GUIDE: START A BUSINESS > PART THREE
Build Your Social Network
A solid social network is the backbone of your business.
Your social network — your friends, family, former colleagues — is absolutely invaluable to your business. Human capital, those relationships you keep and cultivate, is the largest investment you can make in your business.
Why?
Because, let’s be honest; at the beginning of your venture, you don’t have much else. Most startups don’t yet have customers or capital or traction or even a performance record. So those people in your network — family, friends, former colleagues — will be your first critical feedback as well as your connection to your first coaches, employees, mentors, customers and investors.
How do you build your social network? By networking strategically.
How to network for your business
Anyone can walk in a room and hand out a stack of business cards. Cultivating a true network will help you grow your business, so you have to be intentional about the relationships you build because we do business with people, not business cards. Be a person people want to know.
- Before you enter any networking event, ask yourself who are the three people you really need to connect with — and what can you do for those people as well?
- Practice your why. Have a 30-second and 1-minute description of who you are and the value you bring to your customers. It’s not about what you do; it’s about why you do it.
- Be ready to share. Networking is about being generous with your time, information and resources. Come equipped with a valuable piece of information — maybe your favorite restaurant, movie, book, handyman.
- Bring better questions into your conversations that help build a connection. You could ask, “What do you do?” Or you could ask a more memorable question, like “what’s your story?” or “what’s your favorite app?”
- Open your network. Look for opportunities to introduce a fellow entrepreneur to someone who can help them.
Opportunities for networking and practicing your elevator pitch
Find an Event
Go beyond the usual networking events. Attend a Startup Weekend, set up shop at a coworking space or find a new networking event near you. (That last link will take you to our business calendar, chock full of networking events across Missouri. Follow that link and then you can filter by your location or distance.)
Stay in the Know
Want to always know what’s going on in Kansas City entrepreneurship and where you should be? Get a curated list of key events in the metro and inspirational entrepreneurial stories that’ll help your business. It’s all here in our newsletter.
Get an Introduction
Not sure whom you need to know? Ask our Resource Navigators about your next introductions.
Not Sure Where to Start? Get Your (Free) Personal Action Plan
Call us at 816-235-6500 or tell us a bit about what you need, and we’ll craft your very own (totally doable) personal action plan that’ll show you exactly whom in Kansas City you can contact to move your business or nonprofit forward. All of our services are free.
Networking organizations in Kansas City you should know
These Resource Partners offer courses, events, training to help you up your social game and build your professional network. Head over to The Resource Navigator to further filter your search by business industry, ZIP/city/distance and/or specific need—or just give us a call at 816-235-6500, and we’ll make your Personal Action Plan of next-step resources (for free).
1 Million Cups
Artist INC/Mid-America Arts Alliance
ArtsKC - Regional Arts Council
Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City
Basehor Chamber of Commerce
Belton Chamber of Commerce
Better Business Bureau of Greater Kansas City
BioKansas
BioNexus KC
Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce
Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Area Chamber of Commerce
Bridge Space
Brookside Business Association
Capital Access Center
Charlotte Street Foundation
City of Blue Springs, Missouri - Economic Growth and Development Division
City of Buckner, Missouri - Administrator/Clerk
City of Excelsior Springs, MO - Community Development Department
City of Independence, MO
• Building inspections
• Historic preservation
• Neighborhood services
• Development services
• Regulated industries
Most importantly, the city works with citizen groups, the city council, the planning commission, the zoning board of adjustment and city administration to ensure quality development throughout the city of Independence.
City of Peculiar, Missouri - Economic Development Department
City of Raytown - Economic Development Department
City of Richmond, MO - Economic Development Department
Determination, Incorporated
DreamSpring
Economic Development Corporation of KCMO
In addition, the EDC administers the city's TIF program, LCRA and Enhanced Enterprise/Zone Works program.
Excelsior Springs Area Chamber of Commerce
Gardner Chamber of Commerce
Gladstone Area Chamber of Commerce
GO Topeka
Grain Valley Partnership
Grandview Area Chamber & Economic Development Council
Great Plains Technology & Manufacturing Cluster
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
GSA Heartland Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
GUILDit
Harrisonville Area Chamber of Commerce
Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City
Hispanic Economic Development Corporation of Greater Kansas City
Independence Chamber of Commerce
Independence Economic Development Council
InnovateHER KC
International Trade Council of Greater Kansas City (ITCGKC)
Inventors Center of Kansas City
K-State Extension Wyandotte County
Kansas City Area Transportation Authority
Kansas Department of Agriculture - Agriculture Marketing, Advocacy and Outreach Team
Kansas Manufacturing Solutions (KMS)
Kansas Small Business Development Center at KU (SBDC)
KC Collective
KC IABC (Kansas City Chapter, International Association of Business Communicators)
KC SmartPort
KC Tech Council
KCK Chamber of Commerce
Kearney Chamber of Commerce
Lawrence Public Library
Leavenworth County Development Corporation
Leavenworth Main Street Program, Inc. ®
Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce
Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce
Lenexa Chamber of Commerce
Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce
Liberty Economic Development Corporation / LINK Business Facilitation
M-Powerment Solutions
Martin City Community Improvement District
Miami County Economic Development Department
Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC)
Mid-Continent Public Library Culinary Center
Missouri Department of Economic Development - International Trade and Investment Office
Missouri Enterprise, Kansas City and Northwest Missouri
Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council
Multicultural Business Coalition
National Association of Women Business Owners
North Kansas City Business Council
Northeast Johnson County Chamber of Commerce
Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Olathe Chamber of Commerce
Overland Park Chamber of Commerce
Overland Park Economic Development Council
Paola Chamber of Commerce
Parkville Area Chamber of Commerce
Parkville Economic Development Council
Platte City Area Chamber of Commerce
Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
RedTire
Riverside Area Chamber of Commerce
Shawnee Chamber of Commerce
Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce
South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Southtown Council
Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce
St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce
Technology Venture Studio
The Black MasterMind Group Charitable Foundation
The City of Harrisonville, MO - Community Development Department
The Freelance Exchange
The Porter House KC
The Sewing Labs
The Sewing Labs is an inclusive and welcoming community teaching the legacy of sewing for employment, entrepreneurship and enrichment.
The Toolbox: Small Business Resource Center
U.S. Department of Commerce | International Trade Administration (Kansas City U.S. Export Assistance Center)
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Kansas City District Office
Unified Contractors of Kansas City
Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS- Economic Development Department
Waldo Area Business Association
Well Well Marketing
Weston Chamber of Commerce
Women's Business Center of Kansas City
Women's Employment Network
Workforce Partnership
World Trade Center - Kansas City
1 Million Cups
Artist INC/Mid-America Arts Alliance
ArtsKC - Regional Arts Council
Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City
Basehor Chamber of Commerce
Belton Chamber of Commerce
Better Business Bureau of Greater Kansas City
BioKansas
BioNexus KC
Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce
Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Area Chamber of Commerce
Bridge Space
Brookside Business Association
Capital Access Center
Charlotte Street Foundation
City of Blue Springs, Missouri - Economic Growth and Development Division
City of Buckner, Missouri - Administrator/Clerk
City of Excelsior Springs, MO - Community Development Department
City of Independence, MO
• Building inspections
• Historic preservation
• Neighborhood services
• Development services
• Regulated industries
Most importantly, the city works with citizen groups, the city council, the planning commission, the zoning board of adjustment and city administration to ensure quality development throughout the city of Independence.
City of Peculiar, Missouri - Economic Development Department
City of Raytown - Economic Development Department
City of Richmond, MO - Economic Development Department
Determination, Incorporated
DreamSpring
Economic Development Corporation of KCMO
In addition, the EDC administers the city's TIF program, LCRA and Enhanced Enterprise/Zone Works program.
Excelsior Springs Area Chamber of Commerce
Gardner Chamber of Commerce
Gladstone Area Chamber of Commerce
GO Topeka
Grain Valley Partnership
Grandview Area Chamber & Economic Development Council
Great Plains Technology & Manufacturing Cluster
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
GSA Heartland Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
GUILDit
Harrisonville Area Chamber of Commerce
Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City
Hispanic Economic Development Corporation of Greater Kansas City
Independence Chamber of Commerce
Independence Economic Development Council
InnovateHER KC
International Trade Council of Greater Kansas City (ITCGKC)
Inventors Center of Kansas City
K-State Extension Wyandotte County
Kansas City Area Transportation Authority
Kansas Department of Agriculture - Agriculture Marketing, Advocacy and Outreach Team
Kansas Manufacturing Solutions (KMS)
Kansas Small Business Development Center at KU (SBDC)
KC Collective
KC IABC (Kansas City Chapter, International Association of Business Communicators)
KC SmartPort
KC Tech Council
KCK Chamber of Commerce
Kearney Chamber of Commerce
Lawrence Public Library
Leavenworth County Development Corporation
Leavenworth Main Street Program, Inc. ®
Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce
Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce
Lenexa Chamber of Commerce
Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce
Liberty Economic Development Corporation / LINK Business Facilitation
M-Powerment Solutions
Martin City Community Improvement District
Miami County Economic Development Department
Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC)
Mid-Continent Public Library Culinary Center
Missouri Department of Economic Development - International Trade and Investment Office
Missouri Enterprise, Kansas City and Northwest Missouri
Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council
Multicultural Business Coalition
National Association of Women Business Owners
North Kansas City Business Council
Northeast Johnson County Chamber of Commerce
Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Olathe Chamber of Commerce
Overland Park Chamber of Commerce
Overland Park Economic Development Council
Paola Chamber of Commerce
Parkville Area Chamber of Commerce
Parkville Economic Development Council
Platte City Area Chamber of Commerce
Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
RedTire
Riverside Area Chamber of Commerce
Shawnee Chamber of Commerce
Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce
South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Southtown Council
Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce
St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce
Technology Venture Studio
The Black MasterMind Group Charitable Foundation
The City of Harrisonville, MO - Community Development Department
The Freelance Exchange
The Porter House KC
The Sewing Labs
The Sewing Labs is an inclusive and welcoming community teaching the legacy of sewing for employment, entrepreneurship and enrichment.
The Toolbox: Small Business Resource Center
U.S. Department of Commerce | International Trade Administration (Kansas City U.S. Export Assistance Center)
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Kansas City District Office
Unified Contractors of Kansas City
Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS- Economic Development Department
Waldo Area Business Association
Well Well Marketing
Weston Chamber of Commerce
Women's Business Center of Kansas City
Women's Employment Network
Workforce Partnership
World Trade Center - Kansas City
>> Remember if you need help, give us a call at 816-235-6500 or tell us a bit about what you need. We can guide you through the next steps you need to take to start your business.
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