Enactus USA turns 50 in KC as local leaders urge: Give your network to an entrepreneur
May 21, 2025 | Taylor Wilmore
A three-day expo featuring student-led innovation and entrepreneurship from across the nation found its home (and groove) “in the heart of the USA” this week, said Mikena Manspeaker, noting the campus of UMKC was the perfect fit for marking the 50th anniversary of Enactus United States.
“Kansas City is just booming with entrepreneurial spirit and that Midwestern warmth,” said Manspeaker, acting country leader for Enactus USA, which hosted its national exposition Tuesday through Thursday at The University of Missouri-Kansas City. “What better place to celebrate this milestone event?”
The gathering draws together hundreds of students, educators, and business leaders to share ideas, compete in project showcases, and explore how entrepreneurship can create positive social change.
Dr. Jennifer Lundgren, provost and executive vice chancellor at UMKC, welcomes attendees to the Enactus USA expo at UMKC; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
Dr. Jennifer Lundgren, provost and executive vice chancellor at UMKC, welcomed attendees with reflections on the region’s culture of community-driven entrepreneurship.
“Kansas City has long been a place where bold ideas take shape and where people work together to solve real world problems,” Lundgren said. “You are here because you’re not just thinking about complex problems. You’re working to solve them.”
She also highlighted UMKC’s Enactus team and their Stay Driven project, which supports local families through basic car maintenance education.
“At UMKC, we believe in the power of social entrepreneurship because we see it in action here at the university and in our community every day,” she added.
Maria Meyers, executive director for UMKC’s Innovation Center, speaks alongside Dan Smith, co–founder of The Porter House KC, during a panel on Kansas City entrepreneurship at UMKC; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Building for longevity, not now
A panel discussion during the event featured Kansas City leaders working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem event further.
Speakers included Dan Smith, co–founder of The Porter House KC, Pedro Zamora, executive director of the Hispanic Economic Development Corporation, and Maria Meyers, executive director for UMKC’s Innovation Center.
“Entrepreneurship isn’t something you do alone, there’s infrastructure, just like with travel,” said Meyers. “We just have to make that support system visible. If I want to start a business, I should know where to start, and there should be a path that helps me go the extra mile.”
Meyers encouraged students to use their networks to support small businesses.
“Buy local. When you drive home, look at the small businesses. Stop by, buy local,” she continued. “You all have a social network. The most important thing to an entrepreneur is their social network. So give yours to an entrepreneur. Reach into communities you don’t usually work in and connect.”
Pedro Zamora, executive director of the Hispanic Economic Development Corporation, speaks on a panel during the Enactus USA expo at UMKC; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Smith pointed to entrepreneurship as a way to address health and economic disparities, especially in neighborhoods like the East Side.
“There’s a 10-year life expectancy gap between the east and west sides of Kansas City,” he noted. “So for us at The Porter House, helping small businesses grow in urban environments is about more than money, it’s about longevity.”
Zamora spoke about the challenges Latino entrepreneurs often face and how his organization supports them.
“We use cognitive techniques to help individuals feel part of our economy, part of our community,” he said. “Our goal is not to train people to take tests. It’s to help them learn to do, to own their path forward.”
Igniting the spark
Wei Tsay, host of the Enactus USA expo at UMKC, shares his Enactus story with attendees; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
Wei Tsay, host of this year’s Enactus expo and an alum of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, shared how the organization has shaped his life.
“Through Enactus, I discovered much more about myself and the world around me,” he said. “A decade and a half later, I’m still in touch with my closest friends and partners from Enactus, and that to me is truly priceless.”
As the expo continued this week, students presented their ventures and took part in visits to local innovation hubs, including the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Populous, and the Plaster Center for Free Enterprise and Business Development.
“This week is about turning a spark into something that’s scalable and sustainable,” said Lundgren. “This is your moment to explore and push yourself beyond what is comfortable.”
Featured Business
Taylor Wilmore
Taylor Wilmore, hailing from Lee’s Summit, is a dedicated reporter and a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Taylor channels her deep-seated passion for writing and storytelling to create compelling narratives that shed light on the diverse residents of Kansas City.
Prior to her role at Startland News, Taylor made valuable contributions as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian newspaper, where she covered a wide range of community news and higher education stories.
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
‘Get a glimpse of your future’ — Investors want data with your pitch
Editor’s Note: This content is sponsored by Mid-Continent Public Library but independently produced by Startland News. For more on the tools discussed in this article, click here. Imagine this. Your wearable tech firm is thriving — so much, in fact, that you need an injection of investment capital to maintain sustainable growth. You’ve booked some…
Launch It Successfully hopes to reduce early stage frustration, struggle for startups
A new accelerator program produced by key leaders of software development firm Illumisoft is helping innovators start their businesses by “cutting through the nonsense,” said Tyler Prince. “We want to help entrepreneurs succeed,” he said. “I think we live in an age when change happens so rapidly.” Launch It Successfully’s goal is to assist early…
Is government helping startups enough? Founders feel isolated, Kauffman survey finds
Early stage entrepreneurs struggle with the technical steps to getting started, a new Kauffman survey found, and founders don’t believe the government is helping them. The prevailing sentiment that entrepreneurs view themselves as isolated from assistance is understandable, said Melissa Roberts, vice president of strategy and economic development at the Enterprise Center in Johnson County.…
Kauffman survey: Women more critical of their own early-stage entrepreneurial efforts
Women entrepreneurs are more likely than their male counterparts to grade their performances harshly during the first year of business, though that tendency typically fades over time, according to a new survey by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. It often is about approaching the venture a realistic viewpoint, said Jeff Shackelford, executive director of Digital…