Report: Kansas City is ‘meh’ for millennial entrepreneurs
September 30, 2015 | Bobby Burch
A recent survey found that young entrepreneurs view Kansas City as a rather pedestrian locale to launch a business.
Millennial entrepreneurs ranked Kansas City as the 30th best city to start a business, according to a Thumbtack survey of about 3,700 entrepreneurs aged 34 and under. Thumbtack, which created a marketplace that connects professional service providers with customers, asked millennial entrepreneurs questions about the friendliness of local tax laws, licensing rules, the regulatory environment, training and networking opportunities and more.
Despite facing a sluggish economy after the Great Recession, millennial entrepreneurs have been launching a high number of startups and are looking for the best environments to do so.
In 2011, entrepreneurs age 20 to 34 were on average creating about 160,000 businesses each month, according to a study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. 27 percent of millennials in 2011 identified as self-employed.
Birmingham, Alabama earned the top ranking, followed by Boise, Idaho, Boulder, Colo., and Nashville, Tenn., respectively. Omaha earned a No. 12 ranking in the survey while St. Louis ranked as the 81st best place for millennial entrepreneurs. The survey evaluated 95 cities in total.

2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Her henna art goes far beyond copy and paste; how one Kansan’s craft (and kindness) went TikTok viral
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to Go Topeka, which seeks economic success for all companies and citizens across Shawnee County through implementation of an aggressive economic development strategy that capitalizes…
Votes are in: ‘Fan favorite’ winners bake in support at KC Chamber showcase; Top 10 coming April 21
Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program. Two Black- and women-owned ventures were named “fan favorites” Tuesday in a public vote that followed this week’s Small Business Showcase at Union Station. The honors are…
New Frontier diagnoses need, expands its imaging solution to rural, underserved patients
A hands-on Kansas City healthtech company is extending its diagnostic imaging services to support clinics across Kansas and Missouri with a focus on rural health centers and “lookalike” clinics serving patients in underserved communities and healthcare deserts. New Frontier Mobile Diagnostics was founded to improve access to imaging care for patients regardless of race, gender,…
AltCap launches Heartland expansion to aid more small biz typically overlooked by lenders
An expanded geographic footprint for AltCap will see the Kansas City-based small business lender make capital more accessible for entrepreneurs in Missouri, Kansas, Texas, and Colorado. The mission-driven Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) finances small businesses and community-driven real estate development projects that create more economically-inclusive communities. “AltCap’s expansion has better positioned us for long…
