Listen: KC immigrant entrepreneurs share their stories

February 23, 2017  |  Meghan LeVota

In light of recent news, Startland News focused this month’s Innovation Exchange on the intersection of immigration and entrepreneurship.

U.S. immigration policy has a profound impact not only on society but also the nation’s entrepreneurial vibrancy, which prompted a discussion including a researcher and policy expert, a local immigration attorney and pair of immigrant entrepreneurs.

If you weren’t able to make it to the event, we’ve clipped together the important parts you missed. In the conversation we hear personal stories from Kansas City immigrant entrepreneurs about how they arrived in the United States, explore how the H-1B Visa works and jump into the impact that immigrant entrepreneurs have on the nation’s economy.

Hope you enjoy!

[adinserter block="4"]

2017 Startups to Watch

    stats here

    Related Posts on Startland News

    KCultivator Q&A: Jessica Powell gets candid about ‘KC Nice’ (and how she’d spend $1M)

    By Tommy Felts | October 13, 2025

    Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. [divide] Let’s get real, Jessica Powell said with a wry smirk, explaining her vision for a Kansas City that works together — and stops cannibalizing its own.   “I’m a startup junkie,” the community champion and founder of…

    Pure Pitch Rally reveals competitors for its 10th crowd-funded, spot-cash pitch contest

    By Tommy Felts | October 13, 2025

    Eight emerging startups set to take the Pure Pitch Rally stage next month will become part of the Kansas City tech community’s evolving story, said Karen Fenaroli, touting a decade of impact that has seen millions in follow-on capital raised and thousands of jobs created across the region. “It is no longer just an event,”…

    Sisters brew backyard-style beers from a historic firehouse in Budweiser territory

    By Tommy Felts | October 11, 2025

    Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it. [divide] SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A midlife career crisis took…

    LISTEN: Meet the partners behind Plug and Play Topeka’s growth (and impact)

    By Tommy Felts | October 10, 2025

    On a special episode of Startland News’ 12-part podcast series diving deeper into Plug and Play, we explore how the Topeka-based program and its partners work to turn bold ideas into Kansas success stories. Guests includes Bret Lanz from Kansas State University’s Technology Development Institute; John G. Brown of StenCo; and Cole Ahlvers from NQV8…