Listen: Leaders analyze KC’s entrepreneurial milestones, assess challenges
June 22, 2017 | Meghan LeVota
To say that Kansas City’s entrepreneurial community has matured in the last 15 years would be an understatement.
Many leaders say that if you lived in the metro during the early 2000s and were to return now, you may not even recognize the place.
Taking a moment to reflect on how far Kansas City has come, Startland News and Think Big’s June Innovation Exchange used a historical lens to analyze Kansas City entrepreneurship.
Panelists shared their analysis on the metro’s entrepreneurial ecosystem — including growth, future opportunities and areas to be improved.
In the conversation, you’ll hear from entrepreneurial community leaders including:
- Joe Reardon, CEO of Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
- Toby Rush, CEO of EyeVerify
- Darcy Howe, Managing Director of the KCRise Fund
- Joni Cobb, CEO of Pipeline Entrepreneurial Fellowship
- Herb Sih, Think Big Partners
- Maria Meyers, Executive Director of KCSourceLink
A recording of the event is below, and photos are beneath that. Hope you enjoy!
Featured Business

2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
5 glimpses into Uber VP Brian McClendon’s crystal ball
Brian McClendon — vice president of maps and business platform at Uber — may reside in Silicon Valley, but his roots are here in the prairie. Originally from Lawrence, Kan., McClendon graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in electrical engineering and now serves on several advisory boards for his alma mater. Sporting…
EyeVerify sells to Alibaba affiliate for more than $100M
In what represents one of the metro’s most notable exits in the last decade, Kansas City-based startup EyeVerify announced Tuesday that it has been acquired. Ant Financial — the payments affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding — purchased EyeVerify for more than $100 million, according to an unnamed local source familiar with the deal. Ant Financial…
Google Express offering delivery services in Kansas City
As part of a massive Midwestern expansion, Google Express is offering its services in Kansas City. Google announced Tuesday that it’s now offering delivery services to more than 40 million new Midwest customers after its debut in 2013. Google Express — an online marketplace that connects shoppers with retailers — provides delivery services of…
[Update] KCK startup to pitch at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield Monday
A graduate of the Sprint Mobile Accelerator is gearing up for a pitch on what’s arguably the biggest stage in the startup tech world. Based in Kansas City, Kan., Rex Animal Health is participating Monday evening in TechCrunch’s Disrupt San Francisco 2016 Startup Battlefield competition for a chance at winning $50,000 and the Disrupt Cup.…
