Tag: Maria Meyers

Kansas City ESO icon Maria Meyers championed for bringing SourceLink to the world stage

By Tommy Felts / June 20, 2025

A decades-long effort to grow inclusive entrepreneurial communities by strengthening access to critical resources began as a grassroots movement in Kansas City, said Maria Meyers, whose work recently earned her global recognition — and a rare honor in recent years for an American recipient. Meyers, the founder of SourceLink — a first-of-its-kind platform boasting more…

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Enactus USA turns 50 in KC as local leaders urge: Give your network to an entrepreneur

By Tommy Felts / May 21, 2025

A three-day expo featuring student-led innovation and entrepreneurship from across the nation found its home (and groove) “in the heart of the USA” this week, said Mikena Manspeaker, noting the campus of UMKC was the perfect fit for marking the 50th anniversary of Enactus United States. “Kansas City is just booming with entrepreneurial spirit and…

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New in KC: Ops leader joins KCSourceLink to strengthen network’s collective impact for entrepreneurs

By Tommy Felts / February 10, 2025

A newly created director of operations role at KCSourceLink is expected to boost efforts to connect entrepreneurs and small businesses with hundreds of resources for growing and scaling their ventures in Kansas City, as well as across the state through MOSourceLink. Dena Thomas Aouassou, a veteran of nonprofit entrepreneurship support and workforce training, recently relocated…

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Becca Castro redesigned, rebooted LaunchKC; now she’ll lead KCSourceLink, one of KC’s premier startup champions

By Tommy Felts / August 13, 2024

KCSourceLink’s new director and network builder brings more than two decades of experience and a shared passion for helping aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs grow their businesses, leaders of the organization said Tuesday. Becca Castro, who most recently led LaunchKC from within the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC), begins the role Aug. 19. “I’m…

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Build a bigger bandwagon for women entrepreneurs, founders say; an isolated journey is too lonely 

By Tommy Felts / April 4, 2024

Representation of women in entrepreneurship is critically important, Vanessa Jupe told a crowd gathered this week at Union Station, emphasizing the power of exposure and leading by example to create a stronger, more diverse ecosystem. “If we don’t start businesses, then other women aren’t going to see that as a possibility,” said the founder and…

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