KU Innovation Park hires former Tech Venture Studio leader to support its entrepreneurs
April 9, 2024 | Startland News Staff
LAWRENCE, Kansas — An entrepreneurial support expert who made his entry into the Kansas City startup ecosystem through the UMKC Innovation Center, Chris Rehkamp is now building founder relationships at a business incubator in Kansas.
KU Innovation Park today announced Rehkamp’s new role as director of business services at the nonprofit economic development organization’s sprawling campus in Lawrence.
“I’m excited to join the KU Innovation Park team and contribute to the mission of driving economic prosperity in the region through supporting our innovative companies,” Rehkamp said. “My passion is helping people and companies achieve their goals. The Park’s existing infrastructure and plans for future growth are a unique opportunity to help entrepreneurs succeed and positively impact our community.”
KU Innovation Park, formerly the Bioscience and Technology Business Center
KU Innovation Park — which offers lab, office, and co-working facilities — is home to more than 70 companies that employ 680 people, supporting an annual payroll of $45 million.
Rehkamp’s first day in the role was Monday.
An entrepreneur himself, Rehkamp most recently served as associate director of the Technology Venture Studio at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Innovation Center.
“The Park is thrilled to welcome Chris to the team,” said Adam Courtney, CEO at the KU Innovation Park. “His experience aligns so well with the mission of the Park, and his passion for helping entrepreneurs is evident. The knowledge and connections he brings to the role will be a huge advantage for the Park’s startups and entrepreneurs across the region.”
ICYMI: KU Innovation Park names new CEO as business incubator ramps up regional eco devo efforts
While at UMKC, Rehkamp represented the Kansas City region by participating in the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program, which focused on advancing the region’s biologics ecosystem. Those efforts culminated when the region, which includes Lawrence, was designated as a Tech Hub by the U.S. Economic Development Administration in October 2023.
Rehkamp started his career as the membership manager for Union Kitchen Food Accelerator in Washington, D.C. He then served as the student venture programs manager at the University of Maryland before consulting for entrepreneurs, teaching and founding a pizza business on the Hawaiian Islands.
Click here to read more about Chris Rehkamp’s life before moving to Kansas City.
He has a Master of Professional Studies in Technology Entrepreneurship from the University of Maryland.
Startland News named Rehkamp a Community Builder to Watch in 2022.
Featured Business
2024 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…