KC Startup Investors On Tap for Summer in the Sand

KC Startup Investors On Tap for Summer in the Sand

Summer in the Sand - Funding Panel

We know that the more connected early-stage entrepreneurs are to each other and to the startup resources the more likely they are to succeed. This is especially true when you’re ready to raise capital for your startup.

“This is a community where people want to help each other out,” says Mark Calhoun, co-founder of PerfectCube. “People are approachable. If you’re raising money, you can go get a cup of coffee with a venture capitalist or an angel funder —even if they won’t fund you, they’ll talk to you. That’s invaluable.”

Not sure who those venture capitalists are in Kansas City? Attend the Summer in the Sand event on September 19 at the Sprint Accelerator. For the final session of the annual event, Digital Sandbox KC is bringing together a star-studded panel of regional funders and resources to dive deep on early-stage capital in the Kansas City area.

We’re proud to partner with the Sprint Accelerator to host this group of folks who work hard to help early-stage and small businesses grow and flourish in Kansas City. Here are a few of the speakers lined up for the panel.

Be sure to register and invite your entrepreneur friends for this free event.

Beth Engel, Dundee Venture Capital
Beth Engel is a partner at Dundee Venture Capital, an Omaha-based seed stage venture fund. Dundee typically offers funding from $250,000 to $750,000 to high-growth, early-stage tech firms. To date, the firm has helped launch and grow 37 tech companies in e-commerce, SaaS and consumer network businesses.

Keith Harrington, Novel Growth Partners
Launched in early 2018, Novel Growth Partners is a revenue-based funding firm targeting underserved tech companies across the Midwest. Instead of equity, Novel’s founding partners, Keith Harrington and Carlos Antequera, provide developing software companies $100,000 to $500,000 in growth capital that gets paid back at a set monthly percentage of the company’s revenue.

Imagene Harris, Kansas Venture Multiplier Funds
Imagene Harris is the manager of economic programs at NetWork Kansas.The Kansas Capital Multiplier Fund provides low-interest matching loan funds and equity investments through NetWork Kansas partners to eligible businesses in communities across Kansas. Businesses are eligible to apply for up to $250,000 loan or venture investment up to 9% per project through the Multiplier program.

Kate Hodel, CapitalMatch
Kate Hodel leads KCSourceLink’s new CapitalMatch program. CapitalMatch is an informal, private marketplace that connects accredited private investors with companies that are ready for equity financing. Investors receive alerts about early-stage investment opportunities that fit their industry and investment level criteria as they become available. Entrepreneurs receive information about investor pitch prep programs and funding sources.

Jill Meyer, UMKC Small Business & Technology Development Center
Jill Meyer is a senior business consultant at the SDTC at UMKC and a member of the LaunchKC steering committee. Jill works with Kansas City tech companies at all stages to advance, protect and commercialize their innovations, including assisting with federal research grant (SBIR/STTR) proposal submissions and investor pitch prep.

Hear what these Midwest venture capital firms and resources offer early-stage tech entrepreneurs. Find out what investors look for, and how you can position yourself for the best possible chance of a “yes.” Register now for Summer in the Sand.

Ready to Pitch for $20,000 from the Sandbox?

Digital Sandbox KC accepts applications on a rolling basis, here. Many concepts that eventually received funding didn’t get it the first time around, so don’t hesitate to get your idea out there to start receiving feedback and guidance.

And be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter, it’s a great way to stay in the know about what’s happening in the Sandbox.