StartupGrowKC bootcamp: Building smart and intentional teams alongside ECJC

January 18, 2019  |  Elyssa Bezner

Founders can expect to emerge from the Enterprise Center in Johnson County’s StartupGrowKC bootcamp series with greater knowledge of the skills needed to grow their business, said Kathryn Golden.

“[Founders will see] the fuller life cycle of what they will need to consider [to be successful],” said Golden, programs manager at ECJC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs grow. “I do want them to walk away with an actionable, strategic plan, and even if they’re not immediately ready to use the whole thing, they can put it in their file cabinet, or continue filling it out over time. They know what [steps] to think through.”

Kathryn Golden, ECJC

Kathryn Golden, ECJC

Click here to learn more about the Enterprise Center in Johnson County.

Four courses on essential startup questions are planned throughout 2019, in addition to ECJC’s wide-ranging programming, she said, noting the first iteration of a customer acquisition strategy track wrapped in the fall.

The next course — “Building Smart and Intentional Teams” — is expected to begin Jan. 22, she added, adding that registration for the three-session course is open.

Click here to register for “Building Smart and Intentional Teams” or learn more about the bootcamp curriculum.

“Most entrepreneurs [would say] they’ve never managed people before,” said Golden. “So now, they’re managing small teams and they’re trying to create a culture and grow really quickly. How do you do that when that’s all new to you?”

The class size is expected to be about 10 to 15 founders, she said, adding she hopes for a small group setting.

“The content is very practical and hands on,” she added.

Mentors and experts expected to serve as instructors include: Ryan Thompson, Ad Astra CTO; Doug Burris, Growth Acceleration Services president; and Susie Coultis, executive coach and consultant for Propel Coaching and Consulting, said Golden.

“I certainly don’t have any expertise on these topics that we have that offered, so I went out and found people who did,” she laughed.

The two remaining courses planned for later in 2019 are expected to cover building sales and fostering media attention, she said, noting ECJC’s Growth Mentoring Service and Pitch Perfect programs are expected to continue in 2019 as well.

Click here to get updates and better connected to ECJC.

Tagged , , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder
      [adinserter block="4"]

      2019 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        Black Feast Week returns to feed restaurants new diners, combat hunger in Kansas City

        By Tommy Felts | October 8, 2025

        Opening Black Feast Week — designed to promote Black-owned restaurants, chefs, and culinary creativity — by feeding 150 single Black mothers for free was an intentional act of community care, said Joshua “JT” Taylor. “We’ve always tried to prioritize helping people who are most marginalized,” said Taylor, senior content producer and chief administrative officer at…

        ‘Night Without Borders’ opens coffee house doors to honor heritage through harmony

        By Tommy Felts | October 7, 2025

        Culture transcends borders, said Danny Soriano, surrounded Friday night in a popular Crossroads coffee shop by music, dance, art, food, and drinks that all shared a common link: Latino flavor. “Whether it’s Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Argentina, we all come together as Latinos, as Hispanics, and celebrate our heritage,” said Soriano, who organized a…

        KC GIFT orders a full meal with $100K Wah Gwan grant: Job creation (with a side of inspiration)

        By Tommy Felts | October 7, 2025

        Young people on Kansas City’s east side need to see examples of what can be achieved when someone who looks like them works hard — and wins, said Tanyech Yarbrough, pledging to use her recent grant funding from KC G.I.F.T. to mirror entrepreneurship to her community, as well as expand her Troost eatery. Yarbrough’s Wah…

        GEWKC returning to familiar venue (but its new destinations might surprise ticket holders)

        By Tommy Felts | October 7, 2025

        When Global Entrepreneurship Week pulls into the station later this fall, Kansas City participants can expect a fresh experience inside one of the region’s most iconic landmarks, said Callie England, noting an intentional effort behind the scenes should help reroute the “best of the best” events onto custom agendas. “While you’ll see a few familiar…