LillyBit makes stylish, functional bags for mothers with young children. Entrepreneurs Lyssa Surface, Jessica Schifman Company Information LillyBit www.lillybit.com Type of Business Designer diaper clutches and on-the-go accessories Year Founded 2008 When she had her first child, Lyssa Surface found herself with a problem common to many young mothers: regular purses aren’t really built to hold baby-related gear, and she didn’t want to constantly haul around an enormous diaper bag either. Nobody was…

Kookiedoodle Crafts helps kids connect with their creative sides. Entrepreneurs Katie and Sheila Weiford Company Information Kookiedoodle Crafts 7924 Santa Fe Overland Park, KS 66204 (913) 387-4065 www.kookiedoodlecrafts.com Type of Business Art studio for young people Year Founded 2012 Ask any 8-year-old: Going to art class is one of the best parts of the week. When she was a classroom teacher, Katie Weiford loved tagging along when her students went to art class. The…

The Great Recession pushed many companies to their breaking points—but for David Brucker, it also created the opportunity for a vital new business. When the economy soured, Brucker’s engineering firm saw its annual revenue drop precipitously as clients stopped building and larger firms, which were struggling themselves, started going after smaller projects. To bring in extra money, Brucker started mowing lawns on weekends. But something unexpected happened. Even as his…

Matt Watson and his team make it easier for developers to troubleshoot problems. ENTREPRENEUR Matt Watson COMPANY INFORMATION Stackify 9201 Ward Parkway, Ste. 302 Kansas City, MO 64114 (816) 888-5055 www.stackify.com TYPE OF BUSINESS Application support and systems management YEAR FOUNDED 2012 The idea for Stackify came to Matt Watson when he was still with his old company, VinSolutions, an Inc. 500 company that develops software solutions for car dealerships….

The Local Pig wins over food lovers who crave locally produced meats. Alex Pope isn’t a big believer in “mystery meat.” At the Local Pig, a charcuterie and butcher shop in Kansas City’s East Bottoms, Pope and his team sell beef, pork, chicken, lamb and other meats that were produced within 110 miles of the city—or closer, in a lot of cases. A chalkboard on the shop’s wall lists which…