LaunchKC opens grants application window today
KANSAS CITY, MO – LaunchKC, the global grants competition for tech entrepreneurs, has ignited its 2016 competition this morning, as the 90-day online application window opens to the public.
LaunchKC, a nonprofit civic engine in the Kansas City tech space, was established two years ago in Downtown Kansas City. During its first competition in 2015, LaunchKC awarded 10 (ten) $50,000 grants at the first Techweek Kansas City conference at Union Station in September.
“We are searching for the best and brightest startups or early stage technology businesses to apply and compete for $500,000 in grants,” said Drew Solomon, who leads the grants competition for the LaunchKC initiative. “We want to help these entrepreneurs make their business dreams come true in Kansas City, Missouri.”
LaunchKC is committed to elevating KC’s brand as an innovation leader nationally by investing in scalable vertical sectors like Advanced Manufacturing, Animal Health, Cloud Services, Data Analytics, EdTech, FinTech, HealthTech, Mobile and Real Estate Tech.
The 90-plus-day application window for the competition begins at 8 a.m. Friday, said Mike Hurd, marketing officer for LaunchKC. Applicants will be competing for 10 (ten) $50,000 grants; free office space in the KC innovation space for one year; industry-specific mentor teams; and professional services, i.e., legal, financial, marketing, and more benefits. The application window will remain open until July 6.
About 500 applicants – 20 percent more than projected – from across the U.S. and eight nations around the world competed for the 10 grants in 2015. A panel of experts in Kansas City reviewed applications over the summer in order to narrow the list to 20 finalists prior to final rounds of judging at Techweek KC. That same process will be used by LaunchKC for this year’s competition.
“Our goal for 2016 is to raise the bar in our search for the best applicants, the most promising start-up businesses,” Solomon said. “Our focus is on tech-powered businesses and ideas that are poised for sustainable growth.”
LaunchKC awarded $50,000 grants to 10 tech entrepreneurs in 2015. LaunchKC selected its first class of 10 entrepreneurs, during the Techweek Kansas City conference in September 2015.The grant recipients included Blooom, Health ID, Integrated Roadways, KC Drone Company, Nodal Security, PopBookings, Pycno, Square Offs, Vertisense and VideoFizz.
UMB Bank, the William T. Kemper Foundation, the City of Kansas City, the Missouri Technology Corporation, the Downtown Council of Kansas City, the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, and Techweek – lead the list of sponsors and strategic partners that underwrite LaunchKC. Click here for the complete list of LaunchKC sponsors -to date.
LaunchKC has adopted the following calendar of key 2016 dates in preparation for the thorough application review and judging process:
01: Application window opens at 8 a.m. Friday, April 1
02: Window closes at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 6
03: Application review process by panel of experts begins immediately after July 6
04: Techweek to celebrate the “launch” of its 2nd KC conference on Monday, Aug. 1
05: LaunchKC will narrow list of applicants to 20 finalists by Friday, Aug. 19
06: LaunchKC judging of the 20 finalists at Techweek KC on Thursday, Sept. 15
07: LaunchKC grant recipients to be announced at Techweek KC on Friday, Sept. 16
ABOUT LAUNCH KC
LaunchKC is designed to attract tech entrepreneurs locally, regionally and nationally to apply and compete for 10 (ten) $50,000 non-dilutive grants, mentorship, transitional work space and other incentives. LaunchKC selects the top-scoring entrepreneurs and then supports and assists them with coaching, mentoring and funding to develop high growth, successful businesses in Kansas City, Missouri.
Visit LaunchKC.org, and learn how LaunchKC is turning ideas into dreams come true.
To apply, go to http://launchkc2016.startupcompete.co/
