Tag: Tommy Wilson

‘The American dream is the Midwest’: LaunchKC powers next generation of startup job creators

By Tommy Felts / September 19, 2025

Editor’s note: The following is part of an ongoing feature series exploring impacts of initiatives within the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City through a paid partnership with EDCKC. Relocating to Kansas City after winning a LaunchKC grant — and the community and infrastructure support that comes with it — gives Russel Karim’s startup a centralized…

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

By Tommy Felts / August 28, 2025

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…

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LaunchKC invested in this founder’s vision; now she’s helping the grants competition boost KC’s startup scene

By Tommy Felts / November 14, 2024

Editor’s note: LaunchKC — a longstanding initiative from the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City and the Downtown Council — annual funds six to seven companies through its popular fall grants competition. Winning members of the 2025 LaunchKC cohort are set to be announced at a LaunchKC Liftoff event Nov. 19 at J. Rieger &…

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How a newly closed parking garage could signal transformation for a living Downtown KC 

By Tommy Felts / April 18, 2024

A series of transformative building projects are expected to help downtown Kansas City’s continued evolution as a resurgence in residents in the city’s core push new retail, offices and attractions, said Tommy Wilson. “Downtown has actually been on an incredible growth trajectory since the beginning of 2003,” Wilson, director of business recruitment and research for…

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Nearly $500K in renewed MTC funding for LaunchKC expected to empower early-stage tech startups for years 

By Tommy Felts / February 7, 2024

A popular entrepreneur support program is getting fresh funding from the State of Missouri to continue its competition for non-dilutive grants, along with offering winning companies office space, educational programs, and access to mentors. LaunchKC, the non-profit initiative founded by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri, (EDCKC) and Downtown Council is set to…

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