Innovation center, investor hub set to open this month on Liberty campus, thanks to family’s gift
October 11, 2023 | Startland News Staff
LIBERTY, Missouri — A significant financial gift to William Jewell College from a family of alumni is expected to fund a new innovation center opening on campus this month. The space is expected to serve as an investor hub and flexible workspace for Kansas City entrepreneurs.
The Mathes Innovation Center — made possible by the gift from alumni Mark and Karen Mathes and Jared and Mary Mathes of Liberty, as well as the entire Mathes Family — aims to students and local founders from the moment of their business proposal through the investment process, according to the college.
Members will gain business and technological acumen while immersed in Jewell’s culture of critical thought and inquiry, a press release said. Center staff will curate interested investors on behalf of the Mathes Innovation Centers’ members to create a true one stop shop.
Financial details of the gift were not disclosed.
“There are many great ideas that never come to fruition due to the lack of infrastructure and assistance provided to the entrepreneur,” said Jared Mathes. “The Center is an opportunity for students and business founders to test ideas and present them to all investor classes, pivoting from the more traditional investment style.”
An indispensable service of the Mathes Innovation Center is close collaboration with identified investors that will vet and present opportunities for funding, according to the college. For Jewell students, this means mentorship in launching a business that will generate profit to help fund their education.
Click here to begin exploring the Mathes Innovation Center.
Mathes Innovation Center at William Jewell
In addition to Jewell students and staff, the Center is open to area community members, entrepreneurs, innovators and current small business owners. Other offerings of the Center will include events, programs, ideation, business plan competitions, coaching, networking, curriculum, funding options and more to foster innovation and business development.
“Our goal with this Innovation Center is to not only teach business to our students but to create an environment where collaboration and innovation allow our students to live business as they learn,” said Mark Mathes. “By developing their entrepreneurial skills at the Innovation Center, many of these students will graduate into a job with a company they have already founded and own. We believe this approach will make us unique among the Innovation Centers throughout higher education nationwide.”
The Mathes Innovation Center — housed at 17 S. Jewell Street in the Pryor Center for Leadership Development — is also available as a flexible workspace solution for entrepreneurs and small businesses, offering rental options that range from co-working spaces, event spaces for small business gatherings and long-term leases for those looking for a more permanent home for their enterprise.
Featured Business
2023 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Transportation company’s move to consolidated HQ expected to bring 250 workers to KC site
Consolidating five locations into a single, state-of-the-art Kansas City campus means Master’s Transportation — a leading provider of commercial buses and vans — will relocate 130 Missouri employees to its new headquarters, with plans to expand to 250 by the end of the year, the company said. “This expansion reflects the company’s rapid growth and…
Inspiration took him to a dark space; why ‘Macbeth KC’ creator wants to trap audiences in a world with no heroes
An immersive experience set in a post-apocalyptic world — the brainchild of Kansas City artist and designer Keyon Monte — transforms an iconic Shakespearean tragedy into a warped, high-fashion human drama staged within a downtown coworking space. “Macbeth KC” removes the polish and distance often seen in adaptations of William Shakespeare’s works, said Monte, describing…
Game on: Kauffman adds 37 nonprofits to its just-funded roster, building impact capacity ahead of World Cup
Efforts to boost economic mobility across Kansas City and beyond needn’t follow a well-worn playbook, Kauffman Foundation officials said, announcing a range of newly funded initiatives — from grassroots entrepreneurial training to World Cup-focused public-private partnerships to capital access expansion. The influential philanthropic organization announced this week it awarded $8.5 million in grants to 37…
Fund Me, KC: Portrayals XR crowdfunds next step in building its immersive healing space
Startland News is continuing its long-running “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses or lend a helping hand to others. This is an opportunity for business owners and innovators — like Tricia Keightley and her immersive healing platform — to share their crowdfunding stories and potentially gain backing from…