Deadlines approach for BetaBlox, EY awards; LaunchKC opening soon
February 28, 2017 | Meghan LeVota
Kansas City abounds with growth opportunities for startups and entrepreneurs — sometimes the trick is just finding them.
To that end, here are a variety of opportunities for founders and supporters of Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem whose deadlines are approaching. Thanks to our friends at KCSourceLink for aggregating these opportunities!
BetaBlox
Deadline: March 1
Kansas City-based accelerator BetaBlox was founded in 2012 and provides mentorship, access to investors, downtown office space, classes and bootcamps to startups — in exchange for 5 percent equity in their business. Although the deadline is less than a day away, the BetaBlox website assures that this is an application that will only take 5 minutes.
Each cohort accepts roughly 10 teams into the 6-month program. The accelerator will accept all kinds of businesses — from scalable startups to small businesses.
“We like to think of ourselves as your co-founder who doesn’t expect a salary,” BetaBlox described itself on its website. “We will only charge you once your company reaches a liquidation event (IPO, acquisition, dividends, etc.) – and even then, it’s just a pinch.”
Kansas City Connector Project
Deadline: March 31
Know any unsung heroes? The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation believes that in Kansas City, there are many out there.
In hopes to better connect folks cultivating entrepreneurial and education communities, the foundation’s Kansas City Connector Project is now accepting nominations of leaders instilling change in the metro.
Community members in Jackson, Clay, Cass, Platte, Wyandotte and Johnson counties are eligible for nomination. The foundation has hired an independent, internationally recognized researcher to analyze the applications through an unbiased lens. Additional announcements, as well as next steps, will be communicated in June.
EY’s entrepreneur of the year
Deadline: March 10
EY is now accepting nominations for its annual Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards, which is widely considered as one of the most prestigious programs in the U.S. Now in its 31st year, the initiative aims to identify and support innovative business leaders.
Eligible entrepreneurs are founders, leaders of multi-generation family business and CEOs of businesses that are at least two years old. Winners will be selected by a panel of independent judges, including previous winners of the award and leading CEOs.
Click here to apply for the Central Midwest program.
LaunchKC
Opens: March 1
The LaunchKC grants competition has raised the stakes for 2017.
Eight winners will receive a $50,000 grant, and one winner will receive a grant prize of $100,000. In addition to funds, the winning entrepreneurs receive free office space for one year, mentorship and access to professional services. The competition is led by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City and the Downtown Council of Kansas City. To be eligible, you must live in the city limits of Kansas City.
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Meat the moment with valor: Veteran cattle rancher deploys co-op model to save the Midwest cowboy
WESTON, Mo. — Almost a decade after launching KC Cattle Company — his veteran-owned and -operated wagyu beef company — Patrick Montgomery is forging a new path to help fellow ranchers and farmers survive. He’s now digging his spurs into Valor Provisions, a direct-to-consumer online marketplace offering premium proteins from small, independent, veteran-owned ranches like…
Student-raised meats graduate to university storefront as consumers look closer at what makes the cut
WARRENSBURG, Mo. — A new partnership puts pork chops, brats and select cuts from across farming projects at the University of Central Missouri in a retail storefront accessible to community members shopping for locally raised meat. UCM Farms — which spans more than 1,000 acres of farm ground within 10 miles of campus — is…
Nonprofit founder, tech people leader join Kauffman as trustees on shared mission: economic inclusivity
The year-long transformation of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation continues this week as the influential philanthropic organization announced two new trustees meant to bolster its rebooted grantmaking strategy and commitment to driving equitable economic mobility in Kansas City. Newly appointed leaders to the Kauffman Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Aimée Eubanks Davis and Kristen Ludgate bring…
No cookie-cutter way to create an entrepreneur, so what’s the catalyst? Inside KU’s venture test lab
Editor’s note: The University of Kansas’ School of Business is a partner of Startland News. It’s a practical testing ground for KU students to flex their entrepreneurial muscles, Ryan Rains said, describing a business program built for could-be entrepreneurs who aren’t necessarily even business majors — and who, ultimately, might choose to abandon their concept…