nbkc bank launching FinTech accelerator with at least $50K for each startup
June 20, 2018 | Bobby Burch
Leveraging an area aptitude for innovation in finance, nbkc bank is launching an accelerator program for early-stage financial technology startups from across the globe.
The Kansas City-based community bank has partnered with the LaunchKC grants contest to offer the Fountain City Fintech Accelerator, which will soon welcome applications for its inaugural class. The 75-day program begins Oct. 1.
“LaunchKC is thrilled to partner with nbkc bank to start Fountain City Fintech, adding another great resource for entrepreneurs and expanding the city’s efforts to become the most entrepreneurial city in America,” said Drew Solomon, senior vice president, business and job development at the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City. “It’s a great expansion to the LaunchKC grant competition, and the team at nbkc has shown they’re willing to invest the time, effort and dollars in the community to make innovation happen. We are currently conducting grant making opportunities to increase the impact and reach of the accelerator.”
nbkc bank and LaunchKC will select five companies from the pool of applicants, each of which will receive a minimum $50,000 investment in exchange for 2 to 4 percent equity in the firm. In addition to the funding, nbkc will provide the firms mentorship, connections and space at its headquarters located at 8320 Ward Parkway, Kansas City.
Pettet
The program will be led by Kansas City startup champion Zach Anderson Pettet, who recently made the case that Kansas City is an underground tech hub.
“Kansas City’s been a Fintech hub for longer than most people realize,” said Pettet. “The likes of H&R Block, BATS, and ZOLOZ have paved the way for an upcoming wave of financial technology innovation. With community Partners like LaunchKC, VC Partners like Plug and Play Ventures, and a stable of top-flight mentors from around the world, Fountain City Fintech is excited to play a pivotal role in that wave. We’re perfectly positioned to accelerate entrepreneurs’ efforts to solve real-world financial problems through technology.”
To learn more, or to apply to the Fountain City Fintech Accelerator, visit www.fountaincityfintech.com
2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Look inside (and out): Corrigan Station expansion offers startups skyline views from within Crossroads
Decades have passed since the last new office building opened in the Crossroads Arts District, said Edna Martinson. In a matter of weeks, startups and small businesses can “create their own vibe” when the 22,910-square-foot Corrigan Station expansion project — led by Copaken-Brooks — unlocks its doors and opens them to Kansas City innovators, added Martinson,…
Car vending machine drives into KC skyline with Carvana’s launch off Southwest Boulevard
Towering over Southwest Boulevard, Missouri’s first Carvana location has been parked in Kansas City and it’s finally ready to rev its engine, Amy O’Hara confirmed Thursday. “It’s a beautiful location and we’re looking forward to showing everyone our signature car vending machine experience and the new way to buy a car,” said O’Hara, Carvana associate…
Look inside: Fishtech Group opens its $10M+ Cyber Defense Center in Martin City
Fishtech Group is making a splash within the cyber security industry, showcasing its cloud-era capabilities in a new Cyber Defense Center that sits behind the gates of Fishtech’s sprawling Martin City campus, said Gary Fish. “I’ve been doing security since before it was cool,” said Fish, founder and CEO of Fishtech, as well as an…
WeWork report links coworking space to success of startups, Techstars KC, KC Collective
Nearly two years after it made its Kansas City debut, WeWork is delivering a measurable impact on the startup ecosystem, the company said Monday. A first-of-its-kind WeWork research project — the WeWork Global Impact Report — examined the scope of the Crossroads Arts District co-working site and its influence on entrepreneurs metro-wide. Takeaways from the…