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...
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 –...
Successfully starting, growing and transforming a business is a journey filled with hurdles, triumphs and lessons learned—especially when it comes to leveraging your brick-and-mortar experience to create a tech startup. Chrystal L. Graves has plenty of experience chasing and achieving her entrepreneurial dreams, from building a roster of clients as an...
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...
Sometimes, the idea for a new business is right under your nose. That was certainly the case for Luke Phelps’s Vroom Solar, which came about when he saw a need for power in remote and mobile situations in rural Missouri. But let’s back up a bit to see when this idea...
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...
Scale VC, a venture capital fund based in Columbia, Missouri, has announced the closing of a $5 million fund that will invest in and support early-stage tech founders. Through the new fund, Scale VC will invest $50,0000-$150,000 in 30-40 companies over the next three years. The new fund includes a $1 million...
MOSourceLink and Green Hills Regional Planning Commission have teamed up to create more opportunities in agriculture entrepreneurship in Northwest Missouri.
