Porter House KC earns $400K in renewed support for inclusive entrepreneurship, retail incubator
December 1, 2023 | Startland News Staff
Support from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation is expected to help The Porter House KC make good on its founders’ promise to help emerging entrepreneurs in their community get their promising ventures off the ground, said Dan Smith.
Victoria Campbell Osborne, The Scented Webb, accepts her prize at The Porter House KC’s June 2023 Pitch Night, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase Foundation; photo by Austin Barnes, Startland News
“Like many of the small business owners that we encounter, we started our organization based on a need we saw within the community,” said Smith, who co-founded The Porter House KC alongside Charon Thompson. The serial entrepreneurs and fraternity brothers launched the effort in 2018. “From there, we’ve been nothing but grateful to be supported, challenged, and … believed in, by partners like the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.”
A philanthropic investment of $400,000 for The Porter House KC (PHKC), a program of Credit & Homeownership Empowerment Services (CHES), was announced Friday. The funds are expected to boost PHKC’s work to improve entrepreneurship access and resources to underserved populations in the Kansas City metro area.
It’s a continuation of backing from JPMorgan Chase, which previously helped fund The Porter House KC’s Scale Deep grants program.
“Without support like this, we truly would not be in a position to continue our initial promise that embodies what PHKC continues to be,” said Smith, whose PHKC team also includes the leadership of Miranda Schultz, director of operations.
The Porter House KC’s 811 Retail Incubator, August 2023; photo by Channa Steinmetz, Startland News
Dan Smith, The Porter House KC, speaks during a panel on “Scaling Deep” — a philosophy PHKC has championed with the support of JPMorgan Chase Foundation — during a 2023 session at Global Entrepreneurship Week-Kansas City; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
JPMorgan Chase’s dollars will be used specifically to provide technical assistance for underrepresented small and micro business owners (employing fewer than 10 people). This grant will include support for PHKC’s new physical incubator space, 811, which will offer a brick-and-mortar location to boost retail entrepreneurship from the urban core.
The newly announced JPMorgan Chase grant will further support programming to provide mentorship, coaching, and education on critical entrepreneurship-related topics like management, accounting, and strategic planning for small businesses.
“Porter House KC has a strong record of helping underserved entrepreneurs start and scale their businesses,” said Victoria Adams Phipps, vice president of global philanthropy and program officer at JPMorgan Chase. “We are proud to support their deeply impactful work to empower community, create local jobs, and build wealth in Kansas City.”
Featured Business
2023 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Addressing a market gap, $25M seed fund arrives in Kansas City
Nearly a year after identifying an early-stage funding need in the area, a $25 million seed fund will open a Kansas City office that aims to boost local startups. With a Wednesday night intro at Polsinelli, the Royal Street Investment & Innovation Center will soon move into the Kansas City metro for its second fund. Founded…
Mid-America Angels’ injects $2.8M into nine startups during 2015
The Mid-America Angels, a Kansas City area-based angel investor network, closed 2015 on a high note with more than $2.8 million invested in nine ventures. The 2015 investment total is a near-20 percent increase in capital from 2014’s roughly $2.3 million invested. Rick Vaughn, the MAA’s managing director, said last year also was the most…
An insider’s guide to the 2016 Pipeline IOTY
One of the region’s most highly-esteemed and exclusive events — Pipeline’s Innovator of the Year — is set for this Thursday in Kansas City. Attracting some of the most powerful businesspeople in the Midwest, IOTY is one part pitch competition, two parts black-tie gala and four parts party. It’s a cocktail of entrepreneurial energy, and…
Digital Sandbox KC funding three UMKC student-led startups
Kansas City business incubator Digital Sandbox KC selected three student-led companies for proof-of-concept funding support Tuesday. The enterprises were selected from the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s E-Scholar program and will join three other E-Scholar companies selected in June as part of Digital Sandbox’s partnership with UMKC. Each student startup will receive $10,000 in project development…