KCRise Fund – The new sidecar fund for early stage investment opportunities has been working diligently throughout the summer to build its list of committed investors as well as reaching out to venture capital firms across the U.S. to identify interest in KC area investments. Its three-part mission is to help corporations connect with innovation in their own back yard, help families of wealth be comfortable investing in early stage companies, and give VC firms outside of KC more visibility in our market. The Fund closed its first round of $10 million in September and is actively seeking investment opportunities. Read related stories in the Kansas City Business Journal and Startland News. Contact Darcy Howe for more information.
Kansas City Capital Education and Development – This not-for-profit effort is focused on educating the public about the benefits of investing. The program will be housed at KC SourceLink and coordinated with the KC Chamber’s Big 5 effort to Make Kansas City America’s Most Entrepreneurial City. The program is expected to launch this fall as a partial recipient of a pending Missouri Technology Corporation grant being awarded to KC SourceLink.
Innovation Hub – The Innovation Hub is designed to provide entrepreneurs with one more option for greater access to capital, and to encourage greater corporate engagement in early stage investment. KC area companies will find greater support for corporate innovation, collaboration and engagement with entrepreneurs across the region. The Hub will have both a virtual and a physical location where it can bridge the gap between other existing hubs and programs. The I&E group expects to launch the Innovation Hub in Q4 of 2016 following a situational analysis by the Kauffman Foundation.