UMKC Innovation Center partners with the university and the community to spark and sustain entrepreneurial efforts within our region and across the country.

KCSourceLink connects KC entrepreneurs to the right resource at the right time.

MOSourceLink connects Missouri entrepreneurs to the right resource at the right time.

Whiteboard2Boardroom connects entrepreneurs and businesses to technologies available for licensing.

Digital Sandbox KC provides early-stage proof-of-concept support for digital products.

Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Center provides technical assistance to startup and existing businesses.

ScaleUP! Kansas City helps businesses with revenues around $200K scale toward their first $1 million.

Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers helps local businesses obtain government contracts.

KCInvestED helps investors learn more about investing in KC startups.

SourceLink® helps communities nationwide build vibrant and vital entrepreneurial ecosystems.
UMKC Innovation Center
UMKC Innovation Center

KCSourceLink Staff

Michael S. Carmona

Michael S. Carmona, Network Builder

As the face of KCSourceLink, Michael is a champion of Kansas City’s successful entrepreneurial network. He uses his skills in collaboration, organization and connecting people to bolster resources and build networks.

Having spent more than a decade working with small businesses, Michael has deep experience working with underserved communities. He leverages civic engagement, relationship building and community partnerships to advance entrepreneurship across the region and further develop one of the most well-connected entrepreneur ecosystems in the country.

Man with a (business) plan; the go-to person for KC entrepreneurship (and a good music playlist)

Chante Keller KCSourceLink

Chanté Keller, Network Navigator

Chanté Keller knows someone you should meet. A natural facilitator and listener who has a knack for tending to the heart of the community, Chanté helps people in Kansas City navigate the waters of entrepreneurship by connecting them to the right resource at the right time.

If you need a hand in growing your business or just a shoulder to lean on (or maybe a good laugh), she’s ready to help.

Pro community organizer, master facilitator, comedy connoisseur

David Cawthon of KCSourceLink

David Cawthon, Sr. Editor

David Cawthon captures the pulse of communities with compelling and dynamic storytelling. A recovering journalist, he taps his years of reporting, writing and editing to share the stories of Kansas City’s entrepreneurial community and the more than 240 resources that help grow small businesses in the metro.

Know of a great KC business story? David wants to hear about it.

Narrative nerd, word wrangler, entrepreneurial empath
Ayleen Bashir

Ayleen Bashir, Graphic Designer

Ayleen crafts stunning designs that elevate the KCSourceLink brand as well as fun and helpful resources that benefit the KC entrepreneurial community. The University of Missouri - Kansas City graphic design alumna touches many notable client-facing projects, such as the KCSourceLink Resource Rail, community billboards, data reports, video, photography and more.

Creative problem solver, master mapmaker, design dynamo

Joey Medellin of KCSourceLink

Joey Medellin, Network Coordinator

As one of the longest-tenured associates of KCSourceLink, Joey Medellin has helped the organization grow from its modest roots into the central hub for entrepreneurship that it is today. Joey juggles multiple balls and never lets one drop. She manages all the administrative details for the organization, from financials to human resources to grant reporting to everything in between, creating a seamless work environment.

Ensures every detail is accounted for; numbers whisperer

Bhavani Vishnu Priya Ponnada | KCSourceLink

Vishnu Priya Ponnada, Entrepreneur Ecosystem Support Assistant

As an Entrepreneur Ecosystem Support Assistant, Vishnu enjoys interacting with clients and making sure they receive the right information to move their business or business idea forward. She also provides assistance with ongoing technical activities and manages the KCSourceLink and MOSourceLink calendars. She enjoys helping entrepreneurs build connections and grow their businesses.

People smart, tech-savvy, inquisitive learner
Andrea Brito, Community-Based Network Navigator

Andrea Brito, Community-Based Network Navigator

As a Community-Based Network Navigator, Andrea recognizes the importance of community connections. As an entrepreneur herself, she knows starting a new business can be daunting, but also knows anything is possible with the courage to follow your dreams and the right connections. Andrea believes the power of community and connections can turn ideas into reality.

Networking queen. Has never met a stranger, just a friend she hasn’t spoken to yet.

Maria Meyers of KCSourceLink

Maria Meyers, Executive Director

Maria Meyers is an entrepreneur in her own right, building SourceLink and KCSourceLink from the ground up. Maria shares her expertise with other communities through speaking engagements, journal articles and blog posts.

Maria has a unique ability to encourage and enable collaboration, leading from behind and ensuring that everyone around her has tools for success. Throughout her career she has pulled off the seemingly impossible, such as turning an abandoned train station into a metro hub, commercializing technology out of a university and into the nonprofit sector and rallying a community around gaps in capital for entrepreneurs.

Thought leader in building entrepreneurial communities; inspirational and wicked smart.

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