MTC awards $250K to LaunchKC competition for 2018
Heather Spalding, founder and COO of Cambrian Tech, celebrates after learning that her startup company won the $100,000 grand prize at the LaunchKC competition on Sept. 15 at Techweek.
LaunchKC, the KCMO-based grants competition for tech entrepreneurs that wrapped up its third annual competition just a few weeks ago, has been awarded $250,000 by the Missouri Technology Corporation for 2018.
The award marks the fourth year in a row that the MTC has funded the 4-year-old, Kansas City-based grants competition.
“This serves as a great vote of confidence in LaunchKC and the entrepreneurial community in Kansas City,” said Drew Solomon, chair of the annual grants competition. “Right from our beginning in 2014, the MTC has been a stalwart supporter of LaunchKC and the innovative entrepreneurs who have leveraged our support into building their businesses in Kansas City.” Solomon is the vice president of business development at the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDC).
LaunchKC is preparing for its fourth competition in 2018. Each year, it awards $500,000 in non-dilutive grants to tech startups, following a rigorous competition that is open to entrepreneurs across the country. LaunchKC was founded in 2014 by the Downtown Council and the EDC, both of Kansas City, Missouri.
LaunchKC has attracted nearly 1,500 applicants locally, nationally and internationally during our first three years of competition. It has awarded $1.5 million in grant award to 29 entrepreneurs in just three years.
“This news from MTC represents a milestone for LaunchKC. MTC was our first funder in 2014, and has remained our largest financial support every year since,” said Mike Hurd, marketing officer for LaunchKC.
“Looking back, LaunchKC also was a startup in 2014. The MTC and, later, the local business, civic and philanthropic communities took a leap of faith to invest in us, so we could invest with tech entrepreneurs.” Hurd is the chief marketing officer of the Downtown Council of Kansas City (DTC).
That first vote of confidence by the MTC sparked local sponsorship support from the City of Kansas City, Missouri, UMB Bank, The Cordish Companies / Kansas City Power & Light District, the William T. Kemper Foundation, Husch Blackwell, KCP&L, Lead Bank, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Polsinelli, J.E. Dunn Construction, Lathrop & Gage, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and a growing number of new partners that continue to join the ranks of LaunchKC partners.
LaunchKC was founded in 2014 by the Downtown Council and the Economic Development Corporation, both of Kansas City, Missouri.
Click here tearn more about LaunchKC.
