News Stories

Regnier, Bloch family foundations invest $3M in UMKC venture challenge, resources

A just-announced $3 million gift is expected to transform UMKC’s flagship venture creation challenge — empowering new waves of student entrepreneurs — as well as enhance free business resources for local founders and builders. The Regnier Family Foundation and Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation partnered on the investment to create new opportunities for students and…

Airbnb invests $100K in city’s World Cup push to get pop-up businesses into storefronts

The goal for Open Doors! goes beyond small businesses checking in, then promptly checking out once the FIFA World Cup ends, said Tracey Lewis, announcing a $100,000 investment from Airbnb to help expand long-term opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

KC allergist raises $200K to launch exposure-building immunity droplets for infants

A Kansas City physician-turned-founder has secured $200,000 in pre-launch funding to scale a solution that boosts healthy immune development in infants through early childhood with consistent exposure to food proteins.

Baseball every day: Here’s how Royals’ new ballpark pitch could changeup Crown Center (and KC spirit)

Renderings only tell part of the story, said Don Hall Jr., describing a new ballpark district at Crown Center that not only is home to the Kansas City Royals, but feels like an inviting community asset even during the off-season.

Great Jobs KC awarded $3.8M+ Patterson grant to expand rural workforce training into Kansas, Missouri 

A three-year grant from the Patterson Family Foundation is expected to help Great Jobs KC bring life-changing training and wraparound support services to workers in rural counties on both sides of the state line, said Earl Martin Phalen.