Some like it hot: KC named top startup town
August 6, 2015 | Bobby Burch
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.
Featured Business

2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Google, Techstars partner to lower barriers for March 23-25 Startup Weekend
A new partnership with Google will allow Techstars to present this month’s Startup Weekend free of charge to Kansas City participants, said John Coler. “It opens up the opportunity to reduce the barrier for entry for those who either would not usually use their discretionary income or (do not) have the ability to pay for…
Food, IoT, blockchain and AgTech startups join 2018 Sprint Accelerator class
With its fifth cohort of early-stage firms, the Sprint Accelerator scoured the globe for a brood of ag, food and tech startups that aim to leverage area corporate partnerships. The Crossroads Arts District-based accelerator announced on Monday nine new startups that will participate in its 90-day, mentor-driven program. The accelerator pairs startups with wireless carrier…
Rockhurst’s Meet the Makers: Look beyond the cubicle walls
Don’t ignore magical timing within the entrepreneur community, said marketing manager-turned-children’s book author Audrey Masoner. “Kansas City is a place where anything can happen, and you really want to keep your eyes open for connections,” Masoner told a crowd gathered Wednesday for Rockhurst University’s Meet the Makers speaker series. “It’s small enough to be very…
Chef Celina Tio embraces her celebrity brand, welcomes disruptive discomfort
Sitting down to discuss her career a few hours before a Thursday evening rush at The Belfry, celebrity chef and entrepreneur Celina Tio is all business. She’s heard (and answered) every biographical question before. Yet Tio’s eyes gleam and a smile quickly spreads across her face when the conversation turns to her customers at the…
