Enactus USA turns 50 in KC as local leaders urge: Give your network to an entrepreneur

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.”