Funding Stories

KC entrepreneurial educator: ‘Zip code shouldn’t determine success’

Entrepreneurship education should begin as early as kindergarten, said Rachel Foster. “The younger my students are, the more creative they are, and the less the world has had time to tell them that it’s ‘not possible’ or ‘you can’t do that,’” said Foster, entrepreneurship teacher at Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy. “If we are able…

Deadlines approach for $100K, $500K co-investment opportunities for MO startups

It’s easy to form an idea. It’s more difficult to take it to market. The Missouri Tech Corporation’s IDEA Funds seek to facilitate the commercialization process for high-tech Missouri technologies, via a variety of co-investment opportunities. The IDEA Funds divide financing into four components that correspond to four stages of growth for entrepreneurs, from pre-investment…

Venture capital pitch event InvestMidwest seeks high-growth applicants

High-growth companies interested in pitching their firm to hundreds of investors can now apply to present their business at the InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum. The 19th annual forum will be held in St. Louis on March 28 and 29, 2018. The event is expected to draw more than 300 investors and entrepreneurs across the Midwest,…

Fund me, KC: From poverty to center stage, singer/songwriter wants to give back

Editor’s note: Startland News is continuing its segment to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. This is an opportunity for innovators to share their stories to gain a little help from their supporters. If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com  Who are you? My…

Beyond borders: Federal grant equips KC to build regional $5M seed fund

Pushing aside the Kansas-Missouri “border war,” a bi-state effort has earned a federal grant that will help create a $5 million fund for startups, which could begin investing as early as 2018. The Enterprise Center in Johnson County announced Monday it secured a $150,000 Economic Development Administration Seed Fund Support grant. The grant — which…