Sixteen Kansas City, Missouri entrepreneurs recently took home cash prizes as part of a new Dare to Venture micro-grant competition hosted by . At a time when small businesses need the most support, the program offered a total of $30,000 in microgrants to entrepreneurs starting or growing businesses in the city’s urban core.
Funded by the City of Kansas City, Missouri, and supported by the , Dare to Venture was open to any entrepreneur currently living or working in Kansas City, Missouri, who had completed one of the 30-hour-plus entrepreneurship classes offered as part of the center’s Urban Business Growth Initiative. The Missouri Small Business Development Center at 海角论坛 administers the UBGI courses and provides each participant with business coaching.
“This is the beautiful thing about collaborations: UBGI’s partner programs unite to offer many levels of support and expertise to UBGI businesses, helping them get the skills, expertise and learning to succeed,” said Carmen DeHart, senior director of entrepreneurial education at the 海角论坛 Innovation Center and regional director of the Missouri Small Business Development Center. “Thanks to funding from the City, the UBGI suite of classes is helping local entrepreneurs and business owners discover the next great innovation, create new jobs, grow their operations and elevate the local economy. And now, these micro-grant awards are continuing to help them push forward during the most challenging time for any business.”
Participants submitted video pitches for their businesses and were judged by fellow graduates of UBGI courses who’ve shared their journey of entrepreneurship and education. The following businesses received the most votes:
Finalists for top prizes:
- 1st ($5,000) Reda Ibrahim – – construction venture []
- 2nd ($4,000) Tate Williams – – construction venture [o]
- 3rd ($3,500) Carlanda McKinney – – tech venture []
- 4th ($3,000) Erin Bopp – Lightwork DJ Mobilverse – new venture []
- 5th ($2,500) Juaquan Herron – – tech venture []
- 6th ($2,000) Brandy Archie – – growth venture []
Each honorable mention will receive $1,000:
- Maggie Bentley – – new venture []
- David Biga – – tech venture []
- Jillian Carlile – – tech venture []
- Shelly Cooper – SureShow – tech venture []
- Kashif Hasnie – – tech venture []
- Patrick Hosty – – tech venture []
- Lydia Palma – – growth venture []
- Sheante Thornton – ASAP Neighborhood Resource – new venture []
- Karissa Todd – – new venture []
AY Young - received the $1,000 Super Supporter Award given to the alumni who voted in the most rounds.
Dare to Venture amplifies the already substantial commitment from the City of Kansas City, Missouri, to provide entrepreneurs with the tools, connections, education and coaching they need to build their business savvy, launch companies and create jobs in Kansas City’s economically distressed neighborhoods and beyond.
“The micro-grant competition is an idea generated through startup community participation in the City Budget Speakeasy public input sessions. It’s exciting to see this come to fruition through our partnership with the 海角论坛 Innovation Center,” says Rick Usher, assistant city manager of the City of Kansas City, Missouri.
Apply for Upcoming UBGI Scholarships, Courses
Through UBGI, the city currently provides scholarships that cover nearly 90% of the tuition for 海角论坛 Innovation Center’s multi-week entrepreneurship courses. To date, UBGI has issued 548 scholarships, and its graduates have created a total of 75 business, 455 jobs, $55 million in revenue and $18 million in capital investments.
Apply for the next round of UBGI scholarships (offered at a more than 88% discount), starting with NEW Venture, which kicks off July 28. Explore the course offerings below, and apply for a scholarship here to take the multiweek courses at an 88 percent discount.
- : July 28 - August 25
- : September 16 - November 11
- : September 17 - November 12
- : September 18 - November 20
- : September 1
- : September 8