News Stories
Winners revealed: LaunchKC awards $300K in rebooted grants competition
LaunchKC’s cornerstone grants celebration returned Tuesday after a four-year hiatus, awarding six Kansas City startups — from gaming and edtech to IoT and healthcare — with $50,000 each in non-dilutive grants. “A win for these companies is a win for Kansas City,” said Becca Castro, strategic initiatives manager for the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas…
‘Perfect is the enemy of progress’: KC founders say the right time for entrepreneurship is now — even if mistakes are inevitable
Early in John Thomson’s entrepreneurial journey, the PayIt co-founder realized no one had all the answers, he shared; and anyone who waits until they feel comfortable enough to start a business will be waiting forever. “We’re all imperfect, certainly fallible. You’ve got to keep going and not worry about perfect. Perfect is the enemy of…
Co-founder of nonprofit that boosts Black businesses among two winners of $100K Pinnacle Prizes
Brandon Calloway reflects the best of Kansas City’s young leaders, said Maurice Watson, announcing the G.I.F.T. co-founder as one of two winners of the 2022 Pinnacle Prize — an award that comes with a no-strings-attached $100,000. “Brandon grew up in the urban core and is motivated to make social and economic conditions better than those…
Bank of America awards $200K to Pawsperity, a social venture startup supporting struggling parents
Two Kansas City nonprofits are expected to receive hefty, multi-year grants from one of the nation’s banking giants — focusing on direct funding and leadership development — including a social enterprise that uses dog grooming to improve parents’ quality of life. Bank of America on Tuesday announced Pawsperity, formerly The Grooming Project, as one of two “Neighborhood…
Endeavor could bring its global capital network to KC startups; leaders weigh its local need
Leaders from the Heartland division of Endeavor on Monday gave local entrepreneurs a first look at capital, resources, and programming that could come to Kansas City as the global nonprofit considers expansion into the region. During the preview event, organized as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, representatives from Endeavor’s regional office in Northwest Arkansas discussed…
