Dare to Venture

Sunny Sanwar and Patrick Hosty, Dynamhex

How a climate tech startup made its footprint in KC, but found its footing in a two-city solution

When the City of Kansas City, Missouri, came looking for ways to combat climate change in 2018, Sunny Sanwar raised his hand with a solution.  “There’s a lot of extremely useful models in academia, [but they] oftentimes don’t solve for commercial viability. They’re solving to appease peers or for publishing in top journals,” said Sanwar,…

Erin Bopp, Lightwork DJ Mobilverse

16 winners: Micro-grant competition debuts with $30K in prizes to entrepreneurs who ‘need funds the most’

Not all early-stage entrepreneurs and small businesses qualify for federal disaster loans, prompting an even greater need for programs like the new Dare to Venture Micro-Grant Competition, according to the Urban Business Growth Initiative. “At a critical time when small businesses need funds the most, the program offered a total of $30,000 in micro-grants to…

Rhonda Dolan, Udo, Urban Business Growth Initiative alum and 2019 Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year

Newly launched Dare to Venture competition set to award $30K in micro-grants

Participants in a series of select entrepreneurship courses this winter will be eligible to win a total of $30,000 in micro-grant awards thanks to the Urban Business Growth Initiative. Funded by the City of Kansas City, Missouri, and administered by the UMKC Innovation Center, the new Dare to Venture Micro-Grant Competition is expected to feature…