Venture for America class comes ‘together like lightning’ for Friday job fair in KC
April 25, 2018 | Startland News Staff
National fellowship program Venture for America is hoping to boost regional startups with an infusion of new talent.
VFA, a two-year program for recent college graduates who want to learn how to build businesses, is planning one of its four regional job fairs Friday in Kansas City.
The group — which launched in Kansas City in 2016 — is bringing more than 20 members of its incoming class of 2018 fellows to interview with startups based in Kansas City and St. Louis from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday at WeWork Corrigan Station. The fellows hail from such esteemed universities as Stanford, Yale, Washington University, Duke and Cornell.
“We are excited to make this a breakout year for Kansas City and the program by bringing together ground floor startups and emerging growth companies with our 2018 class,” said Colleen Jenkins, VFA’s director of Kansas City. “Members of the KC startup community have come together like lightning and rallied a ton of support around VFA. … We’ll look forward to showcasing the city and burgeoning ecosystem, and seeing the many meaningful connections that will come through this event.”
To become a fellow, students undergo five weeks of intensive training and professional development in which they learn from experts, entrepreneurs and industry leaders so they are ready to add value to their startups from Day 1, Jenkins said. Fellows then spend two years working at their startups, serving as core team members while learning first-hand how to contribute to a growing company.
Since its launch in 2011, Venture for America has contributed to the creation of more than 2,000 jobs in its partner cities, which include St. Louis, Denver, San Antonio and others.
While Kansas City is VFA’s newest market, it shows great promise to be a key hub for the organization, Jenkins said. With support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, VFA Kansas City plans to increase the cohort sizes in 2018, build a regional board and further ingrain itself into the community, she added.
To participate in the job fair, click here.
2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Nour’s extends flavor of 39th Street’s ‘restaurant row’ to long-vacant neighborhood cafe
After a lengthy stint developing corporate dining concepts, Kansas City chef Marwan Chebaro has spent two years planning his return to public dining. Set to open in June, Chebaro’s new Nour’s restaurant will showcase his native Lebanese cuisine and culture while helping bring the community together, he said. The venture at 3855 Warwick Blvd., in…
Entrepreneur duo uses KC Current blueprint to acquire Danish football, build multi-club portfolio
A just-announced deal to purchase a premier women’s football club in Denmark reflects Angie and Chris Long’s unwavering commitment to investing in women’s soccer at the highest level, the couple said, noting they’ll continue their work to raise the bar for players, supporters, and communities both nationally and internationally. Ballard Capital, a sports entertainment-focused investment…
How tech can put humanity back in hiring: Interview app brings beta test to Kansas City
Automation in the hiring process is leaving critical details — and quality, diverse talent — out of the jobs market, said Chelsea Parker, a Kansas City human resources innovator whose new Interview app aims to reconnect recruiters and applicants on a human level. “Interview is the TikTok of LinkedIn,” said Parker, the HR trendsetter behind creating an…
Time runs out for Missouri angel investor tax credit push as legislators close session early
A last-minute effort to pass legislation to boost Missouri entrepreneurs and innovators was thwarted earlier this month when state lawmakers abruptly ended their legislative session, said Jason Wiens, who led advocacy for the creation of a new Show-Me State angel investor tax credit. Amid “escalating partisan tensions” May 14 — and headline grabbing speculation about how…