Regnier Pitch Competition Features New KC Community Track, $88K in Prizes

The Regnier Venture Creation Challenge is back, and this year, startup founders can pitch their businesses and vye for $88,000 in cash prizes. But, hurry! The submission deadline is April 4.

Important to know: This year’s competition is broken down into three tracks. Two tracks are for students. The newest track is open to the Kansas City community: That’s the James & Rae Block Kansas City Startup Award.

• 1st prize: $15,000

• 2nd prize: $10,000

Here’s what you need to know about eligibility for this new track:

• New startups or early-stage businesses with annual revenue between $0 and $250,000 can enter.

• The business must be operating in the Kansas City Marc Region: the counties of Ray, Clay, Jackson, Cass, Platte, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson and Miami.

• NONE of the founding team (equity holders/owners) can be a current degree-seeking college student or an E-Scholar.

• Any participant who was an E-Scholar in fall 2021 or spring 2022, regardless of student status, should enter the Regnier College Startup Track.

• To learn more about the awards including eligibility, prizes, evaluation criteria and more, visit the Regnier Venture Creation Challenge Information Folder.

Ready to submit your entry? Apply to compete here: https://bloch.umkc.edu/rvcc

More information and ways to enter below …

If you’re wondering, here’s more information about the other two tracks that are for college students in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska:

Regnier College Startup Awards: general business track open to all students.

• 1st prize: $15,000

• 2nd prize: $10,000

• 3rd prize: $5,000

BlueKC Healthcare Innovation Awards: open to health care-related ventures. Sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.

• 1st prize: $15,000

• 2nd prize: $10,000

Also, three honorable mentions will receive $2,500 each:

Undergraduate Venture
All founding team members must be current undergraduate students.

Creative Venture
This prize is awarded to ventures working in the arts, design, creative and related fields.

Social Venture
The winning venture is pursuing a mission that considers outcomes beyond only profit. These can be for-profit or not-for-profit ventures.

Important Dates:

April 4:  Submission deadline
April 14: Notification to semi-finalists
April 22: Virtual semifinals via Zoom
April 29: Finals, live in Kansas City, Missouri

If you’re interested in competing, get more info at https://bloch.umkc.edu/rvcc.

Looking for more accolades and funding? Explore the frequently updated KCSourceLink Awards and Competitions page for the latest opportunities for your business.