Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

David Biga, Particle Space, Startup Crawl KC

Photos: Startup Crawl KC draws 1,000+ to the Crossroads, despite First Fridays overhaul

Mission accomplished, said organizers of Startup Crawl KC, announcing record attendance during the fifth showing of the innovation expo.  “Best Startup Crawl ever,” said Gerald Smith, co-founder of Plexpod — which played host Oct. 4 to one of the Crawl’s three stops at its Crossroads Arts District location.  More than 1,000 guests descended on the…

Renewed Kauffman support expected to fuel ECJC’s ‘Pitch Perfect’ through 2021

Hungry entrepreneurs could be the leading reason behind the return of Pitch Perfect bootcamp at the Enterprise Center in Johnson County.  “[We heard from the community that] it was one of the best programs in the city for [early-stage founders],” Kathryn Golden, ECJC programs manager, said of a growing appetite for resources provided by the…

Kauffman survey

Amid recession talk, job-creating startups need government focus now, Kauffman says

Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a sponsor of Startland News, but this report was produced independently of the Kansas City-based nonprofit. U.S. policymakers must shift their focus from the old ways of doing business to efforts that boost entrepreneurship at the grassroots levels and target traditionally underoptimized communities, according to the Ewing…

Crystal German, Prosperity Labs, Startland's Innovation Exchange

Innovation versus inclusive prosperity: Can hub developers create both in Kansas City?

Place and prosperity go hand-in-hand, said William Dowdell. Less clear, however, is how developers and communities will strike a balance in their efforts to generate innovation and wealth in Kansas City. “Geography is a big part of this. When we talk about expanding opportunity and bringing innovation, we also have to look at those spaces…

Victor Hwang, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, 2019 State of Entrepreneurship address

Victor Hwang leaving Kauffman VP role; entrepreneurship becomes national priority ahead of 2020 political cycle

Ecosystem building has risen to the national conversation — marking the right moment for Victor Hwang to exit the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and its vision-rich entrepreneurship team, he said.  “A few years ago, people would talk about supporting entrepreneurs as if they were disconnected individuals … helping one entrepreneur at a time or maybe…