Venture for America launches in KC to help startups find talent
December 6, 2016 | Meghan LeVota
A national fellowship program that helps recent graduates launch careers in entrepreneurship announced an expansion into Kansas City.
With a mission to revitalize American cities, Venture for America partners with startups, business leaders and foundations to connect young talent with early-stage companies. In addition to the opportunity to work hands on with startups, The New York City-based organization provides mentorship, network and resources for young people in 17 locations around the U.S.
Founder and CEO Andrew Yang noted that thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City was a natural choice for Venture for America’s expansion.
“We see tremendous potential in the Kansas City entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Yang said in a release. “We hope to seed this next generation of entrepreneurs with the skills, experience and networks they need to one day become successful entrepreneurs that create enduring jobs in Kansas City and across the country.”
Venture for America aims to put young people in a better position to contribute to economic development. The two-year fellowship program will begin in Kansas City in August 2017 and bring ten fellows to the Kansas City metro.
Victor Hwang, vice president of entrepreneurship at the Kauffman Foundation, said he’s excited to usher more young people into the metro’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
”As a growing entrepreneurial city, Kansas City is primed for Venture for America’s keen ability to cultivate future entrepreneurs by matching them with startups,” Hwang said in a release. “Kansas City startups will gain as much as the VFA Fellows who will apprentice in these emerging companies.”
Since its launch in 2011, Venture for America has contributed to the creation of over 2,000 jobs in its partner cities, including St. Louis, Denver, San Antonio and others. If you’re interested in applying for the program, click here.
2016 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Victor Hwang: Individual entrepreneurs hold the key to making America great again
Victor Hwang posed a riddle to a TEDx crowd gathered in Georgia. What five-letter word was overlooked during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign and almost never mentioned by the candidates or at the party conventions? The answer is rooted in overcoming inequality, said Hwang, vice president of entrepreneurship for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. “I’m…
Startup newbie: How researching entrepreneurship in Medellin led me to Kansas City
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. When my wife Megan and I visited Kansas City this past January as part of our “city shopping tour,” there was much that impressed us and led to our decision to make it our new home. In many respects, we chose Kansas City…
Buildings and bus stops: Rebecca Tombaugh paints KC — sometimes with a stick
A lack of clear direction felt liberating as Rebecca Tombaugh unrolled a 12-foot piece of heavy paper in her backyard and got to work, she said. The 59-year-old artist had been tasked with painting a mural of sorts for the Nonprofit Village, a coworking spot that soon would open at 31 W. 31st Street. It’s…
KC-based PatientsVoices pulls $150K in first round of seed capital, additional $75K from MTC
Competing for a spot in a Nashville-based health tech accelerator, PatientsVoices landed its first round of seed capital — with a booster shot from the State of Missouri. A $150,000 innovation grant from Jumpstart Foundry investment group represents a leap forward for PatientsVoices, headquartered in iWerx’s North Kansas City entrepreneurial development center, said founder and…