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BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE
FUTURE OF WORK AND
ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM
INTRODUCING KC.UP
KC.UP is a diversity, equity & inclusion focused future of work, startup entrepreneurship and wealth building initiative empowering shared prosperity for everyone, everywhere throughout the KCMO region. Powered by the Economic Development Corporation of Kanas City, Missouri (EDCKC), KC.UP is taking a proactive approach to addressing the gaps to new entrepreneurship and venture creation caused by historic and modern day disparities faced by communities of color, particularly the African American community, in our region.
Our goal is to foster a new generation of Kansas City Black entrepreneurs by providing access to safe and affordable work spaces, quality curated events, mentorship, early stage capital and markets - including connections to government, businesses and organizations who can advise and purchase.
"Innovation-based economic development approaches must intentionally address the racial and gender inequities that are calcified into the innovation economy."
Sifan Liu and Joseph Parilla,
Brookings Institution
BUILDING INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEMS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
KC.UP has partnered with Opportunity Hub (OHUB), the nation’s leading inclusive ecosystem building platform to launch OHUB.KC. OHUB.KC strives to ensure that everyone, everywhere has equitable access to the future of work, startup ecosystem, fourth industrial revolution and beyond as a path to multi-generational wealth with no reliance on pre-existing multi-generational wealth. The partnership will work to accomplish this via its early exposure, skills development, entrepreneurship support and accelerator programming.
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"The greatest business ideas and models are those that solve the challenges of society and meet the needs of its citizens."
Rodney Sampson, author Kingonomics and Co-Founder, OHUB
3rd Fridays Entrepreneurship Series
ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORT PROGRAMMING (ESP)
The ESP has five key modules designed to introduce new stakeholders to the startup ecosystem, engage with culturally relevant venture backed founders and investors and advance their startup from ideation to market and beyond.
- 3rd Fridays Entrepreneurship Series
- CEO of My Life Ideation & Design Thinking Masterclass
- 6 Month Startup Bootcamp
- NewMe Pre-Accelerator
- OHUB Accelerator
OHUB.KC IS ALREADY
MAKING AN IMPACT
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1,200+ attendees at 3rd Friday’s events
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$750M in VC funding has visited KCMO
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180 applicants to ESP training
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100 participants in CEO of My Life
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60 participants in 6 Month Startup
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10 participants in NewMe Pre-Accelerator
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$50,000 in non-dilutive grants awarded
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$250,000 in founder friendly capital to be invested in Q1 '20 in five high growth startups
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Two startups committing to open an office in KCMO
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SXSW Demo Day featuring Mayor Quinton Lucas scheduled
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And more!
Rodney Sampson, Co-Founder of OHUB
Jeanette Prenger, President & CEO of ECCO Select
JOIN US
Programming is ongoing and we’d love to have you in the ecosystem. Basic membership to OHUB is free. Affordable memberships coming soon. Inquire about our new Mentor In Residence program.
Visit us at 1518 E 18th Street KCMO or follow us on our social channels for the latest news and updates.
Many thanks to the partner groups that continue to support this growing initiative.
Interested in supporting or funding KC.UP along with these existing partners?
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