VIDEO: Startup leaders talk KC Startup Foundation (plus bloopers)

August 10, 2017  |  Bobby Burch and Meghan LeVota

Adam Arredondo and Matthew Marcus

So, what exactly is the Kansas City Startup Foundation?

For one, it is a foundation. Secondly, it involves startups. And last but not least, it serves Kansas City.

If you have ever found yourself confused about what exactly the Kansas City Startup Foundation does and which programs it offers, then the video below is for you.

Since the foundation’s launch in 2016, it has undergone many pivots, shifts and changes.

As you may have read in the news earlier this week, the foundation has merged with Center for Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development, a for-profit community building organization spearheaded by Adam Arredondo. A former board member at the Kansas City Startup foundation, Arredondo will now serve as the executive director for the nonprofit.

It became clear to Arredondo that both organizations shared the same vision: “to create the most connected startup ecosystem in the world.”

And as Matthew Marcus, the Kansas City Startup Foundation’s director of operations, began to realize, “volunteer efforts alone were only going to take the foundation so far. We needed more resources and more support to champion our efforts.”

Former co-founders of the now-defunct local events startup Local Ruckus, Arredondo and Marcus have been through a lot with each other. The pair also served as integral community builders cultivating the Kansas City Startup Village since about 2012.

In the video below, Arredondo and Marcus share their entrepreneurial journey and detail what to expect from the foundation in the future.

Bloopers

 

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

Tagged , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder

      2017 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        KCMO offers FAQ on its prospective Airbnb, Homeaway regulations

        By Tommy Felts | May 22, 2017

        On Monday, the City of Kansas City, Mo. released newly-proposed rules on how it may regulate home-sharing services like Airbnb and Homeaway. City officials are planning to introduce the proposed ordinance at the Kansas City Planning Commission on June 6. After that, the proposal will head to the Kansas City Council, where it will likely…

        Airbnb tells KCMO ‘go back to the drawing board’ on new proposed regulations

        By Tommy Felts | May 22, 2017

        Airbnb and Homeaway hosts in Kansas City, Mo. are likely to see a set of new regulations for their properties soon. After more than a year of culling public input, the City of Kansas City, Mo. has drafted a proposed ordinance on how to regulate local home-sharing services like Airbnb and Homeaway. The proposal would…

        KCultivator Q&A: Big-hearted prankster Robert Manigold on opera singing, empathy and Weird Al

        By Tommy Felts | May 22, 2017

        Editor’s note: KCultivators is a new, lighthearted profile series we’re kicking off to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Check out our feature on Prep-KC CEO Susan Wally and community builder Donald Carter. If you live or work in downtown Kansas City, you’ve likely seen Robert Manigold. The “Ambassador of Awesome”…

        Events Preview: Innovation Exchange, Verge KC

        By Tommy Felts | May 22, 2017

        There are a plethora of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter, or curious community member — we recommend these upcoming events for you. Are you hosting a relevant community event? Feel free to add it to the FWD/KC calendar for increased exposure. Once your event…