Investors

George Hansen, president and CEO,the Enterprise Center in Johnson County

Proactive hometown company-building will cross county, state lines with Fountain Innovation Fund, ECJC leader says

By Tommy Felts / February 14, 2019

It’s time for Kansas City stakeholders to stop waiting for coastal companies to “save the day,” said George Hansen. “We spend a great deal of tax dollars trying to entice companies to move here with their workforce,” Hansen, president and CEO of the Enterprise Center in Johnson County, told a crowd of about 100 gathered…

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Kauffman Capital Access Lab

Kauffman launching Capital Access Lab investment pipeline for underserved entrepreneurs

By Tommy Felts / February 13, 2019

Every new business should have a fighting chance at success — regardless of the entrepreneur’s background, said Victor Hwang, announcing a new Capital Access Lab to address opportunity gaps in Kansas City and across the U.S. “It is up to us to collectively break down systematic barriers to entry that adversely impact people of color,…

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InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum

Nearly 30 percent of InvestMidwest applicants from Kansas City

By Tommy Felts / February 8, 2019

Young Kansas City companies are hungry for investor dollars and connections — as evidenced by dozens of metro startups and businesses applying for next month’s InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum. Of the more than 140 applications from entrepreneurs in 19 states seeking to pitch their companies, 18 hail from Kansas City, Missouri, and 10 call Overland Park…

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SPN report: KC underperformed on venture deals by $100M in 2018, despite cool jobs and connectivity

By Tommy Felts / February 7, 2019

Google Fiber infrastructure and cool tech jobs alone aren’t enough to power a vibrant startup ecosystem rich with venture-backed investments, according to a new report that takes a critical look at Kansas City’s place within the Midwest economy. “The [Kansas City] community boasts the fastest broadband speed and is competitive in most of the other…

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CB Insights KCRise

CB Insights calls KCRise most active VC in Kansas; Fund credits work of small team, innovative portfolio startups

By Tommy Felts / February 7, 2019

Kansans don’t fear hard work, said Darcy Howe. An investment in such a mindset has come with big returns for the KCRise Fund, newly proclaimed the most active venture capital fund in the Sunflower State, according to CB Insights. “Perhaps overused but Margaret Mead’s quote, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens…

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