Recognizing that Kansas City was falling behind in the level of startup activity in 2013, EDC led the charge to create the LaunchKC initiative in partnership with the Downtown Council.
To date, LaunchKC has awarded more than $3 million to promising entrepreneurs leading to the creation of more than 500 jobs and a portfolio that has raised more than $180 million in follow on investment.
LaunchKC accelerators have supported diverse businesses with 53% of the awards going to female or minority entrepreneurs. These efforts have helped Kansas City raise its entrepreneurial profile while making sure the next generation of Kansas City companies are supported at their early stages.