‘Legendary’ UMKC Enactus team earns spot in national entrepreneurship finals
May 9, 2019 | Austin Barnes
The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Enactus team is the fourth most impactful in the country, declared Ben Williams.
“At UMKC Enactus, we take the world’s greatest challenges into our own hands, channeling our power as students, advocates, and entrepreneurs,” the team told a crowd gathered Tuesday at the Kansas City Convention Center, as they took the stage in the final round of the Enactus U.S. nationals.
University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Enactus team; Photo courtesy of Darcy Howe
“I’m excited with how well the UMKC Enactus team performed, but it is not unexpected considering the trajectory they have been on over the years,” said Williams, managing director of the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Enactus advisor at UMKC.
Students in the UMKC branch of Enactus — a competitive entrepreneurial development program with a 1,000-plus campus and global reach — have finished in the top 32 at the U.S. Nationals for the last four years, Williams explained.
Click here to learn more about Enactus and its mission to promote innovation and entrepreneurship on college campuses.
The competition featured 400 teams, solidifying the significance of the achievement for UMKC, Williams said.
“This team is legendary,” Megan Darnell, program manager at Fountain City Fintech and UMKC Bloch school alum, congratulated the team on Twitter.
In addition to the ranking, members of the UMKC Enactus team secured two individual awards.
Andrea Savage — who also won the UMKC student entrepreneur of the year award in 2018 — was named Enactus USA project leader of the year.
Ali Brandolino, UMKC Enactus vice president of operations, was recognized as Enactus USA membership leader of the year.
A Reverse Pitch Competition — a new track of competition for the team — saw two UMKC Enactus members join forces with four students from other schools to pitch a solution to a challenge presented by the Kansas City Area Development Council, Williams noted.
“These students will be the leaders of the future and we are lucky to be part of their development,” he said.
Featured Business
2019 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Down for donuts: How this team is sweetening Chiefs’ Super Bowl sugar rush with Mr. D’s(fense)
Another return trip to the Super Bowl has Kansas City small businesses joining the Chiefs as behind-the-scenes special teams fueling the Kingdom. For entrepreneur Johnny Chen, the mere taste of victory just a few years ago has multiplied into a box-full of opportunities. “The Chiefs’ success has impacted our sales tremendously,” said Chen, co-owner of…
Spokes Café banks on new downtown coffee spot, cycling operations under same roof as neighboring customers
A new home inside the Commerce Bank Building in downtown Kansas City moves Dan Walsh’s popular coffee shop across the street — and saves him the struggle of finding a different location amid Spokes Café’s pending displacement as a longtime fixture at 10th and Walnut streets. Walsh recently announced the relocation — the artisanal breakfast and…
Three-peat threads: 30+ Super Bowl-bound Chiefs fan fits (haters will say the refs wrote this)
With the Chiefs ready to stand on business in the Big Easy, Kansas City fans — at home or at the big game — will need to dress for the win they want. Here’s how small business owners from across the region stand ready to help them suit up ahead of the Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl…
How ’bout those cheeeeeese mochis? Korean chicken spot gets into the game with its own head-turning plays
After their decade of conversation got old, three lifelong friends finally achieved their dream of opening a restaurant together, Kue-Jin Hwang shared. Now they’re hoping to capture Chiefs’ fans’ hunger for a three-peat at their Overland Park restaurant. Hwang, Kyoungmin Kim, and Sung Jo — friends for more than 30 years (each represented in the…