Charon Thompson

The Next Paige Agency

Alchemy Sandbox awards 5 more grants: Lean into failure to make your business ‘worthy to win’

Success isn’t always immediate, Elaina Paige Thomas said, grateful for lessons learned through trial and error, as well as a firm belief that persistence pays off.  “What I originally thought my business needed was not seen as a necessity to my panel of judges,” said Thomas, founder of The Next Paige Agency, recalling an experience…

Charon Thompson and Dan Smith, The Porter House KC

Porter House KC’s new ‘Alchemy Sandbox’ grants 20 main street businesses with up to $5K each

A newly launched program by The Porter House KC is aimed at providing small business owners with as much as $5,000 for their back office, equipment cost, rental assistance or general system needs, detailed Dan Smith.  “We’re really excited about this Alchemy Sandbox program. ‘Alchemy’ is a word that just kept coming up at the…

Miranda Schultz, Daniel Smith, Charon Thompson, and Jahna Riley, The Porter House KC

UMB Bank deposits $350K supporting The Porter House KC; $1.25M in year-end KC donations to benefit underserved communities

A hefty, end-of-year donation from UMB Bank will provide The Porter House KC an opportunity to dig deeper in assisting local entrepreneurs, said Daniel Smith, expressing appreciation for the $350,000 boost. “These resources will be used to continue our current work and implement another program that will assist small businesses with direct support, creating additional…

Charon Thompson and Dan Smith, The Porter House KC

Community Builders to Watch: Dan Smith and Charon Thompson grow an equitable future for KC by focusing on the now

Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing six Kansas City changemakers from five local organizations in its inaugural Community Builders to Watch list. The following highlights two of the 2021 honorees, selected from more than 100 initial nominees by a panel of judges. Click here to view the full list of Community Builders to Watch —…

Dan Smith and Charon Thompson, Porter House KC

Porter House KC receives $175K from JPMorgan Chase Foundation to support inclusive entrepreneurship 

An investment by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation will help The Porter House KC fill a void in entrepreneur support programming in Kansas City, said Dan Smith. “Our goal is always to find a solution to the problem. We felt there was a gap. There was a whole population of people being missed. People who come…