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

Guide: Innovation-Led  Part Three

Running the Business/Incubator

    Find top talent, match with a mentor, work with an incubator.

The first thing outside investors look at is the management team. Not just you, but those you bring together to help you achieve your mission. The lore in the venture capital industry is to take an “A” team over a “B” idea every time.

So, you’ll need to know what you know and what you don’t know, so you can augment your skill set in those you hire. Getting the top talent you need may require creative compensation packages. You’ll need to be able to read financials and communicate effectively with investors, customers, employees. Mentors and advisors will be invaluable. You may find that the equipment and/or atmosphere of an incubator will be a launch pad for your business. And look for help protecting your intellectual property.

Programs/Classes

Incubators

Provider Information

Bioscience & Technology Business Center - Lawrence

The BTBC, with locations at both the University of Kansas (KU) Lawrence Campus, and Kansas University Medical Center (KUMC) in Kansas City, is the largest incubator system in the state. It is comprised of three separate facilities totaling approximately 90,000 square feet of wet lab, office space, and shared work spaces.

Block Knowledge

Block Knowledge, previously known as Project United Knowledge. Our goal is to continue assisting nontraditional founders to realize their fullest potential and to impact communities. We have numerous classes & workshops to provide entrepreneurial knowledge, financial knowledge, and technological knowledge to the community.

Bridge Space

Bridge Space is the first coworking space and entrepreneur incubator in downtown Lee's Summit. We have private offices, programming to accelerate your business and plenty of space for coworking.

Ennovation Center

The Ennovation Center business incubator provides the location and business development services for companies focused in Culinary and Business & Technology.

Independence Economic Development Council

The Independence Council for Economic Development (ICED) acts as a liaison between businesses and government and provides economic research on the Independence area.

Innovation Stockyard

The Innovation Stockyard operates the Kit Bond Science and Technology Incubator on the campus of Missouri Western State University with a focus on economic and workforce development, and animal health and nutrition.

InterUrban ArtHouse

InterUrban ArtHouse is creating a regional hub where artists can work and prosper in an affordable, sustainable and inclusive environment to drive innovation, economic vibrancy and community culture.

Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce

NEKCCC strives to be a financially sound, well-managed business association that enhances the quality of life and economic competitiveness in the Historic, contemporary and multicultural district of KCMO.

The Black MasterMind Group Charitable Foundation

The Black MasterMind Group is designed to create strategies to help the Black Entrepreneurial Community; Start, Stabilize, Sustain, and Scale businesses in the black entrepreneurial community. The Black MasterMind Group works collaboratively with organizations, community leaders, business coaches, trainers, educators, and business leaders, to teach entrepreneurial financial literacy and business strategies helping the black entrepreneurial community secure funding.

The Incubator Kitchen at Kansas State University Olathe

K-State Olathe's Incubator Kitchen provides facilities and expertise to support the food industry with start-ups, new products, scale up, optimizing processes, and R&D in analytics, microbiology, consumer panels and logistics.

The Porter House KC

The Porter House KC is a inner city based co-working community who provides entrepreneurship access and resources to underserved populations in the Kansas City Metro area. Our mission is to be a bridge for underrepresented individuals that typically don't have access to the entrepreneurial dream.

The Sewing Labs

The Sewing Labs is a non-profit community resource center providing classes and jobs training in sewing-related arts in the KC urban community. Our newest program, The Sewing Salon, will provide an unconventional entrepreneurial hub for marginalized and at-risk individuals to develop their sewing businesses.

UMKC Entrepreneurship Scholars Program (E-Scholars)

ENTREPRENEURSHIP SCHOLARS allows you to work alongside a peer group of entrepreneurs while you take your business from idea to launch. Learn from accomplished entrepreneurs from the Kansas City startup community as well as exceptional faculty. Leave with a plan for how to develop a scalable and sustainable venture, and get ready to bring your dream to life.

Wet Labs

Provider Information

Ennovation Center

The Ennovation Center business incubator provides the location and business development services for companies focused in Culinary and Business & Technology.

Innovation Stockyard

The Innovation Stockyard operates the Kit Bond Science and Technology Incubator on the campus of Missouri Western State University with a focus on economic and workforce development, and animal health and nutrition.
Guide: Innovation-Led
Next Part Four: Innovation-Led Funding Sources

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