GEWKC returning to familiar venue (but its new destinations might surprise ticket holders)
October 7, 2025 | Tommy Felts
When Global Entrepreneurship Week pulls into the station later this fall, Kansas City participants can expect a fresh experience inside one of the region’s most iconic landmarks, said Callie England, noting an intentional effort behind the scenes should help reroute the “best of the best” events onto custom agendas.
“While you’ll see a few familiar faces, there’s a strong mix of new voices too,” said England, director of Global Entrepreneurship Week-Kansas City for KCSourceLink, which has organized the event since 2008.
Leaders from Brown Suga race to the stage after winning the 2024 AltCap Your Biz competition during GEWKC; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
In addition to community sessions across the metro that run throughout the week, the in-person, three-day GEWKC conference at Union Station Kansas City is set for Nov. 18-20 and features a curated selection of back-to-back content every hour with expanded networking opportunities, a growing maker fair, and even a pitch competition.
ICYMI: AltCap Your Biz launches fan favorite vote as GEWKC pitch event nears
“This year marks the first time we implemented blind judging for session selection,” England explained of the planning effort that resulted in the November schedule. “Every submission was scored against a set of criteria, eliminating bias in what gets chosen.”
Organizers are proud to have used the new process to ensure GEWKC is curating sessions entrepreneurs actually want, she added, noting changes were based on feedback heard throughout the year from small business owners.
“Out of more than 200 submissions, only 60 were selected,” England said, emphasizing sessions are led by experts for those who want to start a business or side hustle, scale their operations or elevate their marketing. “So while the schedule can feel full, it’s truly the best of the best. We also addressed past feedback that some sessions felt like sales pitches; this new approach really prioritizes practical, high-value content.”
Registration is now open, and attendees can click here to begin building their schedules.
GEWKC also includes more curated networking time than ever before, England said, with each day now including dedicated breakfast, lunch, and happy hour blocks designed for real connection — “not just ‘eat and listen,’ but ‘eat and make a new connection.’”
“It’s a huge shift toward what we think makes entrepreneurship thrive: community,” she said. “And yes, we’re feeding more people than ever!”
The Maker Fair at GEWKC has also expanded, with 25 small businesses set to be showcased each day at the Union Station base camp.
Nicholas Segura, founder of Segura Marketing, moderates a GEWKC panel conversation about the business impact of the coming World Cup in 2026, alongside Kim Randolph Davis, CEO of the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce, David Pruente, senior vice president of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Cici Rojas, CEO of Tico Productions, and Francisco Murguia, owner of Cafe Ollama; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
England stressed the event’s mission to serve as an entry point into Kansas City’s entrepreneur community for anyone hoping to move forward with an idea or in their existing venture. Six to 10 entrepreneur support organizations are expected to be on site for GEWKC, and KCSourceLink will have its six navigators creating action plans for entrepreneurs throughout the day.
“I’d be remiss not to mention our Hispanic Track on Thursday,” England said of the expanded specialty programming day that first debuted in 2024 with sessions offered in Spanish for members of Kansas City’s Latino business community. “We’ve brought even more partners to the table this year and expanded that programming significantly — something our community really asked for and needed.”
Global Entrepreneurship Week is an international celebration that, for the past 18 years, has inspired millions of people to explore their potential as entrepreneurs and connect with their local entrepreneurship communities.
Founded in Kansas City by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in 2008, the event has since expanded to more than 180 countries.
Featured Business
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
StoryUp levels up again: KC-area VR startup secures spot at Apple camp for women-led tech
It’s the ultimate “nerdy” thing for tech entrepreneurs, Sarah Hill said as Columbia-based startup, StoryUP joins an Apple summer cohort — specifically designed to support women-led companies. “To have direct communication, to troubleshoot in an area of media that’s difficult to create. It is valuable for us and we’re honored and we’re really excited about…
You’ll soon have 20+ smart devices in your home; How many will steal your data?
Consumers of smart technology need to be wary of most of the lesser-known brands in retail stores, said Scott Ford. “Most likely they’re using a platform architecture that sits on a foreign market, sending your data to who knows where, without the protections that are common in the U.S,” said Ford, CEO of Pepper IoT,…
Project UK earns $100K prize to help build out tech ecosystem, connected community
A $100,000 injection will position Project United Knowledge for growth that could further fill diversity and inclusion gaps in Kansas City’s tech ecosystem. The accelerator program landed the investment as a winner of the Kapor Center’s $1 million Tech Done Right National Challenge, said Quest Moffat, head of innovation at Project UK. Beyond financial support,…
More than a makeover: ‘Queer Eye’ gives Wesley Hamilton an opportunity to thank the shooter who put him in a wheelchair
Wesley Hamilton’s clear vision for his potential impact took away the nerves while in front of cameras for Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” he said. “Me being able to get on a show with that type of exposure and spread my message to those within my community and outside of it… I’m just really excited for the…