Student investors hope to make inroads with KC founders through pitch day
March 19, 2018 | Elyssa Bezner
A group of student investors in the Kansas City University Venture Program are working to jump start deal flow and create relationships with Kansas City entrepreneurs.
Crosser
Launched in 2017, the student-led fund is hosting a pitch event to start a dialogue with area startups in hopes of finding their newest investment deals, said Nate Crosser, a University of Kansas law student and an intern with the fund.
The fund aims to not only boost area businesses with funding but also better educate the future of venture capital professionals, Crosser added.
“It gives students in Kansas City real world exposure to and experience with venture capitalism,” he said. “We hope that this will help create a base of knowledgeable young private finance professionals who can get involved in KC’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. We hope to bolster the local economy by investing in home-grown businesses and by playing a part in further establishing KC as a startup hub — having a robust professional finance sector is a key part of that.”
The KCUVF inaugural pitch event is set for March 30 at the WeWork Corrigan Station, Crosser said. All innovative companies with the ability to scale can apply, he added.
Businesses interested in pitching to the KCUVF can apply here.
A panel of representatives from five or six businesses are expected to participate in the casual and conversational pitches to gain a better knowledge of the startups and the teams, Crosser added.
With one startup already in its portfolio — Apptegy, based in Little Rock, Arkansas — KCUVF’s investments range from $15,000 to $100,000.
Led by Royal Street Ventures in partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the University Venture Fund and the Sorenson Impact Center, the KCUVF program is modeled on the long-standing success of the Utah University Venture Fund, the largest student venture program in the U.S.
Featured Business
2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
This KC sausage maker serves one of America’s best vegan hot dogs; the PETA-approved menu item wasn’t an afterthought or gimmick, its owners say
Wiener Kitchen has always been a community-driven venture, said Jessica Rush, which includes providing options for all members of the community — meat eater or not. “We started at a farmers’ market, and I felt really strongly about having a vegetarian and vegan option. A lot of people go to the farmers’ market because they…
Don’t sleep on ‘Barbie’, KC theater owner warns as Barbenheimer blockbuster arrives
‘Barbenheimer’ could bring best movie-going weekend in nearly a decade; How KC theaters are getting dolled up for the blockbuster Local theaters are expecting a blockbuster weekend, thanks to a highly anticipated and unlikely double feature opening Thursday. Dubbed “Barbenheimer,” the high-profile films “Barbie” — a fictionalized focus on the doll-turned-fashion icon — and “Oppenheimer”…
ScaleUP! KC touts revenue success stories as latest small biz cohort opens applications
Growth outcomes don’t always follow entrepreneurs’ graduation from ScaleUP! KC — sometimes they come before the game-changing, no-cost program is even complete, its leaders said. Rickey Leathers made significant strides in his business, Savvy Salon — co-owned with his wife, Lenora — while enrolled in the cohort, he said. “I successfully opened a second location…
Modern-day stress triggers make life harder; getting healthy shouldn’t add to those burdens, says KC Wellness Club
The shift to focusing on wellness instead of illness should be fun, said Heath Wessling, a former wellness expert at Cerner-turned-entrepreneur, who noted sustained growth or change is unlikely if a person is unhappy with the process. “We like to find ways to show you how it’s not a drag,” said Wessling, founder and owner…