The journey of Kansas City startup Healthy Hip Hop began with a personal revelation for its founder, Roy Scott, who, after reflecting on the impact of mainstream hip-hop, envisioned a platform that could offer a healthier alternative for young listeners. Roy grew up in Kansas City immersed in hip-hop culture. Initially...
When Susan Blaser, 61, noticed a 4,800-square-foot historic stone building for sale in downtown Excelsior Springs, Missouri, she immediately saw potential for a business … well to be accurate, three businesses. Although the space had been vacant for over 30 years, Susan thought the former funeral home would be perfect...
Disillusionment can be a great fertilizer, helping new ideas grow. Just ask Rebecca Brown. Her West Plains, Missouri, small business, Assist America Home Care Services, grew out of frustration and a desire to do the right thing — and to do it better. Learn how this entrepreneur used industry knowledge to...
Tyrean “Heru” Lewis' journey into urban farming began with a simple yet profound realization – the scarcity of fresh, sustainable produce in his own community. Tyrean, a former physical education teacher, recalls his days as a vegan in 2017 when he struggled to find fresh produce. “Over 850,000 people in the St....
One of the first things you notice about Dr. Natalie King is her long, voluminous, curly brown hair. “It’s something that’s always been at the background of everything that I do,” Natalie says. “Coming into the corporate world – into spaces where you have to lead with a ‘good’ image –...
After being laid off from their jobs in 2017, DaYonne and Jamaal Reed decided to go all in on entrepreneurship. The married couple are the founders of Revive Janitorial in St Louis, a commercial cleaning company with 40 employees and 16 clients. DaYonne, who previously worked as a procurement manager...
Melodi Wisswell’s career path seems obvious in retrospect. She’s always loved animals. She has a business degree. And she wanted to live near her family. Now, she’s opened Platinum Paws, a high-end dog-grooming spa in Columbia, Missouri. Here’s how all the pieces came together with the help of the Missouri...
In the recipe for small business success, patience and determination are two key ingredients. But there’s also the business side to consider and the looming stat that 1 in 5 businesses fail in their first year. Keeyoung Kim, chef-owner of Chingu, a new restaurant and bar in the Westport neighborhood of Kansas...
Entrepreneurship can be delicious! Just ask husband-and-wife duo Erik and Paley Carmona. What started out as a kitchen experiment has turned into a tasty side hustle. Now, Carmona’s Chamoy is flourishing, thanks to support from loved ones, the Hispanic Economic Development Corporation and the Latino Arts Foundation. Here’s how they’re building...
Dave Alburty isn’t afraid to think outside of the box. When he started his business, he didn’t want to live close to work. He wanted to work close to home. “I chose Drexel, Missouri, for my first company because I wanted to start a company where I wanted to live,” he...
