Some like it hot: KC named top startup town

August 6, 2015  |  Bobby Burch

Kansas City's City Market

You’re hot, Kansas City, and it’s not just your sweltering summer heat.

Entrepreneur Magazine recently named Kansas City — Mo. and Kan. — as one of nine “hot startup cities” that are outside of San Francisco and New York City.

Although Kansas City is also known for its tech prowess, the magazine largely noted the City of Fountains as a foodie town that concocts a variety of specialty foods. Entrepreneur reported that since 2013, 71 new food companies launched in the area.

“Krizman’s House of Sausage has been selling ethnic sausages and knockwurst to Kansas City locals since 1939,” the article reads. “It’s one of the city’s growing number of specialty-foods businesses—including bakeries, breweries, distilleries, candy-makers and, of course, bottlers of barbecue sauce. Driving this growth are three local food-business incubators, including the Farm to Table Kitchen housed at the famed City Market, designed to help ‘foodpreneurs’ connect with mentors, commercial kitchens, collaborative infrastructure, marketing awareness and the greater Kansas City food community.”

Other cities on Entrepreneur’s “hot startup cities” list are Salt Lake City, Baltimore, Nashville, Sacramento, Minneapolis – St. Paul, Houston, Boston and Los Angeles.

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

Tagged , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder

      2015 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        Let’s eat out: KCMO wants more outdoor dining; new grants program pays for restaurant upgrades 

        By Tommy Felts | July 29, 2024

        Outdoor dining’s economic impact outlasted the pandemic, said Mayor Quinton Lucas. A new push to boost KCMO businesses — with the backing of city tourism dollars — is expected to help local restaurants, coffee shops, and bars embrace the opportunity, he said. His goal: Make outdoor dining spaces even more attractive to visitors and hometown…

        Resilience pays off as retail incubator opens doors; Meet the first featured founders at PHKC

        By Tommy Felts | July 27, 2024

        Launching a retail incubator in Midtown Kansas City — a physical space targeted for overlooked and under-resourced entrepreneurs — The Porter House KC faced many of the same challenges as emerging small businesses, said Miranda Schultz, but ultimately the effort made it to opening day. “It’s been nice to go through our own trial and…

        Pitch prize puts founders closer to building their utopia; How KCMO is backing entrepreneurs who do the right thing

        By Tommy Felts | July 26, 2024

        Hearing the personal reasons behind judges’ support for her business at the “Do The Right Thing” social impact pitch competition provides much-needed validation for Utopia Point, said Shereese Hameed-Muhammad. The business — launched by Patricia McCreary and Hameed-Muhammad to redesign the geriatric and disabled care community in Kansas City and beyond — was the overwhelming favorite…

        Lawmakers announce $500K federal grant for KC BioHub, tout region’s job creation, innovation

        By Tommy Felts | July 26, 2024

        Kansas City’s “top-notch” research capabilities and talented workforce prove the region is ready to lead the country in innovation, said Sharice Davids, revealing news that the local Tech Hubs initiative would receive another $500,000 in federal funding. The award for the Kansas City Inclusive Biologics and Biomanufacturing Tech Hub (KC BioHub) comes less than a…