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
Let’s eat out: KCMO wants more outdoor dining; new grants program pays for restaurant upgrades
Outdoor dining’s economic impact outlasted the pandemic, said Mayor Quinton Lucas. A new push to boost KCMO businesses — with the backing of city tourism dollars — is expected to help local restaurants, coffee shops, and bars embrace the opportunity, he said. His goal: Make outdoor dining spaces even more attractive to visitors and hometown…
Resilience pays off as retail incubator opens doors; Meet the first featured founders at PHKC
Launching a retail incubator in Midtown Kansas City — a physical space targeted for overlooked and under-resourced entrepreneurs — The Porter House KC faced many of the same challenges as emerging small businesses, said Miranda Schultz, but ultimately the effort made it to opening day. “It’s been nice to go through our own trial and…
Pitch prize puts founders closer to building their utopia; How KCMO is backing entrepreneurs who do the right thing
Hearing the personal reasons behind judges’ support for her business at the “Do The Right Thing” social impact pitch competition provides much-needed validation for Utopia Point, said Shereese Hameed-Muhammad. The business — launched by Patricia McCreary and Hameed-Muhammad to redesign the geriatric and disabled care community in Kansas City and beyond — was the overwhelming favorite…
Lawmakers announce $500K federal grant for KC BioHub, tout region’s job creation, innovation
Kansas City’s “top-notch” research capabilities and talented workforce prove the region is ready to lead the country in innovation, said Sharice Davids, revealing news that the local Tech Hubs initiative would receive another $500,000 in federal funding. The award for the Kansas City Inclusive Biologics and Biomanufacturing Tech Hub (KC BioHub) comes less than a…