Startup World Cup opens bracket (and $1M prize) to KC startups; regional tournament this fall at CPKC Stadium

Ten Kansas City finalists are expected to compete this September for a spot in the world’s largest startup conference and pitch competition — pitting Heartland innovation against founders from more than 100 regions around the globe.

The Startup World Cup — organized by Silicon Valley-based Pegasus Tech Ventures — is launching a regional tournament this fall at CPKC Stadium, allowing a local entry point for the global tech competition, which culminates in November with a million-dollar investment prize.

Other regional competitions are planned from Las Vegas to Dubai, Ukraine to Australia.

“Hosting the regional tournament recognizes Kansas City’s reputation and ongoing commitment to be a thriving environment for entrepreneurship, especially for tech-based and tech-enabled startups from Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas,” said Adam Larson, network convener for MOSourceLink and KCSourceLink, one of the core partners for the Sept. 22 regional event.

One Kansas City winner will move on from regionals to the “Grand Finale” in San Francisco.

Coreshell Technologies, a battery innovation company from San Leandro, California, won the 2025 Startup World Cup, earning a $1 million investment from Pegasus, which serves as general partner for the global fund that invests in the winning startup.

To enter the Kansas City tournament, tech-based or tech-enabled startups businesses located in Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas can submit a slide deck and a 4-minute-long video pitch describing the unique value of the business for consideration in the judging round.

Applications open July 6. Click here for more details. 

Local organizers for the event include KCSourceLink, UMKC Innovation Center, Keystone Innovation District, KU Innovation Park, and LaunchKC.

“KCSourceLink is a proud partner of the tournament,” said Larson, “reflecting our focus to serve as a resource as we elevate the region’s innovation economy, connect founders with investors and ecosystem leaders and highlight the strength of the Kansas City startup community.”

Community members are invited to attend the regional competition at CPKC Stadium. The free event will give attendees the opportunity to hear pitches from ten regional finalists, connect with founders and ecosystem leaders and support Kansas City’s growing technology startup community, Larson added.