Nearly 30 percent of InvestMidwest applicants from Kansas City

Young Kansas City companies are hungry for investor dollars and connections — as evidenced by dozens of metro startups and businesses applying for next month’s InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum.

Of the more than 140 applications from entrepreneurs in 19 states seeking to pitch their companies, 18 hail from Kansas City, Missouri, and 10 call Overland Park home. Twelve more operate in other cities across the Kansas City metro, according to InvestMidwest.

But only 36-40 overall applicants ultimately will be selected to present March 19-20 at the 20th annual VC forum, organized this year at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. Names of applicants and presenters are not released before the event. (Applications closed in early January.)

Click here to register to attend the VC forum.

“InvestMidwest consistently offers a carefully curated collection of the Midwest region’s best young companies that are seeking investments to help boost their businesses to the next level,” said Christine Walsh, executive director of the nonprofit InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum. “And because we have such strong companies presenting, we consistently attract a great group of investors.”

Click here to read more about how InvestMidwest impacted KC startup Life Equals.

The 2019 event is expected to include three industry tracks, presented simultaneously: life sciences; agriculture, food and bioenergy track; and technology. Presenters will have no more than eight minutes apiece to make a compelling case about their respective businesses to pique the interest of prospective funders.

In addition to industry track venues for presentations, InvestMidwest offers numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs to meet privately with venture capitalists, private and corporate investors, and business, legal and financial professionals.

About 350 attendees — venture capitalists, angel investors and corporate investors — are expected at the 2019 VC forum.

Companies that presented at the previous 19 InvestMidwest events have raised funding in excess of $1 billion in equity, corporate collaborations and exit proceeds, according to the organization. The forum alternates between Kansas City and St. Louis each year.