InvestMidwest back in KC ahead of World Cup rush; four new leaders join board roster

A powerhouse quartet of venture experts are on board for the next wave of InvestMidwest impact, said Claire Kinlaw, announcing plans for the two-day summit’s bounce back to Kansas City this spring as organizers push to boost deal flow in a region outside the startup-dense coasts.

New to InvestMidwest’s board as planning gets under way for the April 21–22 conference: Dr. William D. Paiva, Tulsa, Oklahoma, founder and managing partner of OLSF Ventures (Oklahoma Life Science Fund); Brett Calhoun, Columbia, Missouri, general partner at Redbud VC; Christine Karslake, Rolla, Missouri, associate vice chancellor of Innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization at Missouri S&T; and Mike Jung, Omaha, Nebraska, managing director of Grit Road Ventures.

“Their collective experience strengthens our leadership at a pivotal moment, as we return to Kansas City for the 2026 conference and continue our mission to showcase the region’s most promising startups,” said Kinlaw, executive director of InvestMidwest.

The summit brings together entrepreneurs and investors to foster connections and accelerate growth across the region, alternating host cities each year between Kansas City and St. Louis.

Click here to learn more about InvestMidwest.

Kansas City stakeholders gather in September for an InvestMidwest kickoff event at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management on the UMKC campus; photo courtesy of InvestMidwest

InvestMidwest — arriving this year less than two months ahead of Kansas City’s World Cup games — serves as an opportunity for Missouri to showcase some of the best talent to investors regionally and nationally while advancing the collaboration of the coasts and Missouri, explained incoming board member Calhoun — who also is a key organizer for Main Street Summit and the resurgent Missouri Startup Weekend.

“I am passionate about supporting longstanding startup events that bring together many founders and investors in Missouri, such as InvestMidwest,” he said. “Strong in-person events accelerate knowledge sharing and network effects — a key driver for the Missouri ecosystem.”

Calhoun, named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in Venture Capital in 2024, has built Redbud VC into a top decile venture capital fund. He previously co-founded three fintech companies, built the Scale Accelerator, and raised more than $40 million across startups and venture. His expertise spans fintech, venture capital, and early-stage company building.

With highly sought-after industry tracks — AgriFood, MedTech and Digital Technologies with an emphasis on Cybersecurity, Geospatial, Supply Chain, DeepTech, B2B, SaaS, FinTech, Digital Health — the summit has curated a deep list of investors and strategic partners eager to see emerging, high-growth Missouri entrepreneurs, Calhoun continued.

“It’s pretty cool to meet professionals who have been going to the event every year for five or 10 years, regardless of the market conditions,” he said. “There is a healthy number of long-term participants since many leverage InvestMidwest for deal flow between the coasts.”

Dr. William D. Paiva, a new board member for InvestMidwest, right, chats with Daniela Vidal, a student at Washington University, and Claire Kinlaw, executive director of InvestMidwest, at the 2025 conference in St. Louis; photo courtesy of InvestMidwest

InvestMidwest’s new board members, Kinlaw detailed, also include:

• William Paiva, who brings more than two decades of experience in early-stage healthcare venture capital, during which he has helped portfolio companies raise more than $600 million in venture capital, secure more than $2 billion in corporate co-development funding, and achieve exits exceeding $1.5 billion. He also co-founded the Center for Health Systems Innovation at Oklahoma State University and most recently launched My Life In The Middle Seat, a platform dedicated to personal and professional growth.

• Christine Karslake, who adds extensive expertise in venture capital, technology commercialization, and innovation management. At Missouri S&T, she oversees the university’s angel and venture capital fund, accelerators, incubators, patent process, licensing, and other commercialization programs. A seasoned executive, Karslake has held leadership roles across multiple organizations, with a proven track record in identifying and nurturing high-potential startups, particularly in the technology and life sciences sectors.

• Mike Jung, who offers his commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and growing impactful businesses. With a career dedicated to investing in early-stage ventures, Jung specializes in identifying transformative ideas and helping founders scale. His experience spans technology, healthcare, and industrial sectors, and he is deeply invested in building strong, resilient companies that drive economic growth across the Midwest.