AgLocal, a Mission, Kan.-based startup that's attracted notable media and investor attention, aims to continue to build buzz around its approaching launch with an event Oct. 5. Titled Celebration of Meat, the event kicks off the startup's #EatClear marketing campaign, one that will ask diners to encourage the restaurants they patronize to carry responsibly raised meat.

On Oct. 20, the startup will roll out its online marketplace where restaurants could order that responsibly raised meat. It will first launch in San Francisco, and then in early November, in Kansas City.

"(AgLocal is) a means for streamlining the meat industry that will help rebuild local and pasture-based agricultural systems," founder and CEO Naithan Jones said Thursday in a press release. "It's all about making things more efficient so producers can scale their production with ease due to the demand we are bringing them."

Celebration of Meat, which coincides with the American Royal's World Series of BBQ, a barbecue contest billed as largest in the world, is free and open to the public. The event will feature meat provided by a McCune, Kan.-based farm, an open bar and music. The startup expects 400 attendees. Registration is limited and can be found at celebratemeat.eventbrite.com.

Startup growth

The event press release also provided a few updates of the year-old AgLocal:

• It now carries eight employees and contractors, with many of the new additions coming since July.
• Its corporate headquarters is in Mission, Kan. and it has a technology office in San Francisco.
• It brought on CTO Mike Hsieh in July.
• Its platform will utilize Dwolla, the Des Moines-based payments startup.
• Its long-term goal is to connect restaurants, grocery stores, butcher shops, schools, hospitals and other institutions to meat producers and distributors that are using responsible practices.