations.
Bar K dog bar closes all locations, calling out KC riverfront construction, rising inflation
Owners of the award-winning Bar K dog bar — a popular destination for four-legged Kansas Citians and their friends — announced its closure Tuesday, after nearly a decade in business that saw the…
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When Wes Elder and Caleb Vetter launched CreatorSpace more than a year ago, they set out to carve their own path through the blended world of entertainment and technology, Elder shared. Now their startup — what they bill as the world’s first creator marketplace — is taking a new turn.
KC-built creator marketplace expands to connect small businesses to influencers of all sizes – Startland News
“We need to bring the influencer community and creative community together — because there's a lot of them here and it's fragmented,” Wes Elder said. “They don't talk to each other and they don't…
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A prestigious — and relatively new-to-Kansas City — resource for high-net-worth C-suite leaders and successful entrepreneurs and founders is expanding: Tiger 21, a premier peer membership organization for ultra-wealth creators and preservers, is adding a second group.
Tiger 21 expands its invite-only peer network in KC as number of ultra-wealthy leaders rises – Startland News
A prestigious — and relatively new-to-Kansas City — resource for high-net-worth C-suite leaders and successful entrepreneurs and founders is expanding: Tiger 21, a premier peer membership…
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Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America.

The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, Matchless Cabinet — a direct-to-consumer modular aluminum cabinetry company.
Small Biz to Watch: Matchless Cabinet throws ‘BBQ nerds’ onto national spotlight’s grill – Startland News
Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the…
www.startlandnews.com
Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America.

The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, Deposit the Work — a group fitness and private training company.
Small Biz to Watch: Deposit The Work builds mass with tech-enabled consistency — no excuses, all grit – Startland News
Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the…
www.startlandnews.com
Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America.
The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, Chick-in-waffle.
Startland News: Startups, small business, tech, makers, entrepreneurs
Startland News is a nonprofit newsroom covering KC's innovation community of startups, entrepreneurs, makers, creatives and risk-takers.
www.startlandnews.com
The latest crop of Digital Sandbox KC companies — earning up to $20,000 in project funding for their concepts — are poised to make significant impacts within their industries, said Jill Meyer, noting a through-line from digital health to AI-powered construction and fantasy sports solutions.
Meet 7 startups just funded to turn potential into Kansas City-built tech innovation
The latest crop of Digital Sandbox KC companies — earning up to $20,000 in project funding for their concepts — are poised to make significant impacts within their industries, said Jill Meyer, noting…
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We're showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through our first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, Someday Sunday — a natural, vegan, cruelty-free, and nut-free body care brand.
Small Biz to Watch: Someday Sunday opens the door to me-time without guilt (or toxins) – Startland News
Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the…
www.startlandnews.com
An immersive experience set in a post-apocalyptic world — the brainchild of Kansas City artist and designer Keyon Monte — transforms an iconic Shakespearean tragedy into a warped, high-fashion human drama staged within a downtown coworking space.
‘Macbeth KC’ transforms coworking space into the scene of a post-apocalyptic Shakespearean tragedy
“One day when the elevator wasn’t working, I came down and I saw how dark it was,” Kansas City artist and designer Keyon Monte recalled. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is crazy. This could be a great…
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Throughout his career as a car salesman and mortgage broker, Brad Staples felt a calling toward entrepreneurship, he said. And when those industries ran dry, the Missouri native realized it was time to try on a familiar hat: running a family business.
Family history, franchise model help second-chapter entrepreneur jump business obstacles
Throughout his career as a car salesman and mortgage broker, Brad Staples felt a calling toward entrepreneurship, he said. And when those industries ran dry, the Missouri native realized it was time…
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In June, a Matchless Cabinet set was featured on the iconic daytime game show “The Price is Right.” The company reports continued growth, expanding recently into Canada with interest from as far away as Europe and Australia.
Flipping from side-hustle to full-time requires grind behind glory
Jason Taylor walked away from big tech for good in January — leaving behind a dream résumé that included a long engineering career at Microsoft, then Google, for the freedom to pursue what had once…
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For Brandon Haggard, returning to the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri (EDCKC) wasn’t just a career decision. It was a commitment — to impact, Kansas City, and building a future worth staying for, he said.
Coming home to KC: Brandon Haggard is sharpening his axe with humility
“I wanted my next chapter to mean something,” Brandon Haggard said. “There were opportunities out there that offered great salaries or clear-cut roles, but what I was looking for was impact. And…
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Dontavious Young is betting on the next generation, he said. As founder of Equal Minded Café and the Big Ideas Foundation, Young is creating space for high school students to build businesses, find purpose, and take ownership of their futures.
How Equal Minded Café crowdfunded its coffee shop youth incubator’s next blend
Dontavious Young is betting on the next generation, he said. As founder of Equal Minded Café and the Big Ideas Foundation, Young is creating space for high school students to build businesses, find…
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Overland Park-based CarePilot recently announced a $2.5 million seed round led by coastal investor Mucker Capital. The round also notably included investment from KCRise Fund, which touted founder Tutera’s impressive understanding of how to build a tech enterprise.
Investors laud emerging founder’s expertise as CarePilot logs $2.5M for AI healthtech tool
It’s rare for a regional venture capital firm like KCRise Fund to invest in an entrepreneur just out of college, the Midwest-focused firm told Startland News, detailing the remarkable talent that led…
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The menu at 1116 Grand Blvd. — the former KC Daiquiri Shop — includes such loaded baked potato options as The Brisket with hot or cold cheese, sauteed onions and a choice of sauce; and the chicken with butter, cheese, pico de gallo, sauteed onions, sour cream, green onions and parsley.
Downtown restaurant fires up the summertime bar and grill in former KC Daiquiri Shop – Startland News
Matthew Hill’s appetite for joining the family business — as a restauranteur — took a big bite forward this month as he opened AJ’s Bar & Grill on Grand Boulevard in downtown Kansas City.
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A side quest for $5 burger baskets and cheap beers has matured into a tech platform built to help a wide range of users easily discover local deals, said Blake Coffee, noting his startup deepens small businesses’ engagement with their communities.
Startup launching app to help newcomers, natives connect to local small biz deals
A side quest for $5 burger baskets and cheap beers has matured into a tech platform built to help a wide range of users easily discover local deals, said Blake Coffee, noting his startup deepens…
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The acquisition of Kansas City-built Athlete Network — a platform designed to foster lifelong connections between student-athletes and athletic alumni — deepens the startup’s work a decade after it launched, its founder said.
KC-built sports tech startup acquired by AI-powered fundraising, engagement platform
The acquisition of Kansas City-built Athlete Network — a platform designed to foster lifelong connections between student-athletes and athletic alumni — deepens the startup’s work a decade after it…
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