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

        Here’s how Bungii delivered spot No. 981 in its Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies debut

        By Tommy Felts | August 12, 2025

        Nailing Bungii’s geographic expansion model has unlocked significant growth, said Ben Jackson, detailing a years-long evolution that earned his Kansas City-built final-mile delivery carrier a coveted spot on the latest Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list. “Bungii’s network is becoming one of the largest sharing economy footprints across the U.S.,” explained Jackson, who co-founded the company…

        Caterpillar subsidiary expands into KC, turning dirt to create 85 jobs in revitalized industrial corridor near riverfront

        By Tommy Felts | August 12, 2025

        A multi-million dollar expansion project is expected to put an aging manufacturing site back on track in Kansas City, officials at Progress Rail announced Monday, noting the converted operation will focus on re-manufacturing railcar wheelsets and bearings. Progress Rail — a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. — expects to bring 85 new full-time jobs…

        Emerging KC space tech startup relocating to Colorado to build autonomous factory

        By Tommy Felts | August 12, 2025

        A space tech startup that shot into orbit from its West Bottoms headquarters in Kansas City has announced plans to build its first smart factory in Colorado — relocating operations to Broomfield to join the Centennial State’s “robust aerospace and defense ecosystem.” “Colorado is home to some of the best aerospace, defense, and manufacturing talent…

        Jeff Jones, H&R Block

        H&R Block CEO files retirement plans; company sets ‘smooth transition’ to new chief executive

        By Tommy Felts | August 11, 2025

        Announcing his plan to retire at the end of 2025, the CEO for one of Kansas City’s most iconic businesses called his work at H&R Block the past eight years “the honor of a lifetime.” “We have elevated Block’s relevance, built an extraordinary culture, made bold bets to drive growth, rebuilt about every piece of…