LaunchKC opens grants competition with nationwide search; eying companies to call KC home

A popular grants competition that offers early stage tech companies the opportunity to win $60,000 in non-dilutive grants, downtown Kansas City office space, and access to scaling resources is back for 2025 — emphasizing startups with high-growth potential and equitable business practices.

LaunchKC’s signature Liftoff grants competition opened applications Thursday, kicking off a nationwide search for its next cohort of builders. Up to eight startups are expected to be selected from the program, which also includes access to a host of support services, local mentors, and networking opportunities.

Organized by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri (EDCKC), and Downtown Council, the popular program comes with key support from the City of Kansas City, Missouri. LaunchKC does not take equity in the companies that it supports through the program. 

“We understand the power of local companies and believe that every start-up has the potential to be the next big job creator, economic engine, and KC headquarters,” said Jim Erickson, director of strategic initiatives for EDCKC. “With nearly 100 local volunteers willing to help with the competition’s selection process, business mentoring and more, we know the KC business community is behind this effort just as much as we are.” 

Click here to learn more about LaunchKC or to apply for the Liftoff grants competition. Applications close Sept. 24.

Russel Karim, SourceEazy, pitches his Des Moines, Iowa, startup during LaunchKC’s 2024 event; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Qualified applicants — who must be located in KCMO or are willing to relocate to KCMO — will have their applications evaluated by a panel of reviewers comprised of LaunchKC staff, industry experts, entrepreneurs, past grant recipients, and business leaders. Reviewers will narrow the pool of applicants through three rounds of judging.

In the final round, approximately 15 applicants will participate in in-person interviews and of those, up to seven will be selected and announced at the Nov. 17 LaunchKC Liftoff event to help kick off Global Entrepreneurship Week. 

“There’s so much momentum in downtown KC; these startups are only continuing to add to the fabric of our dynamic and growing community,” said Tommy Wilson, director of business recruitment for the Downtown Council.

Click here to read about the winners from LaunchKC’s competition in 2024.

Since the first grants competition in 2015, LaunchKC has supported more than 122 companies and collectively, those companies have attracted more than $450 million in follow-on capital and helped create 1,640 jobs. In addition, more than two-thirds of companies who have participated in LaunchKC programming are women and/or minority-led.