Spotlight: Rhett Rumery
Bringing Global Wellness Innovation to Kansas City
Rhett Rumery, CEO and Co-Founder of Vriend, is among the newest leaders rejoining the Kansas City community—this time with a mission to redefine wellness and productivity through AI. After years abroad, he returns home to build, connect, and make an impact in the city that has always felt like his true north.
A Missouri Native Comes Full Circle
Raised in Chillicothe, MO, Rhett’s career and curiosity took him across the world—most notably spending eight years in Sydney, where he became an Australian citizen. Despite also living in global hubs like New York, Rhett shares that nowhere has ever felt quite like home the way KC does. “No matter where I go in Kansas City, I just feel like I belong,” he says.
Beyond tech, Rhett is a proud dad to two dogs—a pitty and a proud “Supermutt,” according to DNA tests—and is a self-described adrenaline junkie, traveler, and foodie. He’s especially excited to return to KC to be closer to family, trade surfing for wakeboarding on local lakes, and catch plenty of Chiefs games.
A Founder at the Intersection of Wellness and Tech
Rhett leads Vriend, an AI-powered platform that ties personal well-being to business performance by boosting productivity, retention, and overall wellness. (Jessica Powell’s two cents: It’s incredible! Absolute game changer for businesses and individual team members!) What started as a broader tool for predictive, agentic AI has since narrowed its focus based on user feedback to tackle the ever-relevant issues of burnout and balance—both at work and at home.
“My vision is for wellness support to follow people wherever they go—home, work, or on the move,” Rhett explains. “My goal is to supercharge our workforce by helping employers drive efficiency and enabling people to thrive.”
With Kansas City’s vibrant, evolving tech scene, Rhett sees the city as a prime place for Vriend’s mission to take root—and hopefully inspire other founders to build people-first companies.
Rooted in Purpose, Energized by Possibility
Though his official move isn’t until summer 2025, Rhett is already deeply committed to contributing to the community. He plans to volunteer with Ronald McDonald House Charities—just as he did in Sydney—and at local animal shelters to help senior pups find loving homes.
He also dreams of one day running a small hobby farm, growing fruits and vegetables (and yes, making goat cheese). “There’s something peaceful and grounding about growing your own food,” he shares.
Leading by Example
Rhett’s professional mission is just as personal. He’s passionate about changing how companies treat people—especially when times get tough. “Today’s at-will model shifts risk onto employees,” he says. “I believe leaders should carry that responsibility and build cultures of stability, fairness, and trust. Doing right by your people isn’t just kind—it’s good business.”
A True Taste of Home
And while he’s coming home for tech and family, let’s not forget the food around these parts! Rhett was shocked by the sushi scene in KC. “Blue Sushi in Power & Light? Unbelievable,” he says. “I’ve had sushi around the world, and this place is easily top-tier.”
Let’s Give Rhett a KC Welcome
Rhett is eager to meet fellow founders, technologists, and civic leaders who share his vision for a stronger, more people-centered Kansas City.
Connect with Rhett at rhett@vriend.ai or visit vriend.ai to learn more about his work—and to send feedback or collaboration ideas.
Check back next Friday as we feature another comeback story and keep celebrating the incredible people shaping Kansas City’s future.
Know someone who should be featured in our New2KC Spotlight? Let us know.